Devotion of 13 Tuesdays in honour of St. Anthony



EIGHTH TUESDAY

Introductory Prayer
Meditation

The sea obeys

1. Mariners and those who live on the coast are more frequently exposed to the fury of storms and tempests, which threaten to plunge them and their ships into the watery abyss of the ocean, or destroy their houses that stand in exposed positions on the coasts. It is natural, then, when they see themselves thus menaced to implore the protection of those who are so powerful in heaven, on earth and in the bosom of the deep. The votive offerings of the ship-wrecked and of the sailors show how successful have been their invocation of Saint Anthony in their distress caused by storms.

2. Human life is a kind of sea, subject to storms and tempests, its hidden reefs and dangerous shallows, its corsairs and pirates. The ship sets out from its port, and it knows not whether it will return or not the young man sets out from his paternal home to seek his fortune in the world, and no one knows the unforeseen disasters which will overtake him before he is able to return to the port of eternity.

3. Let us then hasten to invoke the assistance of Saint Anthony, and contemplate and ponder upon the example of his life, like the light-house and the north-star directing us to the port of our eternal home in heaven.

Meditate for a while on these truths and then recite the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

Here ask the grace which you desire to receive.

Concluding Prayer