By editor - 17 May, 2016
Large crowds are expected to turn out across Ireland next month for the visit of the relics of St Anthony – the Saint of lost things.
Last time the relics visited Ireland there were traffic jams in cities and towns around 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.
2016 looks set to see a similar outpouring of devotion in Cahir, Killarney, Knock, Sligo, Dublin, Longford, Derry and Armagh.
They will afterwards travel on to Scotland and England.
From the 9th to the 16th of June 2016, St Anthony will be visiting Ireland 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.
The future Pope Francis with the relics of St Anthony in Argentina in 2000.
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 parts 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 Saint 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 Eucharistic Celebrations taking place on the dates and at the venues below. At the conclusion of each Mass, all those attending will be invited to approach the relics and to receive an extraordinary blessing.
RELIC TOUR PROGRAMME: Ireland June 9 – 16
THURSDAY, JUNE 9
TIPPERARY CAHIR
St. Mary’s Parish
10.00am; 7.30 pm: Mass
Veneration all day
FRIDAY, JUNE 10
KILLARNEY
St Mary’s Cathedral
10.30am; 6.15 pm: Mass
Veneration all day
SATURDAY, JUNE 11
KNOCK
Basilica of Our Lady
11.00am: Veneration all day
3.00pm (Polish); 7.30 pm: Masses
SUNDAY, JUNE 12
SLIGO
St. Mary’s Cathedral
12.00noon; 7.00pm: Masses
Veneration all day after 12.00noon Mass
MONDAY, JUNE 13 Saint Anthony’s Feast Day
DUBLIN
St Mary’s Pro Cathedral
Masses 12.45pm; 17.45pm with Archbishop Diarmuid Martin
Veneration between Masses until 8pm
TUESDAY, JUNE 14
LONGFORD
St Mel’s Cathedral
Masses 1.00pm; 6.30pm with Bishop Francis Duffy
Veneration all day
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15
DERRY
St Eugene’s Cathedral
Formal welcome of the relics at St Eugene’s 12noon.
Veneration continues until 7.30pm Mass
Veneration continues until 10pm
THURSDAY, JUNE 16
DERRY
St Eugene’s Cathedral
Mass at 8am and 10am.
Veneration until 1pm
THURSDAY, JUNE 16
ARMAGH
St Patrick’s Cathedral
Veneration from 4pm
7.30pm Mass with Archbishop Eamon Martin
FRIDAY, JUNE 17
ARMAGH
St Patrick’s Cathedral
Masses 8am and 10am
Veneration continues until 1pm
