Several years ago there was a very popular television program by the name of M*A*S*H. There was a corporal named Klinger. Klinger always wanted to get out of the army by being proclaimed insane. He tried many ways and one time he was in trouble because he had a very short fuse and a very big temper. He would fight just about anybody and when his commanding officer asked him to try to calm down he replied that his wife always told him to count to ten and then pray to Saint Anthony, When the commanding officer asked him if it worked he said that he never ever got to the prayer he would start counting and around three or four would start slugging.
While this little joke is kind of funny it can teach us a great lesson. Maybe we pray and ask the help of St. Anthony only after the problems already exist. We need to pray to be delivered from all evil beforehand. Sound familiar? Jesus taught us the Our Father and most of the petitions are set in the future. We can take time and pray asking the prayers of St. Anthony before things happen.
If we have a flaw or weakness we can ask him to pray with us and for us to be strong and patient. I think we should probably take Klinger's wife Lavern's advice although maybe in reverse. Pray first and then maybe count to ten before we act instead of react.
St. Anthony of Padua, one... two....three... pray for us!
Mark
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