Novena to Saint Anthony of Padua for spiritual growth
Saint Anthony, you who have a special gift for helping us to find lost things, we pray to you that we may rediscover the virtues we have lost and follow your example!
Turn to St Anthony and ask this Saint for his powerful intercession!
Fernand, then Anthony, is what we call a “giant” of faith. That's right, a giant, a herald such as there are few in history, one or two per century. A man with such a rich and intense path that he might seem inaccessible, out of reach. Through this novena, we aim to offer you a concrete path to grow spiritually and strengthen your faith, initiating a journey of inner peace. After 800 years, St. Anthony's message remains relevant, even more so because we can choose him as a friend and brother of our Lord Jesus Christ for our time.
Through these meditations, prayer with Anthony will help us resemble him and imitate him in our daily lives as disciples of the Lord. We all increasingly feel the need to strengthen our faith and trust in God through concrete means like prayer, deepening our understanding of the message of St. Anthony, and the spiritual heritage he leaves to the Church.
Anthony, tell us your secret. We have come to entrust ourselves to your powerful prayer. Today, as yesterday, you present us with the child Jesus, as if to say, “Do not be afraid to take Jesus as a companion and friend.”
This is the path we propose taking, entrusting ourselves to each other in prayer during this beautiful novena under the miraculous intercession of this great saint!
Program
Day 1: St. Anthony, a Brother in Faith
Day 2: St. Anthony, a Brother with a Burning Heart
Day 3: St. Anthony, a Brother Who Listened to the Word of God
Day 4: St. Anthony, a Messenger of the Good News
Day 5: St. Anthony, a Brother and Servant to All
Day 6: St. Anthony, a Brother Radiating God's Peace and Joy
Day 7: St. Anthony, a Brother Attentive to the Holy Spirit
Day 8: St. Anthony, a Brother Living the Eucharist
Day 9: St. Anthony, a True Witness of Jesus
A Word on the Speaker
The meditations of this novena were written by Father Sébastien Naudin, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua (Paris XV). Originally from Paris, specifically from the 12th arrondissement, Father Sébastien Naudin grew up in this neighborhood between a believing and practicing family life, a normal school path, and beautiful years of scouting. After his high school graduation, he began studying history. In 1992, following WYD in Poland, he entered the Saint-Augustin House for the year of discernment and the following years for training at the Paris seminary.
Ordained a priest in 2000, he exercised his first ministry at Notre-Dame de la Croix for six years. In 2006, he crossed out of the big ring road of Paris to become a pastor in Fontenay-sous-Bois at the parish of Sainte-Marguerite, then returned to Paris as chaplain of the Saint-Louis Hospital and vicar at Saint-Joseph-des-Nations. These three ministries were within the F.M.P.V (Missionary Fraternity of Priests for the City).
He fondly remembers those eight years as a hospital chaplain. This particular mission changed his ministry in the way he experienced it. He concretely learned to listen and accompany.
In 2020, he was appointed pastor of the parish of St. Anthony of Padua in Paris. It is with great joy that he continually discovers the beautiful fervor that brings together such diverse people around the figure of St. Anthony.
Novena Prayer
Prayer to St. Anthony
Oh Saint Anthony, Powerful intercessor, I beg you to take paternal care of my soul, my body, my affairs, and my entire life; Nothing can harm me as long as I am under such a protector.