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Miracles of Saint Anthony of Padua, by Joseph A Keller
Among the saints of the Church few are better known than the great Saint Anthony of Padua.
Endowed with great natural gifts, enjoying excellent health, a powerful voice, combined with great eloquence, an admirable delivery, a perfect knowledge of the Scriptures and theology, he was, soon after his ordination, sent to preach in France, Italy and Portugal.
Although in his youth he had never spoken anything but Portuguese, he, like the apostles after Pentecost, received that wonderful gift of tongues, which not only enabled him to preach even with eloquence in French and Italian, but to make himself under stood by people from all parts of the world.
An instance of this may be given: When ordered by the Holy See to preach the Lenten sermons at Rome he was perfectly understood by the immense multitude from all nations, whom the renown of his great sanctity and marvelous gifts had attracted. This same gift was of most frequent occurrence during his missionary career.
2. Dumb Animals Obey the Saint
There was near the monastery of the Friars Minor, at Montpellier, a large pool filled with frogs, whose perpetual croakings greatly disturbed the saint and his community. At last, wearied by this perpetual noise, he determined to put an end to it, and going to the pond, after blessing it, ordered the frogs to stop their croaking, which at once ceased, and the pond from that time was called Saint Anthony's Pond.
But stranger still, if a frog was taken out of this pond and placed in another, it instantly recovered its power of croaking, while it was just the reverse were a strange frog put into Saint Anthony's Pond.
3. The Sermon to the Fishes at Rimini
During the eleventh and twelfth centuries Europe had much to suffer from various heresies, more especially from that of the Albigenses, which infested the south of France and north of Italy.
God, ever watchful over His spouse, the Church, soon raised up two great men, Saint Francis and Saint Dominic, who, with their sons, came to her assistance.
Saint Anthony of Padua, on account of his great sanctity and learning, was chosen by his superiors to be one of the first to enter the battlefield. Rimini, in Romagna, in spite of all the endeavors of the Holy See and of its own saintly bishop, continued to remain the hotbed of heresy, and here it was Saint Anthony began his arduous task of conversion.
The heretics, on hearing who was to enter the lists against them, were filled with dismay, but instigated by the evil one, resolved at any cost to face their enemy.
The saint on his arrival met with the reverse of a cordial reception; the church in which he was to begin his labors was empty, save for a few old men and women; but his longing for the glory of God and salvation of souls was too great to make him hesitate for a moment. He therefore ascended the pulpit, and preached with such earnestness and zeal that the heretics, on hearing about it, determined to leave nothing undone to get rid of one who was so dangerous an opponent.
This great servant of God, being informed of their intentions, withdrew to a remote part of the city, to prepare himself by prayer, fasting and penance for the encounter, imploring at the same time the mercy of God on this poor benighted people.
His enemies had, however, not lost sight of him, and on seeing him leave his retreat, some of them followed him to the place where the river Marecchia empties itself into the Adriatic. Here the saint stopped, and in a loud voice commanded the fishes of the sea and river to come forth and listen to the word of God, saying: "Come, ye senseless fishes of the deep, and by your attention to the word of your God and mine, put to shame these men, who in their blindness and hardness of heart refuse to hear it."
The words were barely out of the saint's mouth before a great commotion was noticed in the sea. Thousands of fishes of every size and species were seen to come in the greatest order to its surface, the smaller ones placing themselves in front, and the larger ones behind. Then began one of the most extraordinary sermons ever preached. The saint addressed them as if they were beings endowed with reason.
"Oh! ye fishes of the deep, praise and thank your God and Creator for the unspeakable blessings He has lavished on you, favoring you above all dumb animals. See and admire the beautiful home He, in His infinite goodness, has prepared for you; look at those crystal waters, in which it is so easy for you to find a refuge against the storm and the enemy. Not only has He provided for all your wants, but He has made you prolific above all other creatures. You alone have been exempted from the dominion of your fellow beings and from His wrath at the time of the deluge. To you it has been given to save His prophet Jonas; to cure His blind servant. Tobias; to be the food of the penitent; to procure for the Saviour of mankind and His disciples the tribute money due to Caesar; it was after His Resurrection by eating of your flesh He proved He was truly risen from the dead; it was over your heads He walked on the sea, and after the great draught of fishes, He called His apostles fishers of men."
The fishes seemed to be filled with admiration, and anxious not to lose one of his words, their numbers ever increasing, marking their approval by the lifting up and down of their heads, the opening of their mouths, but not one of them thought of leaving the spot till the saint had blessed them, and ordered them to return to their homes below, when they immediately disappeared. But the commotion of the waters continued for some time after. In the meantime, so deep had been the impression made upon the bystanders, eye-witnesses of this remarkable scene, that many hastened back to the city, imploring their friends to come and see the miracle; others burst into tears, and kneeling at the feet of the saint, implored forgiveness, while only a few remained obdurate in their heresy.
Saint Anthony, availing himself of this opportunity, at the close of the sermon to the fishes addressed the immense multitude now gathered together, exhorting them to repentance, rebuking them for their unbelief and ingratitude, pointing out to them the heinousness of sin, and showing them what a lesson of obedience the fishes had just given them.
It was through this sermon that Rimini was purged from heresy.
4. Why Saint Anthony is Invoked for Lost and Mislaid Things
The following incident in the life of Saint Anthony accounts for his being invoked for lost and mislaid articles:
During his stay at the Franciscan monastery at Montpellier Saint Anthony was not only engaged in preaching, but also in teaching theology to his younger brethren. It was here a most extraordinary adventure happened to one of his novices. The latter, weary of the monastic life, suddenly left the monastery, taking with him a book of psalms, copied and annotated by the saint for the benefit of his pupils.
The loss of this book was deeply felt by Saint Anthony, as books at that time were only written, the art of printing being unknown, an ordinary book costing at least a hundred dollars of our money.
