In Thailand, a
written and put to music by students of the Lek Nai Tung Kwang school has accompanied the round-the-clock news coverage of the search and rescue operation at the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in far northern Chiang Rai province.The simple melody sung by the children and set to guitar says:
“I beg the skies to show mercy and empathy. My brothers are in Tham Luang Khun Nang Non. Let them pass this danger, I beg.”
Thailand is almost entirely Buddhist, with Christians less than 1% of the population. But of course, Christians around the globe are also praying for the boys’ rescue.
The pope has prayed for them and asked others to pray as well. Even the NY Post called for prayer.
Among hundreds of Catholic saints we can call on in times of need are three whose patronages seem particularly relevant.
St. Anthony of Padua is the patron of lost things and people, and St. Theodore of Sykeon, who lived in the 7th century in Galatia, is the patron saint for AND against rain. And Michael the Archangel is the patron of emergency workers.
Here is a lovely prayer to St. Anthony of Padua
I greet you, Saint Anthony, lily of purity, ornament and glory of Christianity. I greet you, great saint, filled with divine love. I rejoice at the favors our Lord has so generously bestowed on you. I humbly and confidently entreat you to help me, for I know that God has given you charity and pity, as well as power. Good Saint Anthony, meek and humble in spite of your great gifts, and whom we invoke so confidently to help us find that which is lost, pray, I beg of you, that I may never lose my faith, the gift that I cherish most. Behold my needs: (mention your request). I beg of you, by the love you felt toward the little Jesus when He embraced you so lovingly, to tell Him now of my wants. Remember how complete your happiness was when you held Him in your arms. I venerate you, glorious favorite of God, and bow my guilty head before you in humble reverence, while I raise my sad heart full of hope toward the throne of divine mercy, and to you, my intercessor. He who placed Himself in your arms will now fill your hands with all I ask of you. Obtain for me what I desire, if it be God’s holy Will, and I will make known the wondrous power of your intercession for the greater glory of God. Amen.
And today we celebrate...