St Anthony’s Ashram Jeppu begins nine days novena prayers in preparation for the feast of Relic

Mangalore:- The Ashram will celebrate the feast in honour of the Relic of St Anthony on February 15^th at 6 p.m. at Milagres Church grounds. In preparation for the feast the nine days novena will begin on Saturday 06-02-2021. Rev Fr Bonaventure Nazareth the Parish Priest of Our Lady of Miracles Church Milagres will inaugurate the novena by hoisting the St Anthony’s flag at Milagres Church grounds and then celebrate the first day’s Holy mass. After the Holy mass on the first day of the novena there will be a special prayer for the children. These days many students are appearing for the exam and some others are preparing for the  exam. Hence a special prayer will be offered for the children.

On different days of the novena prayers will be offered for different groups of people e.g. sick and elderly, unemployed, married couple, victims of evil habits. Prayers will be offered for their solace and well-being. The choir groups from different parishes will come and sing on different days thus adding beauty to the devotion.

The background of the feast: St Anthony was born in 1195 in town of Lisbon, Portugal. He died in the year 1231 at the young age of 36 years. During  his short life he toiled tirelessly in preaching the word of God and also healing many people in the name of Jesus. He spent his last years in Padua of Italy. 

Hence he is known as St Anthony of Padua. Thirty two years after his death when his tomb was opened those present there witnessed a miracle. Tongue is the most delicate part of human body. When the body is buried the tongue should be the first part to decay. But in the case of St Anthony even though the entire body turned into dust his tongue and vocal chords remained intact without any sign of decay. Those present there understood it as a miracle made by Almighty God for the holy man for spreading his Word. From then onwards the tongue of St Anthony and the vocal chords have been preserved in the Basilica of St Anthony in Padua, Italy. The devotees of St Anthony all over the world celebrate the feast in honour of the holy Relics of St Anthony on the 15^th February.