In the year 1240 the monks at Camaldoli paid as much as two hundred gold ducats for an illuminated missal. Whole fortunes sometimes were spent in the purchase of a single book.
What pained the saint even more than the loss of a work invaluable to him, was the outrage committed against God, and the spiritual danger threatening the culprit. The saint, with his usual trust in God, at once betook himself to prayer, humbly imploring the divine mercy on the unhappy youth, and at the same time asking for the restitution of his book. His prayer was barely finished before it was heard. Just at that moment, as the thief was about to cross a bridge, the devil, in the shape of a hideous negro, appeared before him with an axe in his hand, threatening at once to kill him and trample him under foot if he did not immediately retrace his steps. The novice, terrified at the sight of the monster, hastened to obey, and falling at the feet of the servant of God, not only gave back the book, but implored forgiveness, begging to be readmitted into the monastery.
The saint, full of gratitude to God, readily forgave the culprit, warning him at the same time against the snares of the devil and encouraging him to persevere in his holy vocation. The stolen book has been for years preserved in the Franciscan monastery at Bologna.
5. A Messenger from Hell Unmasked
While the saint was preaching at Puy a messenger suddenly appeared in the midst of the congregation, calling out to a lady in a loud voice that her son had been foully murdered by his enemies. Anthony, who easily discovered who the messenger was, commanded silence by a motion of his hand, and, after consoling the lady by telling her that her son was never in better health in his life and that she would shortly see him, added that the supposed messenger was no other than the evil one, who had only come in the hopes of disturbing the sermon and marring its effects. This proved perfectly true, as the pretended messenger at once vanished. The saintly preacher then availed himself of the opportunity thus presented to him to warn his hearers against the artifices of the evil one.
6. The Consoler of Mothers
Whilst at Brives God glorified His servant by making him work many miracles.
A poor woman had gone to hear the saint preach, leaving her child alone, with no one to take care of him. During her absence the little one fell into a caldron of boiling water, and on her return she found him playing unhurt in his dangerous bath.
But a greater miracle than that was worked on another occasion. A mother having left her infant at home by itself, in order to go and hear the sermon, found him on her return dead in his cradle. In the midst of her grief she rushed back to the church and informed the saint of what had taken place. "Go home," he replied, "your son liveth," making use of the same words as Our Lord did when the father asked Him to cure his son. Full of confidence in Saint Anthony, she hastened back, and to her great joy, found the baby up and playing with his little companions.
7. The Rain respects the Friend of the Saints
It happened one day that the cook of the monastery at which the saint was staying had nothing to give the brethren to eat, and went and told Anthony of his difficulty. The saint at once went to see a pious lady he knew, begging her to have compassion on his brethren and send them a few cabbages. So great was the veneration in which he was held that she immediately, in spite of the inclemency of the weather, for it was pouring rain, ordered her servant to go into the garden and cut as many vegetables as the monks would require. The maid obeyed and took them to the convent. Notwithstanding the drenching rain, she returned home perfectly dry, and, full of admiration, said to her mistress: "When you want something done for Father Anthony or the other monks, do, pray, send me; I would not care if the weather was a thousand times worse than to-day; see, there is not a drop of rain on my clothes and my shoes are not even damp."
The lady, full of admiration, earnestly recommended the monks to the care of her only brother, a canon at Noblet, entreating him to assist them, as far as lay in his power, and to rest assured that God would reward him a hundredfold for his charity.
8. An Extraordinary Prophecy
While the saint was at his monastery at Puy he used sometimes to meet a lawyer, who led a very bad and profligate life. Every time they met the saint would uncover his head and bow most respectfully to him. Thinking the servant of God was only laughing at him, the lawyer one day turned round and said to him: "If I did not fear the judgment of God I would soon make you repent of insulting one who has never injured you, by thrusting my sword through your body." The saint replied that, far from having any intention of insulting him, he only bowed through a feeling of deep love and respect, for in thus saluting him he was saluting one who was to be a glorious martyr, and begged of him, when undergoing his tortures, not to forget him in his prayers. The lawyer for the time being laughed at what seemed to him to be a most unlikely thing. Strange to say, the prophecy was shortly afterwards fulfilled. A bishop started for Palestine, with the intention of converting the Saracens, and urged on by a secret impulse from heaven, the lawyer followed him. On his arrival he was suddenly filled with such a desire to convert the infidels that he himself at once began to preach the truths of the Christian religion to them and point out the wickedness of Mahometanism, which so enraged these fanatics that after making him a prisoner and torturing him for three days, they put him to death. When about to die he revealed to those present how the saintly Father Anthony had predicted his martyrdom, declaring at the same time that a great prophet had risen in their midst.
9. Saint Anthony the Consoler of Persecuted Women
Saint Anthony always took a great interest in women in distress, or persecuted, and they therefore look on him as their special protector.
Among those who, owing to the sanctity of the Franciscans, held them in great veneration and aided them in their daily wants, was a lady who suffered much from a jealous and irritable husband. One evening, after finishing some work and making some purchases for the Brothers, finding it too late to take them to the monastery that night, she took them home with 30] her. This so greatly roused the anger and jealousy of her husband that, not content with loading her with reproaches, he pulled almost all her hair off her head. The poor woman was naturally greatly hurt at such treatment, but full of confidence in her good Father Anthony, after carefully gathering up all her hair, she wrote, begging of him to call on her the next day. Her trust in the saint was not misplaced. After hearing her story he immediately on his return to his monastery, summoned his community together and begged of them to unite with him in praying for their benefactress. These prayers were not in vain, for before they were finished the pain left her and her head was covered with hair, as if nothing had happened. The sight of this miracle was not only the means of converting her husband, the Life of Saint Anthony, but also of making him a great benefactor to the monastery.
