SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA: Priest and Doctor [1195-1231] Memorial: June 13

SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA: Priest and Doctor [1195-1231]
Memorial: June 13

The Gospel call to leave everything and follow Christ was the rule of Anthony’s life. Over and over again God called him to something new in His plan. Every time Anthony responded with renewed zeal and self-sacrificing to serve his Lord Jesus more completely.

His journey as the servant of God began as a very young man when he decided to join the Augustinians, giving up a future of wealth and power to be a servant of God. Later, when the bodies of the first Franciscan martyrs went through the town where he was stationed, he was again filled with an intense longing to be one of those closest to Jesus Himself: those who die for the Good News.

So Anthony entered the Franciscan Order and set out to preach to the Moors. But an illness prevented him from achieving his goal. He returned to Italy and was stationed in a small hermitage where he spent most of his time praying, reading the Scriptures and doing menial tasks.

The call of God came again at an ordination where no one was prepared to speak. The humble and obedient Anthony hesitantly accepted the task. The years of searching for Jesus in prayer, of reading sacred Scripture and of serving Him in poverty, chastity and obedience had prepared Anthony to allow the Spirit to use his talents. Anthony’s sermon was astounding to those who expected an unprepared speech and knew not the Spirit’s power to give people words.

Recognized as a great man of prayer and a great Scripture and theology scholar, Anthony became the first friar to teach theology to the other friars. Again he was called from that post to preach to the heretics, to use his profound knowledge of Scripture and theology to convert and reassure those who had been misled.

COMMENT: Anthony should be patron of those who find their lives completely uprooted and set in a new and unexpected direction. Like all saints, he is a perfect example of turning one’s life completely over to Christ. God did with Anthony as God pleased – and what God pleased was a life of spiritual power and brilliance that still attracts admiration today. He whom popular devotion has nominated as finder of lost objects found himself by losing himself totally to the providence of God.

QUOTE: In his Sermons, Anthony says: “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.”

SOUCE: Leonard Foley, OFM (Editor), SAINT OF THE DAY, Revised Edition, Cincinnati, Ohio: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1990, pages 132-133.

Jakarta, 13 June 2014

A Christian Pilgrim