St. Anthony of Padua (Feast: June 13)

St. Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church, 1195-1231 A.D.

Introduction

There are three Franciscans who were given the title by the Church as "doctors" - men and women whose intellectual brilliance and sanctity was important in the development of Catholic doctrine and spirituality. These three Franciscans were St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231 A.D.), St. Bonaventure (1217-1274 A.D.), and St. Lawrence of Brindisi (1559-1619 A.D.). Of the three, the most widely known is St. Anthony of Padua. Statues and paintings often depict him with the infant Jesus in his arms, because of a pious legend that says one of his friends glanced at the window of a house and then saw St. Anthony holding the child Jesus in his arms.

St. Anthony's popularity gave him the title of patron saint for Padua, Lisbon, Split, Paderborn, Hildesheim, children, travelers, married couples, women, animals and miners. His intercession is invoked against infertility, demons, fevers, wars, shipwrecks, and plagues.

Born Ferdinand de Bulhoes in 1195 A.D.

St. Anthony's baptismal name was Ferdinand de Bulhoes. He took the religious name Anthony, after St. Anthony of Egypt - the hermit-saint. It was in a chapel dedicated to St. Anthony of Egypt that Ferdinand, who now became Anthony, received the Franciscan habit in 1221 A.D.

Before joining the Franciscans, "Ferdinand de Bulhoes", who was from Lisbon, Portugal, joined the Augustinian monks of Coimbra at 15 years of age. He was at Coimbra for eight years, devoting himself to study and prayer. During these years, he acquired a thorough knowledge of Scripture.

Inspired by the Franciscan martyrs of Morocco

In 1220 A.D., when the crown prince of Portugal brought back from Morocco the relics of Franciscan missionaries who had been martyred, St. Anthony felt a strong desire to die for the faith. Thus, he soon joined the Franciscans and found himself embarked to Morocco on a mission to the Moors. However, before he could settle, he was afflicted with a severe illness and had to return to Europe. On the return trip, the ship in which he was on was taken off its course and had to land in Sicily. It was here in Sicily that he recovered his health.

A new assignment

There was soon a general chapter of the members of the Franciscan Order. At the end of the chapter, new assignments were made by the provincial ministers of the Order. St. Anthony was sent by his provincial to the lonely hermitage of San Paoli, near Forli, where he was assigned menial tasks such as washing dishes and pots after meals.

Became a brilliant and eloquent preacher

St. Anthony entered the preaching ministry by surprise. At an ordination ceremony for Franciscans and Dominicans at Forli, lack of communication suddenly found the ceremony without anyone to deliver the customary address. St. Anthony was told by his superior to go forward and say whatever the Holy Spirit might inspire him to speak. St. Anthony delivered a brilliant and eloquent address to everyone's surprise. Years of studying Scripture had truly prepared him to be used by the Holy Spirit.

"Hammer of Heretics" and "Wonder Worker"

Because of this show of talent and brilliance, St. Anthony was sent to preach throughout Italy and France. Wherever he went, crowds flocked, and many were converted by his knowledge of the Bible. He was soon recognized as a great scholar and became the first Franciscan friar to teach theology to other Franciscan friars. He was also appointed minister provincial of the Order. But he was released from this duty in 1226 A.D. to resume his ministry of preaching. He settled in Padua which he completely reformed. He also helped the poor and worked untiringly in his preaching against heretics. Thus he obtained the name, "Hammer of Heretics". He was also known as "the Wonder Worker" because of reported miracles - including the story of his preaching in the rain to crowds yet his audiences remained dry. All this work took its toll on his health and he died on June 13 at 36 years of age.

Canonized and declared doctor of the Church

St. Anthony was canonized a year after his death and declared a doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1946 A.D. Alms given to seek his intercession are often referred to as "St. Anthony's Bread". He is also known as an intercessor for the finding of lost articles. This belief is founded on the pious legend that tells of a prank played on him by a Franciscan novice, who took St. Anthony's books of Psalms and ran away with it. St. Anthony prayed for the return of the psalter, and the novice, who was struck by an alarming vision, brought back the book to St. Anthony.

Related resources:

• Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney
• "A Year with the Saints" by Don Bosco Press, Inc.
• "Doctors of the Church" by Fink
• "Saints for Our Time" by Ransom

Solemnity of Corpus Christi (A)

(Edited) Sunday reflections: (From) years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

June 22, 2014
Liturgical readings
Deuteronomy 8:2-3,14b-16a
Psalm 147
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
John 6:51-58

"Jesus is the Living Bread who came down from heaven."

The Jews in Jesus' time quarreled among themselves when Jesus spoke of his Body and Blood as nourishment. They did not understand that the Lord meant to institute a Sacrament and memorial of His mercy. (This memorial was instituted at the Last Supper before His death on the Cross). But for Catholics now, this truth of "the living Bread came down from heaven" as the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood is understood clearly as a sign that points to a reality beyond just the level of physical senses. It points to eternal life. This is what the Jews in the Lord's time failed to understand. They understood what He said from their established Jewish religion and the physical world in which they lived. But the Lord did not exclude them. He invited them to understand on the level of faith - faith in His Person, and His words and His deeds.