10. Truth from the Lips of a Little Child
Saint Anthony, when traveling through Romagna, not only visited Padua, but also Polesine and Ferrara. He remained some time in the last place and worked a miracle as touching in its circumstances as it was beneficial in its results. A nobleman in that city had married a lady of remarkable beauty and highly gifted. Her rare talents, winning manners and accomplishments soon made her a general favorite in society, which so incensed her husband and excited his jealousy that it was hardly possible for her to live with him, and their home became one scene of continual strife.
The birth of a lovely boy, far from bringing peace to the unhappy couple, only increased the suspicions of the wretched father, who now, under the complete power of the evil one, determined to destroy both mother and child. Whilst he was thus fostering these evil thoughts in his mind, Saint Anthony came to preach a mission in this city, and the lady, like Susanna of old, came to this new Daniel, certain that she would through his intercession obtain the conversion of her husband.
What follows will show how success attended the prayers of the servant of God. Not long afterward, whilst this gentleman and several others were talking together with the saint on the public square, the mother, as if inspired by God, sent the nurse to take a walk with the infant. At the sight of the child the jealous husband bit his lips with vexation and anger. Saint Anthony, on the contrary, drew near the nurse and began caressing the child, asking him, as if in a joke, "Who is your father, my little one?" The bystanders smiled at this childish question. But the servant of God had an object in view, the justification of the innocent. The little babe, only a few weeks old, smilingly turning his face to where his father stood, replied in a clear voice, to the astonishment of all present: "There is my father." Saint Anthony, putting the child into the arms of the now delighted parent, said: "Take the child and never again doubt he is your son, since he himself has told you so." The happy husband at once carried him home in triumph to his mother, and from that time peace and joy reigned in this favored household.
The news of this event spread far and wide, and there is a memento of it to be seen sculptured in marble in the chapel of the saint at Padua.
11. Broken Goblet and Running Barrel
The Vicar-General of the Franciscan Order, Brother Elias, on the death of the saintly founder, Saint Francis of Assisi, in a pathetic circular convoked all the superiors of the various provinces to attend a general chapter, in order to proceed to the election of his successor. It was probably in the autumn of A. D. 1226 that Anthony, accompanied by one of his brethren, went to Italy, passing through Provence in order to be present at this general chapter.
On their way through Provence they stopped to rest at one of the towns, in the house of a pious woman. She, being anxious to pay her weary guests as much respect as she possibly could, borrowed a splendid cut glass goblet from one of her neighbors for them to drink their wine out of. Unfortunately the companion of the saint, wanting to examine it more closely, took it up in his hand and broke it. This was not the only mishap. The kind hostess, thinking only of the comfort of her guests, forgot to turn the tap of the barrel when she went to draw their wine, and on returning to the cellar found it had all run out. The saint, seeing how distressed she was by these misadventures, bowed his head in prayer, and to the great astonishment of the good woman, who was silently watching him, she saw the broken pieces of the goblet unite together, leaving no mark of breakage. Full of hope, she ran to the cellar, and to her great joy, the barrel, which before the occurrence was half empty, was now filled with the most delicious wine.
Saint Anthony, in his deep humility, at once continued his journey to Italy, so as to avoid the applause awaiting him as soon as the news of this fresh miracle got abroad.
12. The Carved Capon
Saint Anthony was one day invited by a party of heretics to come to dine with them, in order, as they said, to give them the opportunity of laughing at his stupidity. He good-naturedly accepted their invitation. After sitting down to table a large bat, such as are found in Sicily, was served up to him, with the request to carve it. When, without being the least disconcerted, he began to do so, they could hardly refrain from laughing aloud; but soon their laughter was changed into astonishment, for hardly had the saint begun to carve the wretched bird before it was changed into a magnificent capon, emitting the most delicious smell. This miracle so completely changed their hearts that they not only acknowledged the power of the servant of God, but renounced their errors and were received into the Church.
13. The Apparition of the Holy Child
The Friars Minor had no monastery within the walls of Padua, the nearest one, at Arcella, outside the city, being about three-quarters of an hour's walk. It often happened that, owing to the gates being closed early in the evening, it was impossible for the saint on account of his missionary work, to return home. But he easily found a night's shelter among his friends, who were only too happy to have him for their guest. Tito Borghese, Count of Campo San Pietro,one of the saint's dearest friends, was among the few whom he honored the most with his presence. This noble man had so great a veneration for him that he carefully noted down all that took place during his visits, even rising up at night to watch his guest through the keyhole. Once, when thus visiting him, he noticed an extra ordinary light piercing through the chinks of the saint's apartments. Anxious to discover the cause of this, he drew near, and to his great surprise saw through the cracks of the door Saint Anthony holding a beautiful child in his arms, whom he was lovingly caressing. His host was first at a loss to understand how this lovely infant had entered the apartment of his guest, but soon discovered, through his majestic bearing and the rapture of Saint Anthony, that the child was no other than our divine Lord, who, under this form, had come to console, encourage and strengthen His faithful servant. The apparition lasted some time, then suddenly disappeared, leaving the room in total darkness. At once the saint rose from his prayers, and on going to his bedroom, knocked against his host in the dark. As if guilty of a crime, he entreated his friend not to betray his secret. During the lifetime of Saint Anthony the Count faithfully kept his word, but after his death, with tears streaming down his face, he gave a minute account of everything that had taken place. The heavenly light, of a bluish color, issuing forth from the divine Child, although brighter and more beautiful than the sun, did not dazzle the eye, whilst at the same time the heart was filled with unutterable joy. He, moreover, declared that the holy Child Himself had informed the saint, by pointing to the door with His finger, that he was watched, but that Saint Anthony appeared to pay no attention to this, as if anxious not to deprive his friend of this heavenly consolation. He furthermore added that the holy Child was standing on the breviary of the saint.
