August 1, 2022
Dear Companion of St. Anthony:
Peace and all good.
The prayer of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin begins, βAbove all, trust in the slow work of God.β This is a saying that gives me great hope. We all get preoccupied by the issues of daily life. The days and months go by so quickly, but sometime in our everyday lives change happens at a much slower pace. This is when we must trust in the slow work of God.
Here at the Companions Office and the Shrine, I have been watching the development of the St. Anthony Garden of Eternity which is being developed on the west side of the property. Each Sunday as I walk out to the garden, I see the different areas that have been completed or new plants that have been added. Although I was given no timeline for itsβ completion, I have had to be patient that in time it will be finished and completed well.
We often say to ourselves, time marches on. As we enter the month of August, we will be reminded of back-to-school sales, last minute getaways before Labor Day. Above all these things this summer I simply ask that you be still and know that God is very near to you. God will be continuing His great work in your life β slowly, but surely. St. Anthony, pray for us.
Many thanks for your continued thoughtfulness and support of the Companions of St. Anthony.
In Christ and St. Anthony,
Fr. Richard-Jacob Forcier, OFM Conv.
Spiritual Guardian, Companions of St. Anthony
Director and Rector of the Shrine of St. Anthony
