Tony’s Tidbits

We don't want you to be disappointed like these turkeys were if you find the doors locked Thanksgiving weekend. St. Anthony's will be closed from Thursday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Dec. 1 so our staff and volunteers can enjoy the holiday weekend with their friends and families.

On November 1, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of All Saints, and on November 2, the Feast of All Souls. As we celebrate, we especially remember our patron saints, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Clare of Assisi. We also remember all those who have died who once served, supported and loved St. Anthony's, including our Capuchin brothers, former staff members, volunteers and donors. All you holy men and women, pray for us!

The Peace Light is a perpetual flame originating from the site of Jesus’ birth and spread around the world with a message of peace and friendship. The sharing of the Peace Light with others began in 1986 in Austria. The Peace Light first came to the U.S.A. in 2000. On Monday, we held a prayer service welcoming the Peace Light to St. Anthony Spirituality Center where it will be kept in the main chapel. Our world, and our communities, are still greatly in need of peace. St. Anthony’s is proud and humbled to join this opportunity of promoting Peace and Friendship.

Today is the feast day of one of our patrons, St. Francis of Assisi. Francis’s devotion to the human Jesus and his desire to follow Jesus’ example of poverty and charity, as well as Francis' personal charisma, drew thousands of followers. He is known as the father of all Franciscans, having founded the Order of Friars Minor for men, the Poor Clares for women and the Third Order for lay people (which now also includes religious brothers and sisters). He is also known as the patron saint of ecology, for his love and reverence for all of creation, affectionately addressing all creatures, plants and even the elements as brother and sister. We wish a happy and blessed feast day to all our Franciscan brothers and sisters! Peace and all good!

Today is the first day of fall, the autumnal equinox. There is no better time to enjoy the beauty of our woods and grounds than during fall as the trees display their "coat of many colors". As temperatures cool, the woods are a wonderful place to spend some time in prayer and contemplation. Come and see!

Today Franciscans celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis. In September 1224, two years before his death, St. Francis of Assisi received the marks of Christ in his hands, feet, and side. Pope Francis told a group of Franciscans that the Stigmata, or sharing the wounds of Christ, serves as a reminder that a Christian is part of “the body of Christ.” Christ's wounds are signs of his love and are a call to reach out with his love to the "stigmatized," those who bear "the scars of the sufferings and injustices they have endured or the mistakes they have made."

Today is the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and marks the beginning of the Season of Creation. From now until the Feast of St. Francis on Oct. 4, we invite you to join us in prayer, hope and action to care for our common home. - - - "For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance." - Rom. 8:19-25

This photo was taken 95 years ago of a Laymen's Retreat group. The men were at St. Anthony's from August 23-25, 1929 for a weekend of prayer and preaching, rest and reflection. I count 65 retreatants in the picture, plus one friar who was likely the retreat director for that weekend. Retreats were held on weekends throughout the summer months from 1924-1934. Retreatants were either laymen or clergy, as no women were allowed in the cloister during those early years. Retreats began Friday mornings with Mass and were silent until the noon meal on Sunday, which marked the end of the retreat.

Happy 105th Birthday to St. Anthony’s! These doors officially opened for the first time on August 15, 1919, one hundred and five years ago today. This grand old house has seen its share of changes but still stands strong to welcome all seeking to become more fully human and more deeply connected with God, self, others, and creation. We pray for God’s continued blessing on this old house and all who pass through these doors.