This apparition has been so frequently mentioned by old historians that its veracity cannot be doubted. It is for this reason Saint Anthony is usually represented with the holy Child standing on his breviary.
14. Flight to Lisbon
While the father of Saint Anthony, Don Martin de Buglione, was living at Lisbon a murder was committed in the street close to his house and the corpse thrown into his garden, so that suspicion might fall upon him. The nobleman was in fact accused of the murder, thrust into prison, and a long and painful trial began, with every prospect of ending in his being condemned to death. Saint Anthony was just then at the monastery in Padua working for the interests of that God for whose sake he had left everything dear to him. But God, in permitting this accusation, intended through it to make His beloved child known and glorified in his own land. Informed during prayer of his father's situation, he, in spite of his being provincial, went at once, according to his usual custom, to beg permission from the superiors to absent himself from the monastery for a few days. This grant ed, he started for Lisbon, convinced he would reach that city before sentence of death had been pronounced, meanwhile continuing his prayers for his unhappy parent. After journeying some distance he suddenly found himself transported to Lisbon, and his feelings can be easily imagined on receiving this fresh favor from heaven. He at once went to the place where the court was sitting, and began to plead his poor father's cause. The judges, although struck by the eloquence and cleverness of this strange Father, could not be convinced of the innocence of the accused. Anthony, repulsed by men, did not lose heart, and after a few moments spent in prayer, without asking leave or giving the judges time to recover from their astonishment, went to the cemetery, followed by the judges and an immense crowd of people, attracted hither by curiosity, and ordered the body of the murdered man to be exhumed. As soon as the coffin was visible he then, in a loud voice, in the name of God, commanded the deceased to bear witness before the judges present as to whether Don Martin de Buglione was his murderer or not. The corpse at once obeyed, and sitting up, one hand raised and the other leaning against the ground, replied in a clear and sonorous voice: "Don Martin de Buglione is not my murderer." The youth then entreated Saint Anthony to give him the priestly absolution from excommunication which his sudden death had deprived him of. After receiving it he quietly laid him self down in his coffin, not to be disturbed again. As for Saint Anthony, he suddenly disappeared from both judges and people, who cried aloud, as if awaking from a dream: "A miracle! a miracle! a great miracle!" It was thus that through the intervention of his son Don Martin de Buglione was declared innocent and restored to liberty.
The reply, "I am come to save the innocent, and not to betray the guilty," which Saint Anthony made to the judges when asked who was then the real culprit, soon spread far and wide. He returned back to the monastery of Santa Maria dell' Arcella in the same miraculous manner after an absence of one day and two nights.
15. Saint Anthony Again Rescues His Father
Saint Anthony's father held an important post at the court of Lisbon. What it was is not exactly known; but it is certain he had a great deal to do in the management of the royal revenues. Owing to the fact that he always thought others as good and honest as himself, he one day neglected asking for a receipt from certain officials of the royal household, to whom he had paid large sums of money. The latter, jealous of his high position, and more especially of the royal favors lavished on him, had long been waiting for an opportunity to ruin him. They, therefore, gladly availed themselves of this occasion, declaring they had not received the money. A lawsuit was begun, and he certainly must have lost it for want of proofs but for the intervention of his son, Anthony, who suddenly appeared before the dishonest officials, and, looking them straight in the face, bore witness as to the day, hour, place, and even coin, in which the money had been paid, at the same time threatening them with the vengeance of God did they not at once give the required receipt. Terrified at having to confront such a witness, the enemies of the count acknowledged having received the money, and from that time Don Martin de Buglione was no longer molested by his enemies.
16. Where Your Treasure Is, There Also is Your Heart
Among the many vices infesting Florence, usury was the one against which the saint waged the greatest war.
Saint Bonaventure himself relates an occurrence which took place in that city, and of which Saint Anthony availed himself in one of his sermons to illustrate how severely God punishes that vice.
A rich usurer died, and whilst the saint was in prayer God revealed to him that this man's soul was in hell on account of his unjust dealings with others. An immense crowd of people had gone to hear the saint preach the funeral sermon. He at once, on ascending the pulpit, began by pointing out the heinousness of the sin of usury, declaring that usurers in their thirst for gold were the enemies of mankind, desiring nothing so much as war, famine, pestilence and so forth, so as to enrich themselves at the expense of others, and satisfy their craving for those riches in which their happiness alone consisted. Then, speaking with still greater emphasis, he exclaimed: "They are also the enemies of their own souls, for it is indeed rare for a usurer to become holy." Adding: "This is precisely what has happened to the one to whom these last honors are being paid," and pointing to the catafalque before him, he continued: "To prove the truth of my assertion you need only go and look at the chest of money, which, for the short time he lived on earth, was the joy and god of his heart, and you will find there that heart lying under his gold. For the Son of God Himself has declared, 'Where your treasure is there also is your heart.'"
The people at this announcement remained at first perfectly dumbfounded, after which crowds of them rushed to the house of the deceased in order to ascertain for themselves the truth of this assertion, insisting upon the chest being opened, and there, to their great astonishment, found the heart still warm, lying under the gold. But not yet fully convinced of the truth, they again returned to the church where the corpse was lying, and on opening the body found no heart in it. Filled with indignation against the usurer, they declared his body should not be buried in consecrated ground, and taking it off the catafalque, dragged it out of the city and threw it on a place where dead beasts were buried.
This wonderful occurrence did not fail to produce a good and lasting impression on the people. From that time usury was almost stamped out of Florence; but the respect and veneration in which Saint Anthony was held were such that he and his companion fled from the city to seek the solitude of Mount Alvernia.