A good explanation of this mystery of Christ's Body and Blood comes from St. Thomas Aquinas. St. Thomas explains this mystery in very intelligible words. He said: Christ wanted to ensure the memory of the gift of himself (his words, deeds, and life) to abide with his followers forever. The Lord left his Body as food, and his Blood as drink, for all the faithful to consume in the form of bread and wine in the Eucharist. It is his Body and Blood which heals each and every one from all infirmities of soul. Christ, the Divine Physician, left this living sign, this continuous outpouring of his life, to heal and save all from their sins. If properly disposed to receive the Sacrament in the Eucharist, the faithful gain an increase of virtues and an abundance of spiritual gifts - giving health and strength to the soul once more.

This gift and Sacrament of the Lord's Body and Blood encourages all those carrying the weight of many secular concerns. The Sacrament lifts up tired spirits and renews all hopes. The faithful again have a renewed understanding that life is more than just the physical food and material things they monotonously work for each day. Faith can make us understand this: if the Lord fed 4,000 to 5,000 men in his time by multiplying a few loaves and fish, could he not do the same to about 1 billion Catholics in our present generation? It is the fulfillment of the promise that God will be with us until the end of time. And if each Catholic will be faithful to Christ, then each one becomes the Lord's Body and Blood to those who do not know Him - by the witness of His presence as a force that gives life to one's work and life.

Scripture quotes for reflection:
"Because the loaf of bread is one, we, many though we are, are one body for we all partake of the one loaf." (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)

Memorial of Saints (June 12)

St. John of Sahagun was educated by the Benedictine monks. He was ordained in 1445 A.D., then spent some years studying at the University of Salamanca. He did a lot of work the next decade, but fell ill and had a serious operation. After this serious illness, he entered the Augustinians in 1463 A.D. St. John worked well as an Augustinian, and was known for his gift of reading men's souls (died ca. 1479 A.D.).

St. Antonina was tortured and martyred during Diocletian's persecution of Christians. Tradition reports her martyrdom to have happened at Nicaea, Bithynia, during the governorship of Priscillian. Many places aside from Nicaea, Bithynia also claim the honor of her martyrdom. She is also known by the name Antonia - the name listed in the Roman Martyrology (died ca. 304 A.D.).

St. Onuphrius was an Egyptian hermit. Originally a monk in a large monastery in the Thebaid, he felt called to a solitary life. Onuphrius lived as a hermit for sixty years after leaving the monastery in the Thebaid. Paphnoutious, a monk who wanted also to be a hermit, met Onuphrius in the desert. While with St. Onuphrius, Paphnoutius learned of the old hermit's life and wrote a biography on the Saint (died ca. 400 A.D.).

St. Ternan was a monk at Culross Monastery in Scotland, and a disciple of St. Paliadus. He was consecrated bishop in 432 A.D. Ternan worked as a missionary among the Picts. He was known to have also founded the abbey of Culross in Fifeshire. This is where he spent the last years of his life (died 6th century A.D.).

St. Peter of Mount Athos fought against the Saracens in his youth, but was captured and imprisoned by them. He was released through the intercession of St. Simeon. Peter then went to Rome where he received the monastic habit from the Pope. He then went to Mount Athos in the Greek peninsula, and became the first Christian hermit there (died 8th century A.D.).

St. Leo III was a cardinal-priest before he was elected Pope on December 26, 975 A.D. Involved in a political conflict, he managed to escape an attempt on his life by fleeing to St. Erasmus Monastery. Leo III sought Charlemagne's protection, who sent a delegation to help him go back to Rome. Charlemagne helped Leo III against his enemies, then Leo III crowned Charlemagne as emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. When Charlemagne died in 814 A.D., Leo III's enemies rose up against him again. However St. Leo III prevailed against them (died ca. 816 A.D.).

St. Odulf was ordained, did parish work, and then became a canon at Utrecht in the Netherlands. He became known for his learning and eloquent preaching. He also became a missionary to Friesland - receiving much success. St. Odulf also built a church and a monastery at Stavoren. He spent his last years at Utrecht (died ca. 855 A.D.).

St. Eskil accompanied his relative St. Sigfrid on a missionary trip to Sweden. Upon arrival, he was consecrated bishop at Strängnäs and received success in his missionary work in Södermanland. Because the pagan practices were still strong in Strängnäs, St. Eskil was accused of magic when a pagan sacrificial altar was destroyed by lightning. St. Eskil was stoned to death and died a martyr for the Lord (died ca. 1080 A.D.).

St. Guy of Cortona was influenced by St. Francis of Assisi where the Saint visited his hometown at Cortona. Eventually, Guy expressed his desire to be a Franciscan. As required of all Franciscans, Guy abandoned his possessions - giving them to the poor. He donned the Franciscan habit and lived inside a small cell on a bridge over a stream. St. Guy was known among his townsmates to have raised back to life a girl who drowned and also to have multiplied food during a famine (died ca. 1245 A.D.).

St. Gaspar Bertoni was the founder of the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Stigmatines) in 1816 A.D. During the twenty-year French occupation of northern Italy, St. Gaspar worked in hospitals for the sick and the wounded. He was also ordained chaplain to the Canossian sisters in 1800 A.D. (died ca. 1853 A.D.).