I lost my keys the yesterday…only to find them in my pocket. Those who know me would assert that there isn't a day that I haven't lost my keys. That's probably true. I wouldn't classify myself as absent-minded necessarily, just lacking in some key (yes, it's a pun) brain cells. There is always a big production when my keys get lost. First, there is the warning, exasperated sigh, "AUGH!" It's confirmed; Michael cannot find the keys again. The sighing is followed by five or ten minutes of frenetic searching through pockets, drawers, and papers all the while swearing that I just had them – like – three seconds ago. The hasty rummaging is followed by exacerbated plodding and moping.
"Did you pray to St. Anthony?"
*Eyes Roll*
"Nooo"
*Quick prayer to St. Anthony.*
"I found them!"
Then life goes on. So often, I give St. Anthony the shaft. I lose my keys, St. Anthony finds my keys, and I drive off. He was a tremendous human being, who serves as an excellent example for any public speaker or apologist. A priest once told me that if I ever start to get in a debate to pray to St. Anthony before I start.
"You might start the fight, Mike, but St. Anthony always finds a way to end it!" Father told me.
I've decided today that I should give St. Anthony all the credit he is due, and so my piece today is dedicated to him:
St. Anthony was born in Lisbon in 1195, and died in Arcella June 13, 1231. At the age of fifteen, he joined the Canons Regular of St. Augustine, located in St. Vincent. While at St. Augustine, St. Anthony was constantly visited by relatives and friends, so with the permission of his superior, St. Anthony relocated to the Convent of Santa Croce at Coimbra in 1212. He spent his eight years in Santa Croce studying and meditating. During the course of his study, St. Anthony developed intricate understanding of Scripture and the writings of early Church Fathers.
In 1220, St. Anthony resolved to become a Friar Minor, so that he would be enabled to preach to the Saracens. He entered into the Friars Minor almost immediately, and left for Morocco, intent on spreading the word of God and ultimately, becoming a martyr. However, St. Anthony's plans were diverted in the winter of 1220 when he fell ill and was sent back to Portugal by sea. On his journey home, St. Anthony's ship was overtaken by a violent storm and he was driven to the coast of Sicily. St. Anthony remained in Sicily until May of 1220, when he journeyed to Messina to join in a general chapter of his order. During the entire gathering, St. Anthony did not speak a word, remaining totally inconspicuous.
After the chapter ended, he appealed to the Provincial of Coimbra, a Father Graziano, for a place to stay and meditate in solitude and penance, in the hopes of entering more fully into the discipline of Franciscan life. Father Graziano agreed to let St. Anthony reside in the hermitage of Montepaolo. While Anthony was at Montepaolo, a large group of Dominican and Franciscan friars were sent together to Montepaolo for ordination. At the time of ordination, it was discovered that no one had been chosen to preach. The group turned to St. Anthony, and asked that he address them. St. Anthony gradually he began to explain in intricate detail the most hidden sense of Scripture. St. Anthony conveyed his message with such profound ingenuity that he left his congregation in a state of sublime awe. The story of St. Anthony's preaching spread to the ears of St. Francis who asked St. Anthony to teach theology to the brethren in 1224.
Anthony served as an exemplary orator. He possessed a remarkable memory in addition to his aforementioned sense of Scripture. St. Anthony preached to reform the morality of his time by combating specifically the vices of luxury, avarice, and tyranny. He also devoted himself in the fight against the heresy of the Cathares and the Patarines which had infested much of Italy's north. St. Anthony performed many miracles in the conversion of the heretics. The most noted are these three:
- The first miracle speaks of a horse that fasted for three days, refusing all food before him. St. Anthony then held the Blessed Sacrament before the horse and immediately, it knelt before him.
- At a point in his preaching it happened that St. Anthony was offered poisoned food by several Italian heretics. St. Anthony rendered the food harmless with the sign of the cross.
- The third miracle of note is that of the famous sermon to the fishes. A dejected St. Anthony left the village of Remini, after his words fell on deaf ears, and began preaching along the banks to the sea. All of a sudden, a vast multitude of fish poked their heads through the water and began listening intently to St. Anthony's sermon.
The zeal with which St. Anthony fought against heresy and the great and numerous conversions he made rendered him worthy of the title of Malleus hereticorum (Hammer of the Heretics). He spoke openly to all, no matter their class. In a synod at Bourges, in the presence of many prelates, he reproved the Archbishop, Simon de Sully, so severely, that he compelled the Archbishop to apologize publicly after St. Anthony's lecture.
In the spring of 1231, Anthony retired to a small village in Padua. He was struck with a severe illness shortly after his arrival. St. Anthony transferred to Vercelli, where he died at the age of thirty-six, on 13 June, 1231. He had lived fifteen years with his parents, ten years as a Canon Regular of St. Augustine, and eleven years in the Order of Friars Minor.
Immediately after his death, he appeared at Vercelli to the Abbot, Thomas Gallo. Pope Gregory XI was confident in St. Anthony's sanctity as proven by the miracles he rendered. Gregory XI inscribed him within a year of his death (Pentecost, 30 May, 1232), in the calendar of saints of the Cathedral of Spoleto.
St. Anthony's story is often forgotten and overshadowed by his status as patron saint of lost and stolen items. He proved to be an exquisite orator and fierce apologist.
Now I will go look for my keys…but not before I leave you all with this tribute:
Tribute to St. Anthony
Good St. Anthony, in God's providence you have secured for His people many marvelous favors. You have been especially celebrated, good St. Anthony, for your goodness to the poor and the hungry, for finding employment for those for those seeking it, for your special care of those who travel, and for keeping safe from harm all who must be away from home.
You are widely known also, good St. Anthony, for securing peace in the family, for your delicate mercy in finding lost things, for safe delivery of messages, and for your concern for women in childbirth.
In honoring you, St. Anthony, for the many graces our Lord grants through your favor we trustfully and confidentiality ask your aid in our present need.
V. Pray for us, good St. Anthony
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Mike's Blog: www.ebeth.typepad.com/van_goal