17. Saint Anthony Cures a Cripple
Whilst the saint was at Padua a youth called Leonardo accused himself in confession of having kicked his mother so violently that she fell to the ground. Saint Anthony, wishing to make him understand the enormity of his crime, said to him: "The foot of one who kicks father or mother deserves to be cut off." The young man did not understand his words in the sense he meant them, and on returning home actually went and chopped off the foot with which he had kicked his mother. This news soon reached the ears of the saint, who at once went to see the youth. After making the sign of the cross upon the mutilated limb both leg and foot were again joined together, without leaving any mark.
18. Bilocation of the Saint
Another wonderful miracle has been handed down to posterity. Whilst preaching on Easter Sunday in the cathedral at Montpellier the saint suddenly remembered he had to sing the Alleluia at the convent Mass. He paused for an instant and was silent, as if trying to get breath. But in reality he was singing the Alleluia in his own monastery, after which he resumed his sermon. Such occurrences naturally caused Saint Anthony to be held in great veneration by everybody.
19. Wind and Rain Obey Saint Anthony
Another extraordinary occurrence took place at Bourges, in France, the representation of which was long to be seen carved on one of the portals of the cathedral.
Owing to the vast crowds who wanted to hear the saint preach, it was found impossible for any of the churches or squares within the city to contain them. It was therefore decided to hire a large field outside the city walls, and the people, headed by the canons and clergy, walked in procession to the place. Fortunately it was summer. When Saint Anthony began his first sermon the weather was magnificent, but suddenly the sky became overcast, a high wind began to blow, dark clouds were seen floating in the air, and distant peals of thunder were heard. The immense crowd became alarmed and began to think of seeking shelter, when the saint, noticing the movement, quietly said to them: "Do not be frightened, remain in your places; not one drop of rain will touch you." Full of confidence in his words not one left, and Saint Anthony continued his sermon in the midst of a most terrific hail and thunder-storm, and neither the saint nor his vast congregation received one drop of rain. Even the ground on which they stood was perfectly dry, just in the same manner as when ages before the Israelites passed through the waters of the Red Sea.
At the sight of the miracle a hymn of praise and thanksgiving to that God whom the rain and winds obey burst forth from the lips of all those present, who were also filled with still greater respect and veneration toward one whom God so highly favored.
20. Zeal for the Word of God
The more Saint Anthony endeavored to remain hidden and unknown, the more did God exalt His servant be fore his death. A noble lady, richly dressed, was going to hear one of the Lenten sermons preached by the saint, accompanied by her servants. Absorbed in her own thoughts, she paid little attention to the road, and fell into a pool filled with dirty water. She naturally expected to be covered with mud, which, to her great vexation, would have prevented her from hearing the sermon. Strange to say, on her being assisted out of the pool, not a speck of mud was to be seen on her clothes.
The news of this miracle was soon repeated from mouth to mouth, and was universally attributed to the prayers of Saint Anthony.
A twofold lesson can be learned from it. First, that extravagance in dress, even in the wealthy, is displeasing to God, and secondly, that the hearing of the word of God is certain to bring down a blessing.
21. The Saint's Sermon is Heard at a Great Distance
A woman, living at about an hour's distance from the church where the saint was to preach, wanted very much to hear him, but was prevented, owing to her husband's illness. Not able to console herself for the loss, she stepped out on to the balcony and leaning on the railings, longingly looked in the direction where the sermon was being preached. Suddenly she fancied she could hear every word the preacher said, as distinctly as if she had been inside the church. Fearing it might be an illusion, she ran and begged her husband to come and listen. The sick man at once complied with her request, and he also distinctly heard what the saint said. Their joy can be easily imagined; but in order to be sure it was no illusion on their part, they asked their neighbors on their coming home what was the subject of the sermon, and then informed them of what had taken place, to the greater glory of God and of His holy servant Anthony.
22. Cure of a Paralyzed Child
One day after his sermon, as the saint was hurrying back to his monastery, in order to avoid the applause of the multitude, he was stopped by a man carrying in his arms a little girl, both of whose feet were paralyzed, so that it was impossible for her to walk. Besides this, she suffered from epileptic fits of extraordinary violence. The unhappy father, full of confidence in the saint, determined to ask his assistance, and kneeling at his feet, holding the little one in his arms, implored him to bless her. Filled with pity for the unhappy parent, Saint Anthony immediately did as requested. On his return home the poor man, certain his child was cured, placed her on the ground, making her stand, holding by the rail of a bench. Shortly after ward, when she began to take a few steps, he gave her a stick, but soon that was discarded, and Padovana, full of glee, was seen running about the room, perfectly cured. From that time she never suffered either from epilepsy or paralysis.
These wonderful cures were almost of daily occurrence, so that the same thing could have been said of the saint as of Our Lord: "He went about doing good and curing all."
23. A Martyr's Death Predicted
God also bestowed upon His servant the gift of prophecy, and the saint predicted to a woman at Assisi that the son about to be born to her would suffer martyrdom, which indeed happened. He was called Philip, and after joining the Franciscans was sent to Asia, recently recaptured from the Christians by the Saracens. After courageously refusing to abjure Christianity and embrace Mahometanism, he was cruelly tortured, being flayed alive, and he, with several other Christians whom he encouraged to suffer martyrdom, was beheaded.
24. Death of Saint Anthony
The city of Padua, so often the scene of Saint Anthony's apostolic labors during his lifetime, was also to witness his death. On his return to that city, just before Lent, he was entreated to preach the Lenten sermons. This, in spite of his excessive weakness, he agreed to do. But hardly were they finished before he felt himself attacked with that illness which he knew would be his last. He received all the sacraments with the greatest devotion, having only one desire left, that of soon beholding the face of his God.
On 13 June, whilst the saint was lying in his death agony on his wretched pallet, in a small convent near Padua, towards evening, the news reached the city that he was ill, dying.
