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Also known as: Evangelical
Doctor
Memorial: 13 June
Profile
Anthony's wealthy family wanted him to be a great nobleman, but for the
sake of Christ he became a poor Franciscan. Priest.
When the remains of Saint Berard and his companions, the first Franciscan
martyrs, were brought to be buried in his church, Anthony was moved to
leave his order, enter the Friars Minor, and go to Morocco to evangelize.
Shipwrecked at Sicily, he joined some other brothers who were going to
Portiuncula. Lived in a cave at San Paolo leaving only to attend Mass and
sweep the nearby monastery. One day when a scheduled speaker failed to
appear, the brothers pressed him into speaking. He impressed them so that
he was thereafter constantly traveling, evangelizing, preaching, and
teaching theology through Italy and France.
A gifted speaker, he attracted crowds everywhere he went, speaking in
multiple tongues; legend says that even the fish loved to listen. Wonder
worker. One of the most beloved of saints, his images and statues are
found everywhere. Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church on 16 January 1946.
Born: 1195 at Lisbon, Portugal
Died: 13 June 1231
Canonized: 1232
Name Meaning: inestimable
Patronage
against shipwrecks, against starvation, against starving, American
Indians, amputees, animals, asses, barrenness, boatmen, Brazil, domestic
animals, elderly people, expectant mothers, faith in the Blessed
Sacrament, fishermen, harvests, horses, Lisbon, lost articles, lower
animals, mail, mariners, oppressed people, Padua, Italy, paupers, poor
people, Portugal, pregnant women, sailors, seekers of lost articles,
shipwrecks, starvation, starving people, sterility, swineherds, Tigua
Indians, travel hostesses, travelers, watermen
Representation
book, bread, Infant Jesus, lily
Readings
The saints are like the stars. In his providence Christ conceals them in a
hidden place that they may not shine before others when they might wish to
do so. Yet they are always ready to exchange the quiet of contemplation
for the works of mercy as soon as they perceive in their heart the
invitation of Christ.
Saint Anthony of Padua
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Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions
speak. We are full of words but empty of actions, and therefore are cursed
by the Lord, since he himself cursed the fig tree when he found no fruit
but only leaves. It is useless for a man to flaunt his knowledge of the
law if he undermines its teaching by his actions.
But the apostles "spoke as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech." Happy
the man whose words issue from the Holy Spirit and not from himself!
We should speak, then, as the Holy Spirit gives us the gift of speech. Our
humble and sincere request to the Spirit for ourselves should be that we
may bring the day of Pentecost to fulfillment, insofar as he infuses us
with his grace, by using our bodily senses in a perfect manner by keeping
the commandments. Likewise we shall request that we may be filled with a
keen sense of sorrow and with fiery tongues for confessing the faith so
our deserved reward may be to stand in the blazing splendor of the saints
and to look upon the triune God.
from a sermon by Saint Anthony of Padua
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