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Doctors of the Catholic Church

Saint Anthony of Padua

a verson of the 2014 computer based forensic reconstruction of the face of Saint Anthony of Padua based on a digital version of his skull; swiped from Wikimedia Commons

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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 the church in 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 travelling, 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. Miracle worker. One of the most beloved of saints, his images and statues are found everywhere – though none of them portray him as a heavy-set man, which some reports claim he was. Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church on 16 January 1946.

One source of the well-known patronage for the recovery of lost objects comes from a legend that, long after Anthony’s death, his old prayer book was kept as a treasured relic, and one day it disappeared. People prayed for help in finding the lost item, a novice found it and returned it; he later admitted that he had “borrowed” the book and returned it after receiving a vision of an angry Anthony.

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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 intheir heart the invitation of Christ. – Saint Anthony of Padua

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

Not without a long procession does the devil wish the sinner to be carried to his grave, and therefore he arranges the file after the usual maimer: Ambition carries the cross, Detraction the incense, Oppression the holy – or rather the cursed – water, Hypocrisy bears the lights. There are two chanters: one is the Fallacious Confidence of living a long time, and he sings, Requiem aeternam – you still have abundant time; the other is Presumption as to the Divine Mercy, and he sings, In Paradisnm le ducant angeli. Pride celebrates the office. Then follow Vain-Glory on the right, Envy on the left, and, walking after, Anger, Impatience, Insolence, Blasphemy, Contumely, Arrogance, Lasciviousness, Gluttony, Idle Talk, Boasting, Injury, Curiosity, and Uneasiness. Lo! what a crowd in the conscience following him who is dead in trespasses and sin. – from a sermon by Saint Anthony of Padua


30 posted on 06/13/2018 9:44:36 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
The Word Among Us

Meditation: 1 Kings 18:20-39

Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

Call louder. . . . Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened. (1 Kings 18:27)

What do you do to get someone’s attention? Shout? Jump up and down? Shake them? Sometimes nothing works, and that’s exactly what happened in today’s first reading.

The prophets of Baal tried everything to rouse their god: they shouted and hopped around their altar for hours; they even slashed themselves with swords, to no avail. Of course, we know that Baal didn’t respond because he wasn’t real. Elijah, on the other hand, prayed a simple prayer to the God of Israel—and God answered.

We all have times when we relate to God as the prophets of Baal did. When prayer seems dry or God feels far off, we might think, “If only I prayed longer or better or tried harder. Then God would pay attention or come close to me or answer my prayers.”

But is this true? How should we draw near to God? Elijah gives us three clues: Remember. Speak simply. Trust God.

Remember. When Elijah built his altar of stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel, he reminded the Israelites of who they were: the people God had chosen. He reminded them that their God was the God they had known for generations: the faithful One who sees, and hears, and answers his people. Remember that you are chosen and loved by this same faithful God.

Speak simply. Elijah used simple, direct language in speaking to God. You don’t need perfect words or impressive rituals to get God to hear your prayers. Have confidence and speak plainly to your Father.

Trust God. Elijah believed God would answer his prayer on Mount Carmel, and God responded dramatically. Sometimes, though, God answers prayers in ways that are unexpected, even undesired. What then? Trust the Lord, and wait. Continue to remember and speak simply: Lord, you are my hope. I believe you hear my prayers. I trust you to answer me and bring good out of this situation.

You don’t need to jump through hoops to please God and get his attention. You don’t need to beg him to draw near to you. He is already close, and he loves you so much that he wants to hear all that is on your heart—today and always.

“Thank you, Father, for hearing my every prayer. You are my hope.”

Psalm 16:1-2, 4-5, 8, 11
Matthew 5:17-19

31 posted on 06/13/2018 9:46:46 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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