Immediately an immense crowd of people hastened to the monastery to ascertain the truth, and receive a last blessing from their beloved father. When about to breathe his last the dying saint, as if anxious to give one more token of his love for our blessed Lady, was distinctly heard, in the midst of the tears and sobs of those surrounding his bedside, to sing in an angelic voice the beautiful line: gloriosa Domina, excelsa super sidera – "O glorious Mother of God, raised above the skies," and with these words on his lips he expired.
God, to glorify His saint, worked many miracles in his behalf, but the greatest took place A. D. 1326, thirty-two years after his death. The inhabitants of Padua had built a magnificent church in his memory, and Saint Bonaventure came himself to superintend the removal of the body. On opening the coffin nothing but bones were found, except the tongue, which was exactly the same as when the saint was alive. At this sight Saint Bonaventure, falling on his knees, thus apostrophized it: "O blessed tongue, who hast so often praised your God, now does He, in His turn, make manifest how great are your merits." He then placed it in a magnificent casket, covered with precious stones, and carried it to the chapel, where it is still to be seen.
A young relative of the saint had so injured his skull through a fall that there was no hope of saving him through human means. The child was taken and placed on the altar dedicated to Saint Anthony, and was so completely cured that he never suffered from any pain in his head again.
26. The Picture of Saint Anthony
In the year 1683, Antonia Palormi, a young girl of fourteen, living at Naples, fell on her head from a great height on to the top of a stone building. She bled profusely from her right ear and was half killed. The child, who had a great devotion to her name sake, Saint Anthony, not only wore a picture of the saint round her neck, but used daily to recite the thirteen Our Fathers and Hail Marys in his honor. In the midst of her battle between life and death, he appeared to her, and taking hold of her by her hair, said: "Even had you not called upon me, I would have come to your rescue, on account of your devotion to me." She, at once, out of gratitude, joined the Order of Saint Francis.
27. In Company with Saint Anthony
A child had fallen into the water, and its mother, who, from a distance, saw the accident, cried out: "Oh! Saint Anthony, help." She looked in vain for her son, but at last, discovering him among the reeds in the river, succeeded in saving him. He was not at all hurt, but laughed heartily. On being asked the cause of his merriment, he replied: "I was playing with Saint Anthony, who told the water not to harm me, and I like playing with him."
28. Boys Playing in a Mill Stream
A nobleman had promised to make every year a pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint Anthony, in thanksgiving for his having obtained for him the birth of a lovely boy, the darling of his heart. When the child was old enough, he used to accompany his parents to Padua. But one year, just as they were about starting, the boy fell ill, and the father went alone. In a few days he was quite well again, and one day went out with his little companions to play in the dry bed of a mill stream, near the fields. Whilst they were amusing themselves, the water was suddenly turned on, and no trace of the ten children could be found. The grief of the distracted mothers on hearing the news of this accident, can easily be imagined. In the meantime the count returned from Padua, and his first thought was to ask for his son. At first no one dared tell him the truth, but soon it eked out. In the midst of his anguish, on learning this news, he had recourse to Saint Anthony and said to him: "My dear, holy protector, it rests with you to restore to me the child you gave me, for surely you will not take him back." After this prayer, he rose from his knees, certain that his heavenly friend would not desert him. He was right, for hearing the noise of boyish laughter, he looked out of his window and saw the merry little band of children, with his son in their midst, returning home from the meadow. It would be impossible here to describe the feelings of the happy parents. The boys, on being questioned how they had spent their time, replied they had had lots of fun, but knew nothing of what had happened. In this manner did the saint reward the pilgrimage of his pious votaries, by saving the lives of those little ones so dear to them.
29. Back from Paradise
A Spanish princess had died, and her funeral was already ordered, but the queen mother, who had a great devotion to Saint Anthony, now that all human assistance was of no avail had recourse to his intercession. In her grief she never left the corpse of her beloved daughter, and, with streaming eyes, said to our divine Lord: "It will not cost you more to raise my daughter from the dead than it did when you raised Lazarus from the grave, after being buried four days." Saint Anthony in heaven joined in her supplications, and to the joy and astonishment of all present, the young girl arose, and said to her mother: "Dearest mother, while you were praying to Saint Anthony, I was in heaven, amid the choir of virgins, and I so clearly understood all the vanities of this world that I entreated God not to hear your prayers. He replied He could not refuse any favor to His servant, Saint Anthony, and that also, on account of your earnest prayers, I must return to this world, to change your grief into joy, promising me, at the same time, I should return to my place among the blessed in a fortnight." Everything happened as she predicted. A fortnight afterwards she expired, and went back to enjoy forever the presence of God.
30. Assassins Frightened
A priest in Padua, who had a great devotion to Saint Anthony, had several enemies, who were eagerly watching for an opportunity to destroy him. One night, whilst they were waiting in ambush for the priest, a Franciscan monk suddenly placed himself a few steps before them. Finding he had no intention to move, one of them ordered him in a loud, surly voice to move on. The Father gently, but firmly, replied, "Go your way yourselves; I shall remain here." Seeing him so determined, another rudely asked him: "Pray, who are you?" "I am," he replied, "the saint of Padua." Upon which, as if struck down by some invisible power, they fell on their faces to the ground, just at the time when the priest, who, suspecting nothing, passed by, and was informed by his holy patron of the danger he had escaped. The would-be assassins, filled with remorse, humbly begged his forgiveness, and related how the great Saint Anthony, without being called upon, watches over those who trust in him.
31. A Strong Shield
The following incident took place at Puglia, in the kingdom of Naples, before so many witnesses that the news of it soon spread all over the country. A peasant boy was digging a hole beside a steep rock, when it fell suddenly, carrying the boy with it in its fall. His younger brother, who had seen the accident, ran to tell his mother of it. Her first thought was to call on Saint Anthony to help her, as well as those who were going to the rescue of her child. At last, in the presence of an immense crowd, the stones were removed, and to the great astonishment of all present, not only was the boy alive, but he had not even a scratch on his face or head. Being asked how he had been able to save himself, he replied: "As soon as you, mother, began praying to Saint Anthony, he at once came and shielded me with his hand, so that not only did the sharp stones not fall on me, but I could breathe freely."
