Throughout history God has called many messengers to teach, inspire and help us, particularly in times of trouble when our faith and hope are challenged. Among the most beloved of these messengers is St. Anthony of Padua, hailed by many as The Miracle Worker and the Patron of our Secular Franciscan Fraternity.
This messenger of God was known as a great preacher of sermons even though that wasn’t his first choice of ministry. Anthony had really wanted to be a missionary to the Muslims and even hoped to become a martyr for the faith in imitation of the first Franciscan Martyrs..
God had other plans for Anthony. He lived the hidden life of contemplation in a small friary. In obedience he took on the work of preaching and became a man of uncommon holiness who brought the gift of faith to the faithless, hope to the hopeless and love to the loveless. His conversions were legendary as was his passion for speaking the truth and proclaiming the Gospel. Time and again, those who pray to St. Anthony for the recovery of losses, great and small, find their prayers answered. Some have prayed for the return of a treasured memento. Others that they may have employment after a job loss. Still others have asked for the saint’s intercession to restore health and happiness - and all have received the blessing of a closer walk with the Holy Spirit who hears the prayers of all believers.
It is almost impossible to think of St. Anthony without thinking of the age old tradition of giving to St. Anthony’s Bread. This is a term used for gifts given to the poor in thanksgiving for blessings received from God through the intercession of St. Anthony. Legend has it that a shopkeeper had lost her keys and was going to have the locksmith break open the door as none of his master keys would work. This would mean a great expense for repair of the door and putting in a new lock. However, she decided to wait while praying for St. Anthony’s intercession and she promised to give an offering for the poor in his honor if the door could be opened. The locksmith tried his keys once more and the door opened. Since then many who have had answers to their prayers through St. Anthony’s intercession have given offerings to charity in his honor.
A wonderful way to honor St. Anthony and to thank God for so many blessings to our Fraternity is to be mindful of the poor and to share with them on this feast day.
adapted from Bro. Alexis Nagle, TOR
St. Bernardine Monastery Hollidaysburg
NoteL Bro. Alexis Nagle, TOR, was spiritual assistant to St. Anthony of Padua Fraternity, Minneapolis, at its founding. He passed away November 16, 2004. This article was found and passed on by Fr. Seraphin Conley, TOR.