Tax Identification Number: 20-4432709
A New York State Domestic Not-For-Profit Corporation
What Is St. Anthony Bread?
Saint Anthony’s Bread is a term used for offerings made in thanksgiving to God for blessings received through the prayers of St. Anthony.
Alms are sent to Saint Anthony’s Bread so we might be able to purchase food for the needy. Attempt to assist in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy as directed by Christ himself. There is also a tradition that parents make a monetary gift for the poor after invoking Saint Anthony as the protectorate of their child.
There is more than one legend relating to the donations to Saint Anthony’s Bread. One of those situations has been handed down since the year 1263, and we are told the story of a child drowned near the Basilica of St. Anthony which was still being built. The child’s mother promised that if the child was restored to her she would give for the poor an amount of grain equal to the child’s weight. Her prayer and promise were rewarded with the boy’s return to life.
There is another legend that can be traced by to a shopkeeper in Toulon, France. A locksmith was prepared to break open her shop door after no key would open it. However, the shopkeeper asked the locksmith to try his keys one more time after she prayed and promised to give bread to the poor in honor of St. Anthony if the door would open without force. The door then opened. When others received favors through the intercession of St. Anthony, they joined the shopkeeper in making offerings to Saint Anthony's Bread in thanksgiving for graces and blessings received.
· So, what does St. Anthony's Bread Schenectady actually do and why?
Answer: We serve our brothers and sisters both spiritually and physically by responding to what Jesus says to us in Matthew 25:
"Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.'"
Works of mercy is the willingness to help anyone in time of need especially through pardon or reconciliation. It is a habitual preference of the human will. Mercy differs from compassion, for it is putting our kind disposition into practice through our readiness to assist another child of the Creator.
· There are seven practices of charity toward our neighbor, based on Christ's prophecy of the Last Judgment that will determine each person's final destiny: Feed the hungry ~ Give drink to the thirsty ~ Clothe the naked ~ Shelter the homeless ~ Visit the sick ~ Visit those in prison ~ Bury the dead
· Saint Anthony’s Bread Apostolate will respond to those who call, throughout the County of Schenectady, New York. We will appraise the need being sought by our trained and experienced ministers, and answer that call in the most appropriate way we are able.
What is the Mission of Saint Anthony’s Bread?
As Penitent Brothers of the Saint Anthony of Padua Regional Community, we are people in shared harmony, celebrating God's love as personified in St. Anthony of Padua. They include the people of God and all those who live and promote the values of spiritual wholeness and healing; through Christian charity, living the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Our goal is to develop the Spiritual Works of Mercy into habit, a way of life that animates every act and every contact with others.
Just what do
you do through St. Anthony's Bread?
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Assist with Youth Projects through Altar Service; Catechetical Practices and Teachings of Faith Formation and field trips with our Youth... |
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Allow for emergency assistance to children, through Child Protective Services, contributing to the "good and welfare" of God's helpless, little ones. |
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Assist the Penitent Brothers of Saint Francis of Paola in their ministries to the sick and dying. Offering spiritual nourishment and comfort to those who are suffering and to the bereaved. The Penitent Brothers offer the services of the non-ordained in funeral and graveside services as well as facilitating the final Sacrament of Viaticum when the ordained clergy are unavailable. |
The Penitent Brothers ~ In the Spirit of Saint Francis of Paola
WE ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS BY: Being "Brother and Sister" to all of God's Creation and by living out the Corporal and
Spiritual Works of Mercy directed to us by Jesus himself.
Click here for Life's Guide
Please send your contributions to:
Saint Anthony’s Bread Apostolate
836 Sanders Avenue
Scotia, New York 12302-1134
E-mail:
saintanthony_bread@nycap.rr.com