By Jacqueline Kelly –
June is not only the month to look forward to the rains in order to beat the heat wave but to look forward to the novenas and feast of Saint Anthony, the patron and much-loved saint of lost articles; and towards the end of the month the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Saint Anthony not only helps us to find lost articles but helps us to find the path to true happiness. To seek his help when we have lost the right direction that leads us to god and fight darkness and thus pave the way to the light of eternal life. He not only helps the old who have lost their vigour and vitality as age catches up but also helps the youth who are in a transitional stage — from childhood to adulthood — and are lost in the fast moving modern digital era to come back on track. Youth seek the intercession of
Saint Anthony to help them find the right career and vocation in life.
When we are old and lost in our own aches and pains and our children have left their nest in search of greener pastures and the old feel neglected and lost, it is time to seek the intercession of Saint Anthony to help them find peace and contentment in mind, body and heart.
Young couples seek the intercession of Saint Anthony to find life-partners. Children seek the intercession of Saint Anthony to help them find the right answers to their problems with regard to their studies.
Teen or Trying Time?
Teen time is a wonderful time! It can also be a trying time. The sense of belonging-one is neither a child nor an adult can prove critical. In the 21st Century, popularity amongst friends and a master over technology makes an adolescent very popular and he/she is well-liked and highly esteemed amongst his/her peer groups.
Great happiness comes from being a friend to everyone, rather than to just a few.
Popularity is something many teens worry about with much anxiety. Resolve to be popular first of all with god. Life is great, if you never forget why you’re living and where you’re heading.
Girls, feminism is the key! And never forget your tremendous power of influence – ‘a boy’s just as good as the girl he’s with’. Boys, nothing can attract the girls like good manners and speech and thoughtfulness on the part of a boy. Good manners also includes doing the right thing at the right time etiquette-wise. A teenager can only develop properly with the right outlook on life. The right basis for living is the best start towards many happy, full years of adulthood.
Believe in god, that he created you, and that he loves you. God wants you to be happy –
temporarily happy on this earth and eternally happy with him in heaven. However, with the introduction of digital technology there are brand new 21st Century rules for moral living.
The Ten Commandments are pushed aside as being ‘old-fashioned’ and ‘out-dated’. Sin for the youth does not seem to exist. Times have changed but human nature has not.
One type of maturity which the youth are often accused of lacking is maturity of judgement or prudence. Prudence means ‘to look before you leap’. In other words, before you act, consider the morality of your actions and reflect on the possible results of them.
Choosing Right Over Wrong
Many teenagers recognize right from wrong but they say, ‘it’s too hard to be good’. Their
trouble is that they lack strong will power. Their priority is to impress their friends. Saint Augustine once wrote that without the powerful help afforded by religion, it is easier to rise from the dead than it is to lead a pure life. With prayer, however, not only purity and goodness but even sanctity – the highest form of Christian heroism can be yours.
Anything less than this acceptance of self-results in a feeling of inferiority – a feeling that I’m no good. Nobody cares about me because I’m not worth caring about. This feeling leads to all the vices of unpopularity. A proper attitude towards one’s work plays a very important part in the preservation of mental health.it is very important in order to lead a happy life is to learn to take joys and sorrows in your stride. Faith in god and faith in yourself will help you to march forward in life and achieve your dreams.
In the midst of the turmoil of growing up and keeping abreast with the digital media the
youth tend to get lost in keeping pace with the social media and it leads to depression
and suicidal tendencies. Intercede to Saint Anthony to guide you and help you find the right direction in life.
Everyone must die. Sooner or later, we will pass from this world. We do not know when, but we may be sure that when death comes no one can escape. One day the thread of our life will be cut off, forever, let us imitate the example of Saint Anthony who fortook the world in his youth to prepare himself for a happy death.
Parents too should inculcate good habits and skills in children and not let the youth waste time in frivolous activities.
Catholic teenagers show their love for god by loving and working for his church.
Who said it’s not great to be a 21st Century teenager – as you strive to grow daily to
be more perfect in life, the world will be a better place to live in.
Remember the sky is the limit and so are god’s graces when invoked with prayer and faith and love.
Teenagers! Aim for the sky. If you are lost, seek the intercession of Saint Anthony. Cry out for help the saint will come at once to your aid. Throw yourself at his feet and he will help you to break and destroy the chain of your sins.
Today, Saint Anthony is one of the most popular saints. He is called the ‘Saint of the Whole World’ because the faithful of the whole world love and venerate him. ‘Ask the wonder worker with confidence and he will obtain what you seek’ says Saint Bonaventure.
O blessed Tongue! That never ceased to praise god and taught others to bless him, it is
now manifest how precious you are in his sight. Pray that by your intercession we may
enjoy life eternal.