32. Dragged by a Mule
Once Father Coinage, S.J., who had a great devotion to Saint Anthony of Padua, was returning to Palermo from Mazzara, in Sicily, accompanied by one of the Brothers, and saying his breviary. He had just come to that verse in the canticle of the young men in the fiery furnace: "Praise the Lord, all His works," when his mule, which was considered a quiet animal, took fright, and broke the bridle. The Father was thrown out of the saddle, and dragged for a considerable distance over a rough and ragged road, with his feet caught in the stirrups. He went on all the time saying his prayers, as if nothing was wrong. At last the mule was stopped. On getting up from the ground he told his companion, who expected to find him either dead or seriously injured: "It is to the prayers of Saint Anthony that I owe my safety."
33. A Scoffer Changes into an Admirer
The following account of a most extraordinary conversion, through the intercession of Saint Anthony, was written by a gentleman living in Venice, A.D. 1677.
For many years he had been a Calvinist, and on his way back from Rome, visited Padua, where he heard so much about the miracles of Saint Anthony, that, having no faith in them, he was sick of hearing them mentioned. Curiosity, however, made him visit the "Church del Santo," considered one of the most beautiful in the city. Whilst looking at the chapel under which the body of the saint lay, he could not help thinking of the necessity of saving his soul, and on drawing near the sarcophagus, he began reading an account of the miracles engraved on it. He was so struck by the story of the mule adoring the Blessed Sacrament that he could not forget it. Trusting that travel would drive these thoughts, which pursued him night and day, away, he left Padua and started for Milan, but to no purpose. At last, yielding to grace, he became a fervent Catholic, and a devout client of Saint Anthony. He was often heard to say he would rather lose all the goods of this world and suffer any amount of torture than desert the Catholic Church.
34. A Glass as Hard as a Rock
A Protestant soldier named Aleardino Sansalvatore went to see his family at Padua. One day, whilst at table, the conversation naturally ran on the miracles of Saint Anthony of Padua, recently deceased. Full of pride, and not believing a word of them, the heretic scoffingly said: "I will become a Catholic, if this glass, which I hold in my hand, does not break into pieces when I throw it against that stone," pointing to a large stone not far off. No sooner said than done. He threw the glass with such violence that the stone against which it was thrown was shivered to pieces, whilst the glass remained uninjured. Astounded at the sight of this miracle, he became a Catholic and made a present of the glass to the Franciscan monastery at Padua, where it may still be seen.
35. A Wish Granted
A lay Sister of the Order of the Poor Ladies of Mount Olivet approached the corpse of Saint Anthony whilst it was still lying unburied in the church, and reverently kissing his hand, implored him, in her simplicity, to have her purgatory here on earth, so that she might go straight to heaven at her death. Her petition was granted. On her return home she was seized with such violent pains all over her body that her screams could be heard all over the convent. At night they gradually abated, and she was able the next day to get up and go to the refectory. She had hardly sat down, before they returned with such intensity that the mother abbess was compelled to send her to the infirmary. Here she had again recourse to the saint, begging of him this time to cure her. Remembering a poor woman had a piece of his habit, she sent for it, placed it on her body and instantly recovered.
36. A Poor Clare Cured
Sister Victoria, a poor Clare, belonging to the monastery at Vienna, certainly deserved her name, owing to her great confidence in God, even when laboring under the greatest difficulties. On one occasion, after being bled, one of the sinews of her right arm was so injured that the whole arm swelled up and became so inflamed that her life was despaired of. The pain, which was intense, never ceased, and the doctor lost every hope of saving her. Victoria alone, full of confidence in God and in the intercession of her patron, Saint Anthony, felt convinced of the contrary. In stead of joining in the prayers of those surrounding her bedside, she repeated the Te Deum and antiphons. On the eve of the feast of Saint Thomas, the inflammation had so increased that the Sisters expected every moment the bell to be tolled for her decease. Towards midnight a slight improvement was noticed in the state of the patient, which continued, so that in a few days she was able to move her hand without danger. On her recovery, she informed the prioress of what had taken place. About midnight the mother abbess had brought two Franciscan monks to her bedside, Saint Anthony, and Saint Bernardin of Sienna. One repeated the antiphons to her, and ordered her to stretch out her hand; the other had blessed her in the name of our dear Lord, and she was instantly cured.
37. Places Exchanged
During the Middle Ages, leprosy was very prevalent in Italy, and Saint Bonaventure used often, in the antiphons, to implore the assistance of Saint Anthony to obtain the cure of those attacked by this dire disease.
The following incident proves how powerful his intercession was: A poor leper, having heard of the miracles worked by Saint Anthony, determined, full of confidence in his intercession, to go and pray on his tomb. On his way to the church, he met a soldier, who scoffingly said to him: "Where are you going, you simpleton? Do you think the ashes and bones of that Brother can heal you? Go, tell him with my compliments, I am not afraid of death, and he can send me your leprosy if he likes." The leper went his way, not heeding the words of the scoffer, but full of trust in the saint, and kneeling before his shrine soon fell into a beautiful sleep, during which he dreamt he saw Saint Anthony, who kindly said to him: "Arise, brother, you are cured; go, give your crutches to the soldier; he sadly needs them." On awaking, he found it was no illusion; he was perfectly cured, and went at once, as he had been bidden, to seek the soldier, whom he found covered with leprosy. Giving him his crutches, said: "I am cured; my saint has told me to give you my crutches."
