Tongue On Fire

St. Anthony of Padua’s tongue was found incorrupt when his body was exhumed thirty two years after his death in 1263 AD, attributed to it being “a hammer of heretics.”  This Franciscan friar and patron saint of lost items, reputedly was never at a loss for edifying words, and he captivated audiences with superlative oratorical skills.  Moreover, though he preached mainly in northern Italy, where is tongue is preserved,  and south France, his presence is revered worldwide.  

 
Displayed in the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, this fresh tongue serves as a reminder of its power for good, but also evil.   Furthermore, when considering this famous tongue, note that St. Anthony, a Doctor of the Church,  employed it to draw sinners to conversion, and it was on fire with loving truth more than condemnation.  

 
For our time, let us review some of his words of wisdom that should set our souls afire.

 
The efficacy of prayer.  “The devil is afraid of us when we pray and make sacrifices.”  Note that we often experience discouragement as bad news seems to grow exponentially in our day.  Yet, we must persevere.  The irony is that while spoken prayer (and hymns) are most powerful, so is silent mediation before the Blessed Sacrament, as well as silencing the tongue when tempted to misuse it.

 
Humility and self knowledge of our faults.  “Learn to love humility for it will cover all your sins.  All sins are repulsive before God, but the most repulsive of all is pride of the heart.” St. Anthony adds that we should not consider ourselves learned or wise, and for those in authority to recall that they, too, will die.  If we truly contemplate the world as St. Anthony would perceive matters, would we not acknowledge that our worldly opinions often causes us to trip up ourselves and others.

 
Sacrifice and surrender.  “Christians must lean on the Cross of Christ just as travelers lean on a staff when they begin a long journey.”  As all of life is a journey, we can never discard the Cross.  However, when feeling particularly defeated, recite the Litany of St. Anthony of Padua, as he is the consoler of the afflicted and guide of pilgrims, among many other attributes.

 
On formation in the world but raised by faith.  “We are formed by environment and grace, by politics and prayer, by church and conscience.”  We will stumble, but we will be lifted as well.  When disoriented, let us turn to St. Anthony who was zealous for justice and tamer of tyrants.

 
Respecting the least among us.  “Let the philosopher no longer disdain from listening to the common laborer; the wise, to the simple; the educated, to the illiterate; a child of a prince, to a peasant.  St. Anthony noted that the creator of the heaven obeyed a carpenter; the God of eternal glory listened to a poor virgin.

 
The refuge of Mary.   “Seek refuge in Mary because she is the city of refuge.”  St. Anthony reminds us that she is also the refuge of mercy and provides shelter and strength for the sinner.

 
On the foolishness of the world.  “Men will surrender to the spirit of the age.” Almost a thousand years ago, St. Anthony noted prophetically that man would seek to contemporize the Church, to be “made meaningful to the day’s problems.”    Share St. Anthony and other past saints who warned likewise when modernists insist that we are living in “different times” that require evolution of past precepts.  The truth is immutable.  

 
Re Materialism.  “Solicitude for material things distracts the soul and divides it.  The devil seizes the divided soul and drags it to hell.”  St. Anthony was considered particularly powerful against demons, and as the world seems increasingly imbued with evil, let us pray fervently for his intercession. May this generator of charity who surrendered his birth wealth and inherited high position liberate us from that which binds us.

 
God above all, is all:  The life of the body is the soul; the life of the soul is God.  In all matters, even as threatening drones may drift into the atmosphere, people riot wildly in the streets, nonsense seems to have overpowered even the learned, let us ever protect our souls foremost and at all costs.

 
Of course, in many ways, life in the times of St. Anthony Padua was different, but in the most vital way, not so.  We are still born with original sin.  The devil and his minions are ever the enemy.  Heresy may be communicated with fresh vocabulary, but its deadliness remains.   The tongue can either evangelize or kill.  Ultimately, as always we have two choices:  Heaven (tongues of holy fire) or hell (fire and brimstone).