Saint Anthony, Human Rights Defender
There is perhaps no more loved and admired saint in
the Catholic Church than Saint Anthony of Padua, a Doctor of the Church. Though his work was in Italy, he
was born in Portugal. He first joined the Augustinian Order and then left it and joined the Franciscan Order in 1221, when he was 26 years old. The reason he
became a Franciscan was because of the death of the five Franciscan protomartyrs -- St. Bernard, St. Peter, St. Otho, St. Accursius, and St. Adjutus -- who shed their blood for the Catholic Faith in the year 1220, in Morocco, in North Africa, and whose headless and mutilated bodies had been brought to St. Anthony’s monastery on their way back for burial. St.
Anthony became a Franciscan in the hope of shedding his own blood and becoming a martyr. He lived only ten years after joining the Franciscan Order.
So simple and resounding was his teaching of the Catholic Faith, so that the most unlettered and innocent might understand it, that he was made
a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1946. Saint Anthony was only 36 years old when he died. He is called the “hammer of the Heretics” His great protection against
their lies and deceits in the matter of Christian doctrine was to utter, simply and innocently, the Holy
Name of Mary. When St. Anthony of Padua found he was preaching the true Gospel of the Catholic Church
toheretics who would not listen to him, he then went out and preached it to the fishes. This was not, as liberals and naturalists are trying to say, for the instruction of the fishes,
but rather for the glory of God, the delight of the angels, and the easing of his own heart. St. Anthony wanted
to profess the Catholic Faith with his mind and
his heart, at every moment.
He is typically depicted with a book and the Infant Child Jesus, to whom He miraculously appeared, and is commonly referred to today as the "finder of lost articles."
Upon exhumation, some 336 years after his death, his body was found to be corrupted, yet his tongue was totally incorrupt, so perfect were the teachings that had been formed upon it.
Feastday: June 13 1195 – 1231 Saint Anthony was canonized (declared a saint) less than one year after his death.
For all of his life, Saint Anthony held a special place in his heart for the sick and suffering, showing them particular compassion and mercy.
St
Anthony’s friars would like to pray for you and your
loved ones on February 11th
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Prayer For A Holy Christian Life
O Saint Anthony, example of outstanding holiness!
Help us to live as true Christians, faithful to the grace and promises of our Baptism.
You see how great the difficulties and dangers that surround me are:
make me able
to overcome all the suggestions of sin and of the Evil One, and to have the strength always to bear
witness
bravely to my faith. Obtain for me a heart capable of loving God above all things, a heart ready to accept the will of God, even when He asks of me sacrifice and renunciation.
Open
my soul to a generous and sincere love of my brothers and sisters, so that I never become self-centred, but will always be ready to serve my neighbour, comfort the afflicted and help those most in need. Intercede for me sustain me with your example,
so that I may live and die in the grace and friendship of God. Amen
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