Faithful Gather to Venerate Relic of St. Anthony of Padua
The relic of St. Anthony of Padua at the Franciscan Church of St. Bonaventure
in Toronto, Ontario
One evening in the middle of March, the parking lot of the Franciscan Church of St. Bonaventure in Toronto, Ontario was completely full. Visitors pulling onto the church property with their vehicles had to turn around and park their cars at Edwards Gardens next door.
Hundreds of faithful gathered for Mass
Inside the church, hundreds of people sat in the pews. Many others stood along the church walls. Along the nave, a long queue of people moved slowly towards the altar at the front of which stood an important relic of St. Anthony of Padua (encased in a golden bust of the beloved Franciscan saint himself).
Friars Justin, Mario, and Danilo celebrate Mass
When Friar Rick Riccioli – pastor of St. Bonaventure – announced that Mass was about to start, the line of people dispersed. Every one would have an opportunity to venerate St. Anthony’s relic later on in the evening.
Friar Justin Biase – the Minister Provincial for Conventual Franciscan Immaculate Conception Province – celebrated that evening’s Mass with Friars Mario Conte and Danilo Salezze. Friar Justin had come to Toronto from Rensselaer, New York. Friars Mario and Danilo had brought the St. Anthony relic from Padua, Italy, a city where they work and live.
Many faithful gathered after Mass to venerate the St. Anthony of Padua relic
Mass with the relic of St. Anthony of Padua was a spiritually uplifting experience. The celebrating friar-priests and the congregation were united as one faith community. Simply being in the presence of this community, one could not help but feel joyous and optimistic about life. Friar Mario Conte’s excellent homily informed everyone about the meaning of relics in our faith and about St. Anthony of Padua.
Once Mass finished, the faithful did indeed assemble in front of the relic again. They were all patient and quiet. When they had their moment with the relic, they often closed their eyes and reached out to God through prayer. During these instances, they truly radiated their faith out to the world.
(Source of all related images on webpage and homepage: www.franciscans.org.) |
