On June 13, 2024, the Conventual Franciscan community at the Friary of St. Anthony of the Baths (La Vigna) in Rome celebrated the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua.
The celebration also marked the closing of the 2023-24 academic year. The day began at 7:00 a.m. with Mass presided over by the Guardian, Friar Germano TOGNETTI. In his homily, Friar Germano encouraged the friars to imitate St. Anthony: a man who studied the word of God, preached it and lived it.
Later, the friars recited Evening Prayer and invoked a blessing upon some loaves of St. Anthony’s bread [to be distributed to the poor]. Those attending the celebration included members of the local community, friars from the other General Houses in Rome, His Eminence Cardinal Mauro GAMBETTI, OFM Conv., as well as various priests, religious and laity who were invited to the celebration. After Evening Prayer, the feast day celebrations concluded with a solemn dinner.
Friar Gregory AMORE
