ST. ANTHONY
Luke,
Chapter 8, Verse 50
On
hearing this, Jesus answered him, “Do not be afraid; just have faith and she will be saved.”
When we ask something of our Lord, make it big, and
believe He can do it. For the measure of faith that you have determines the
measure of the healing from the Lord. I remember over 40 years ago I was a
young man stationed in Barbados and became involved with a Christian cult of
sorts, where a small group practiced faith as a measure of power. The leader
taught that as men we are created in the image of God and we have the power to
create miracles if we have the faith to do it. It was explained that even evil
men can tap this power provided they believe which explains why some
non-Christian’s can-do feats or miracles. As I evolved in Christ I drifted away
from this group but still today I believe all is possible via faith. This group
I was in was called, “The Way.” I did an internet search for it but could not
find it but I did find an interesting Catholic resource written by Saint Jose
Maria Escriva called “The Way.” “You feel a gigantic faith. He who gives you
that faith, will give you the means.”
The strength,
the attraction of The Way is largely due to the fact that it is based on real,
living experience, being the fruit of the author's work as a priest which began
in 1925. The book appeared first in 1934 under the title Consideraciones
espirituales and later (in 1939) received its definitive title, after being
greatly expanded. Over the years, more than four and a half million copies have
been sold, in 43 different languages. This is one of the main attractions of
the book-its direct, conversational style, its personal and deeply human
character. As a reviewer in Osservatore Romano (March 24, 1950) put it:
"Msgr. Escriva de Balaguer has written something more than a masterpiece;
he has written straight from the heart, and straight to the heart go the short
paragraphs which make up The Way."
Anthony
is one of the most popular saints in the Church. He is the patron of lost
things and numerous other causes. In Brazil, he is considered a general of the
army; he is the patron of the poor and has been recognized as a wonderworker
from the moment of his death. He was born in Portugal and entered the
Augustinian monastery of Sao Vicente in Lisbon when he was fifteen. When news
of the Franciscan martyrs in Morocco reached him, he joined the Franciscans at
Coimbra. At his own request, he was sent as a missionary to Morocco, but he
became ill, and on his return journey his boat was driven off course and he
landed in Sicily. He took part in St. Francis' famous Chapter of Mats in 1221
and was assigned to the Franciscan province of Romagna. He became a preacher by
accident. When a scheduled preacher did not show up for an ordination ceremony
at Forli, the Franciscan superior told Anthony to go into the pulpit. His
eloquence stirred everyone, and he was assigned to preach throughout northern
Italy. Because of his success in converting heretics, he was called the
"Hammer of Heretics" and because of his learning, St. Francis himself
appointed him a teacher of theology. St. Anthony of Padua was such a forceful
preacher that shops closed when he came to town, and people stayed all night in
church to be present for his sermons. He became associated with Padua because
he made this city his residence and the center of his great preaching mission. After
a series of Lenten sermons in 1231, Anthony's strength gave out and he went
into seclusion at Camposanpiero but soon had to be carried back to Padua. He
did not reach the city but was taken to the Poor Clare convent at Arcella,
where he died. He was thirty-six years old, and the whole city of Padua turned
out in mourning for his passing. He was canonized within a year of his death
and was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1946.
Things to
Do
·
St.
Anthony was a great lover of the poor. Deprive yourself of some treat and put
the money saved in the poor box.
·
St.
Anthony's Bread refers to an episode told in the Rigaldina, the oldest
life of St. Anthony. A Paduan mother, who lived near the Basilica during its
construction, had left little Thomas, her 20 month old son, alone in the
kitchen. The little boy, while playing, ended up head first in a tub of water.
His mother found him lifeless. She screamed desperately but she didn't give up.
She called on the Saint. She made a vow: if she obtained the blessing of her
child back to life, she would donate to the poor bread equal to the weight of
her son to the poor. Her prayer was answered. Read
more about St. Anthony's Bread and consider donating to St. Anthony's
charities.
·
St.
Anthony is invoked by women in search of good husbands, so if you're single and
in search of a spouse, today is a good day to make a visit to a church or
shrine dedicated to St. Anthony to make your petition to this generous saint!
·
Because
St. Anthony was buried on a Tuesday and many miracles accompanied his funeral,
Tuesdays are special days of honoring him throughout the year. It is customary
to pray a Novena
to him on thirteen consecutive Tuesdays.
Daily Devotions
·
Please
pray for me and this ministry
·
Please
Pray for Senator
McCain and our country; asking Our Lady of Beauraing to
intercede.
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