Saint Anthony of Padua

Happy St. Anthony of Padua Day. I will be celebrating with you in prayer from Omaha.

Did you know?

·      St. Anthony’s baptismal name was Ferdinand. He was born in 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal and died 1231. He died at age 36.

·      He was born into a family that descended from the First Crusade (1095-1101). His mother was from a descendent from a King of Austria.

·      He first entered religious life as an Augustinian where he studied scripture, but when we saw Franciscan martyrs being conveyed back to Lisbon, he desired martyrdom.

·      He entered to Franciscans to preach to the Saracens (Muslims) to convert them to Christianity.

·      He reluctantly became an orator after the Dominicans, who were skilled in preaching, felt too uncomfortable to preach during an ordination. His preaching corresponded to the spirit, ideal, and character of Francis. He preached against heresy and against moral abuses.

·      Here are some of his early miracles:

o   A horse would not eat until Anthony placed the Blessed Sacrament before it so the horse could adore it.

o   Poisoned food given to him by Italian heretics lost its poison when Anthony blessed it with the cross.

o   He gave a sermon to the fishes on the bank of the river Brenta near Padua.

·      As Provincial, he had other miracles:

o   He appeared in two places on Holy Thursday, 1226.

o   While preaching in the town square, he preserved his audience from being rained upon while the surrounding areas were drenched.

o   While preaching, he predicted the ambo (lecturn) would break down because of the devil. It happened by no other harm came about.

o   By touching a monk with his tunic, he preserved him from moral temptations.

o   While founding a new convent, he preserved a maid-servant of a benefactress from being rained upon as she brought vegetables for their meager meal.

o   The most famous miracle is the appearance of the infant Jesus to him.

o   Fatigued by the journey, he and his companion entered the house of a poor woman, who placed bread and wine before them. She had forgotten, however, to shut off the tap of the wine-barrel, and to add to this misfortune, the Saint's companion broke his glass. Anthony began to pray, and suddenly the glass was made whole, and the barrel filled anew with wine.

o   A young man, Leonardo by name, in a fit of anger kicked his own mother. Repentant, he confessed his fault to St. Anthony who said to him: "The foot of him who kicks his mother deserves to be cut off." Leonardo ran home and cut off his foot. Learning of this, St. Anthony took the amputated member of the unfortunate youth and miraculously rejoined it.

o   The name of Anthony became celebrated throughout the world, and with it the name of Padua. The inhabitants of that city erected to his memory a magnificent temple, whither his precious relics were transferred in 1263, in presence of St. Bonaventure, Minister General at the time. When the vault in which for thirty years his sacred body had reposed was opened, the flesh was found reduced to dust but the tongue uninjured, fresh, and of a lively red color. St. Bonaventure, beholding this wonder, took the tongue affectionately in his hands and kissed it, exclaiming: "O Blessed Tongue that always praised the Lord, and made others bless Him, now it is evident what great merit thou hast before God."