Prayer (§368)

O GLORIOUS St Anthony, who, on hearing one single precept of the Gospel while assisting at Mass, didst abandon riches and the comforts of home, and retire from thy country and the world into a desert; who, though burdened with years and wasted with penance, didst not hesitate to leave the desert, and make many journeys to Alexandria in Egypt to denounce publicly the impiety of the heretics and to strengthen wavering Christians in the Faith, eager, like a true confessor of JESUS CHRIST, to seize the palm of martyrdom, if only GOD had permitted it; obtain for us, we beseech thee, the grace to be ever zealous for the cause of JESUS CHRIST and his Church, and to persevere to the end of our days in believing the truths, observing the precepts, and practising the counsels of the Catholic Religion, and in imitating thy virtues; so that by faithfully following thy example here on earth we may rejoice in the participation of thy glory in Heaven through all eternity. PATER, Ave and Gloria thrice.

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ST ALOYSIUS GONZAGA