Saint Anthony's Feast Day!!

Saint Anthony is known for the "finding" things saint. However, he is much more than this. Let's look at a little biography of this saint.

Did you know he was born in Lisbon, Portugal? Yes, he's from Portugal -- the same country Our Lady of Fatima appeared in to the three children.

He is a Doctor of the Church -- means he is knowledgable of dogmatic truths.

His original name is Fernidnad and he was ordained a priest in 1219. He came in contact with some Franciscans and decided to join their order! He got permission to join them and took the name Anthony at this time. In his early days he traveled to Italy on a voyage which took a turn to a different port; but he did end up in Italy. He ended up going to San Paolo and working in the kitchen there. (You might even pray to him as patron of kitchen workers!)

His call to preaching--one day he was asked to preach at an ordination ceremony. Usually the Dominicans had done this; but it seemed that the Holy Spirit had inspired whoever to ask him. St. Anthony preached and the crowds listened! It was like the crowd had open hearts and they heard St. Anthony's voice. He then became famous for preaching sermons.

St. Anthony's life seems to be a short one. 1231 he was ill and went to a woodland retreat and he soon died on June 13 at a Poor Clare Monastery in Padua.

Miracles and Traditions of St. Anthony:

Here is how he became known for his finding of things. A brother that was with his monastery decided to leave one day. Anthony noticed a book of Psalter missing around that time. The AWOL brother had taken his psalter book. St. Anthony prayed that his book would be found and returned to him. The missing book and brother came back. The brother decided to re-enter the order and St. Anthony got his psalter back! (Source: https://www.stanthony.org/st-anthony-of-padua/)

What is St. Anthony's Bread? According to St. Anthony.org "St. Anthony Bread is a term used for offerings made in thanksgiving to God for blessings received through the prayers of St. Anthony. Sometimes the alms are given for the education of priests. In some places parents also make a gift for the poor after placing a newborn child under the protection of St. Anthony. It is a practice in some churches to bless small loaves of bread on the feast of St. Anthony and give them to those who want them."

Saint Anthony and Child Jesus -- according to above website -- "A story about St. Anthony related in the complete edition of Butler’s Lives of the Saints (edited, revised and supplemented by Herbert Anthony Thurston, S.J., and Donald Attwater) projects back into the past a visit of Anthony to the Lord of Chatenauneuf. Anthony was praying far into the night when suddenly the room was filled with light more brilliant than the sun. Jesus then appeared to St. Anthony under the form of a little child. Chatenauneuf, attracted by the brilliant light that filled his house, was drawn to witness the vision but promised to tell no one of it until after St. Anthony’s death."

Saint Anthony is also patron of sailors -- bet you didn't know that one. Because of some sailors and others praying to him when they had trouble at sea and he would appear to them and help guide them back. (Source www.stanthony.org)

Well, I think we have enough written about this wonderful saint. I don't know when this will be printed--but our Chapel at Mater Dei Parish in Irving, TX is having a beautiful Rosary walk and St. Anthony statue will also be with this Rosary walk Procession on the evening of his Feast Day--so if you happen to be in Dallas/Ft Worth area of Texas on June 13th please come out around 7 PM and come to our feast day celebration. God Bless.