In keeping with tradition, on June 13, 2024, the feast of St. Anthony of Padua, hundreds, if not thousands of devotees of the saint gathered at the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua in Lviv, Ukraine.
People of different Christian denominations came from Lviv and the surrounding areas to visit the shrine and pay homage to their beloved saint. Everyone was united in the belief that God will not refuse the pleas of those who pray through the intercession of St. Anthony. On the feast day, the square behind the shrine where the celebrations take place was transformed into a flower garden, since the faithful brought a large quantity of lilies as gifts.
Mass that day was presided over by the Most Reverend Edward KAWA, OFM Conv., Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Lviv. Those concelebrating included Friar Tomáš LESŇÁK, the Assistant General for the FEMO Federation, and the priests of the Apostolic Prefecture of Lviv, together with the Prefect, Monsignor Jan NIKIEL.
At the beginning of the Mass, the bishop said: “Today we ask God, through the intercession of St. Anthony, whom we venerate here in a special way, for an end to the war and peace for Ukraine. May God receive and hear all the intentions we brought with us today.”
In his homily, Bishop KAWA pointed out that St. Anthony is known for his effective intercession with God. He lived only 36 years. It would seem that little could be accomplished in such a short time. However, God has caused his workings to continue for over 800 years. St. Anthony helps those who ask for something in faith. “We currently have many war-related tragedies; each of us today is looking for something, and St. Anthony helps us to find things and people that are lost. Today each of us is lost; none of us knows what to do, how to plan our lives, what decisions to make at this moment or what future awaits us. God does not abandon us, he gives us the saints and through the example of their lives, he shows us what to do. St. Anthony trusted God completely. He immersed himself in God’s Word. He was a man of prayer and had a great reverence for the Eucharist. St. Anthony is depicted with the Child Jesus, because that is how God appeared to him. The saint holds a lily in his hand, because he lived in chastity, that is, in sanctifying grace. So, if we don’t know what to do today, God will help us. God tells us through St. Anthony: ‘Listen to me, listen to my Word.’ Whenever we have the chance, let us take part in the Eucharist. Let us take care to have a pure heart and live in sanctifying grace. Then we will see the miracles we wait for and pray for. This will happen if we, like St. Anthony, are totally dedicated to God.”
The Mass concluded with a Eucharistic Procession around the church and a blessing with the relics of St. Anthony. All those present prayed for peace in Ukraine, for missing soldiers to be found as soon as possible, for their loved ones to return home, for the wounded to be healed, and for the deceased to be granted eternal salvation.
Friar Stanisław PĘKALA
