St. Anthony is one of the most popular saints in the Catholic Church, venerated not only in Padua - where a splendid basilica has been built which contains his mortal remains - but also throughout the world. People around the world remember Anthony of Padua in novenas and as the saint of the whole world, who finds lost objects. However, he is also honoured as a great Franciscan spiritual guide and an extraordinary teacher and preacher of God’s Word.
Anthony was the first
teacher in the Franciscan Order, given the special approval and blessing of St.
Francis to instruct his brother Franciscans. Recognising Anthony's virtues, St.
Francis sent him a short letter that began with the words, “I would like you to
teach the brethren theology.” Anthony laid the foundation of Franciscan
theology which, cultivated by other outstanding thinkers, was to reach its apex
with St. Bonaventure and Duns Scotus.
Anthony, as a former
Augustinian friar, dedicated himself to the study of scripture and the Church
Fathers, acquiring the theological knowledge that was to bear fruit in his
teaching and preaching activities. History goes on to note that on a certain
occasion, while participating in an ordination ceremony at a certain monastery,
the realisation dawned upon those in-charge that no one was assigned to deliver
the homily. The lot fell on St. Anthony, who preached such a touching
homily, without any preparation, that all in attendance were amazed at the
words, filled with the Holy Spirit, which came from his mouth. He showed
himself to be endowed with such knowledge and eloquence that his superiors
assigned him to preaching.
Thus, he embarked on
apostolic work in Italy and France that was so intense and effective, that it
induced many people who had left the church to retrace their footsteps.
His effectiveness as a preacher calling people back to the faith, resulted in
the title ‘Hammer of Heretics’; just as important were his peacemaking and
calls for justice. Pope Gregory IX spoke of Anthony as the ‘Ark of the
Covenant’ and the ‘Repository of Holy Scripture’, which explains why St. Anthony
is frequently pictured with a burning light or a book of the scriptures in his
hands. Furthermore, on account of the numerous miracles that occurred through
Anthony's intercession even during his lifetime, Pope Gregory IX canonised him
in 1232, only a year after his death. In the years preceding his death, Anthony
also put together Sermons for the Franciscan Order's preachers and
teachers of theological studies. The richness of spiritual teaching contained
in the sermons was so great that in 1946 Pope Pius XII proclaimed Anthony
a doctor of the church.
St. Anthony, in his
sermons, is very much in the school of St. Francis of Assisi. For one thing,
St. Anthony always put Christ in centre of his thinking, his action and his
preaching, just as St. Francis did. This special feature of Franciscan theology
is known as ‘Christocentrism’. The image of the crucified Christ, moreover, is
central in the preaching of Anthony, just as it was for Francis. St. Anthony,
who advised his Christian listeners to “look at the cross as into a mirror,”
because by looking at oneself in the mirror of the cross, a person can better
understand how much he or she is worth. Precisely by looking at the crucified
one, we see, as St. Anthony says, “how great is the dignity and worth of the
human being.”
St. Anthony, a profound
scripture scholar, allowed his entire being to be formed by the Word of
God. In truth he could say, with the Prophet Isaiah, “The spirit of the
Lord God is upon me.” While he had his own plans and ambitions for his life,
he always submitted them to the will of God. In fact, it was his great
desire to preach to the Moors in Africa and to die a martyr. God called him to
preach to Christians, mostly in France and Italy, including his only confreres
in the Franciscans, and to die not a martyr’s death, but one filled with
illness. Yet through it all, St. Anthony experienced the joy of gospel
living in giving glory to God.
In one of his homilies, St.
Anthony proclaimed, “The man who is filled with the Holy Spirit speaks in different
languages. These different languages are different ways of witnessing to
Christ, such as humility, poverty, patience, and obedience. We speak in those
languages when we reveal in ourselves these virtues to others. Actions
speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak.” (‘Preach
the Gospel at all times and use words when necessary’ – St.Francis of Assisi).
It is St. Anthony's love
for the Word of God and his prayerful efforts to understand and apply it to the
situations of everyday life that the Church wants us to imitate. May we always
read, teach, preach and live the Word of God like St. Anthony of Padua.
Written by
Fr. Steve Rodrigues, OFM Cap.
Our Lady of Victory Church, Revora.