The relics of St Anthony of Padua will visit St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th June 2016. The relics will be welcomed at the Cathedral at 4pm on the Thursday afternoon and a special Mass will be celebrated on that evening by Archbishop Eamon Martin at 7.30pm.
The last time the relics of St Anthony visited Ireland, there were traffic jams in cities and towns across the country as devotees flocked to honour their much loved Saint – the 13th century friar who was one of the earliest members of the Franciscan Order founded by St Francis in 1209. It’s expected that large numbers of people will visit St Patrick’s Cathedral during the two days to express their devotion to the Saint. St Anthony will be visiting in the form of two relics, one of which is the relic Pope Francis venerated sixteen years ago in Argentina as Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires. The future Pope led a procession through the streets of the Argentinian capital in 2000, carrying in his hands a reliquary containing a piece of St Anthony’s floating rib.
Pope Francis’ devotion to St Anthony is due to the Saint’s love, care and concern for the poor and marginalised. Known for helping people find lost items, St Anthony intercedes with those trying to find a job, a home, faith, love, hope and mercy.
“Relics are part of the body of a saint who was the Temple of the Holy Spirit” (Pope Francis)
The relics will be accompanied in Ireland by Fr Mario Conte, editor of the Messenger of St Anthony, the magazine published by the Conventual Franciscan Friars of St Anthony’s Basilica in Padua, Italy, where the Saint’s tomb is located. In his writings, St Anthony often speaks of mercy, describing God as the “Father of Mercy”. Pope Francis has made mercy one of the primary focuses of his papacy and the Jubilee Year of Mercy is a special period of universal pardon, emphasising God’s forgiveness and mercy. The relics will remain exposed during the Masses that will be celebrated on the two days. At the conclusion of each Mass, those attending will be invited to approach the relics and receive a special blessing.
Thursday 16 June
4pm Relics welcomed to St Patrick’s Cathedral
5.30pm Evening Prayer
7.30pm Mass
10pm Night Prayer
Friday 17 June
8am Mass
10am Mass
12noon Rosary
1pm Relics depart