Homily: Feast of St. Anthony of Padua

Feast of St. Anthony of Padua (Mt. 5:20-26) “Patron of Preachers”

St. Anthony only lived for 36 years. He was born in 1195. As a young man St. Anthony wanted to be a religious so he joined the Augustinians at the age of 15. The Augustinians recognized his intelligence and sent him away to study Theology.

At this time the Franciscans were just beginning their order in Italy. The Franciscans were great missionaries. Anthony was inspired when several of them were martyred in north Africa. He asked that he be able to join the Franciscans and when he did, he was sent to Africa to try to convert the Muslims that were there.

God had another plan. St. Anthony became ill and was sent back to Europe. When he was sailing back home his ship was blown off course and he ended up in Sicily. The Franciscans who were there nursed Anthony back to health.

Shortly thereafter there was a meeting of the Dominicans and Franciscans. The friars who were gathered decided they would like to have someone give a spiritual talk. No one felt prepared. Nobody had ever heard Anthony preach but he was asked to speak. He was so eloquent that his superiors decided that he needed to be a traveling evangelist. He traversed northern Italy, and he brought back many to the faith. Wherever he went he preached to large crowds.

There are many legends about St. Anthony. One time he was preaching beside a lake, for example, and people were not paying attention. He noticed this so he turned around and began to preach to the fish in the lake. He was so inspiring that the fish swam over to shore to listen to Anthony.

Anthony exhausted himself in his ministry and he died at a young age. St. Francis was so impressed with St. Anthony when he met him that he had him as the primary teacher of all the Franciscans. He was the first Franciscan to have such a role.

Reflection Questions:

1.    St. Anthony’s talents were discovered by sheer chance. Do I appreciate other’s talents?

2.   Anthony compromised his health by doing so much ministry. Was he wrong for doing this?

Dear Parishioners,

            Thanks to all those who have donated baskets for the raffles we will have at our Sacred Heart Reunion. We have a wide variety of items. Some are pictured on Facebook.

            If you have not gotten your tickets for the reunion, please buy them this weekend at Mass. Come and see old friends and make some new ones.

            My Our Lady of Peace pray for us,

            Fr. Mark