In this manner, two miracles were wrought: one of mercy, the other of chastisement. As for the soldier, the sight of this miracle touched his heart, and, full of repentance, he allowed himself to be carried to the shrine of the saint, hoping he would have compassion on him. Nor was he mistaken, for after his promising to lead a better life and become a good Catholic, he was also restored to health. He never forgot his promise, and became a most devout client of Saint Anthony.
38. "Do You Know Me?"
Aldonisia, the daughter of Queen Taraxia, of Portugal, lay on a sick bed, given up by all, save the queen mother, who could not believe her child was going to die, for she felt confident that Saint Anthony, whose devout client she was, would cure her darling. "Come," said she to him in her anguish, "come, you were born in this land, come and obtain, through your powerful intercession, the cure of my child." Shortly after midnight, the young girl fell asleep, and the saint, appearing to her, said: "Dost thou know me? I am Saint Anthony, and am come here at the request of your mother. You can have your choice, either to be with me to-day in heaven without passing through the flames of purgatory, or to recover and return to your mother." The child chose the health of the body and was immediately cured. Taking hold of the cord of Saint Anthony, she cried out to her mother: "See, mother, here is Saint Anthony, who has come to cure me." The queen and her suite rushed to the bedside of the princess, and on finding her child cured, the mother fell on her knees to thank God and Saint Anthony.
39. A Son Restored to his Parents
The following miracle took place at Rome, in the month of March 1683: Don Nicholas Grassi, the president of the royal board of administration at Naples, having to go to Rome, took with him his wife and only son. They had scarcely reached the city before the child fell dangerously ill, and was given up by the doctors. His mother, a devout client of Saint Anthony, full of confidence in his intercession, implored the saint to befriend her on this trying occasion. Suddenly at about three o clock in the afternoon of Shrove Tuesday, she heard her son calling out to the saint. She immediately ran to the sick-bed, but he, waving her away with his hand, distinctly cried out: "Anthony." She again asked him whom he was calling, and this time he replied: "I saw a monk in a dark habit; it must have been Saint Anthony himself, for he held in one hand some lovely red and white roses, and in the other a book, on which a beautiful boy was standing." From that time the child got better, and in a few days was completely cured. On being taken to a church, where there was a picture of the saint, he at once pointed it out to his mother, saying: "Look, mother, there is the monk who appeared to me during my illness and cured me." Every time he met a Franciscan Father, he would exclaim: "There is a monk who wears the same habit as Saint Anthony."
40. Gangrene Cured
In 1674, Count Mirola, the commander-in-chief of the papal army, sent to reinforce the Venetians in the war against the Turks, was seriously wounded in the ankle at the siege of Sebenico. In the hope of saving his life, the foot was amputated, but in spite of this, gangrene set in. The count, full of confidence in the intercession of Saint Anthony, sent for one of his pictures, and placing it on the wounded limb, said: "Although I am only a miserable sinner, knowing how good thou art to us, I am certain, dear Saint Anthony, of being cured through your powerful intercession." The count's confidence was not misplaced; in a short time the wound was completely healed, and soon the news of this fresh miracle spread far and wide.
41. "Take Courage"
Such were the words which Saint Anthony himself addressed, in 1682, to a poor man dying at Naples, of dropsy in the head. Emmanuel Caravascione, in spite of being given over by the doctors, and speechless, never lost hope, and although those round his bedside were expecting him every moment to breathe his last, he was himself silently imploring the saint to intercede for him and to come to his rescue. It was not in vain. About midnight, Saint Anthony appeared to him and said: "Take courage, friend. I will help you," and disappeared. The sick man at once recovered his speech, called his wife, and, relating all that had just taken place, told her to go to the Franciscan church and earnestly implore the saint's intercession. To this the poor woman gladly acceded, immediately going barefooted to the church, where she had several Masses, together with the antiphons of the saint, said in his honor. On her return home, she found the doctor perfectly astonished at the marked improvement in the state of the patient. Whilst he was thus talking with her, her little three-year-old boy, who had been staying in the sick-room, suddenly ran up to her, pulling at her dress, wanting her to come and see Saint Anthony, who was talking with his father. Not paying attention to what the little one said, she continued her conversation with the doctor and then went back to the sick-room, where, to her great astonishment, she found her husband perfectly recovered from his illness. "Oh, mamma," said the child, reproachfully, "why did you not come sooner? See, Saint Anthony is gone."
42. A Good Name Restored
In 1641, a parish priest in the Tyrol was falsely accused by some of his parishioners of having committed a dreadful crime, and denounced to his bishop. The priest, conscious of his innocence, did not hesitate for a moment, anticipating the summons, but, after appearing before the consistory, he was condemned and sent to prison.
Finding his good name gone, and that there seemed no chance of his obtaining redress from man, he did not lose heart, but at once wrote to Saint Anthony, imploring his assistance. As it was impossible for him to take the letter to the monastery at Kattern, he sent it by a messenger, begging the monks to place it on the altar dedicated to the saint, which they did.
Saint Anthony, ever the friend of the persecuted, came at once to the rescue of his devout suppliant, and soon made the judges discover the injustice of the accusation. The sentence of imprisonment pronounced against him was at once annulled, and he was honorably reinstated in his former parish. His calumniators, in order to save themselves from heavier penalties, were forced not only to retract their accusations, and pay all the expenses of the trial, but also to perform great works of charity.
43. A Lunatic Cured
In 1701, Herr Franz Zallinger, a gentleman highly respected in Botzen, was suddenly seized with madness while attending the services at the Franciscan church, and became so convulsed that it required several strong men to carry him out of the terror-stricken congregation, and to put him in one of the cells of the monastery, where he had to be closely watched. His brother George, a devout client of Saint Anthony, had at once recourse to the saint's intercession in behalf of the unfortunate lunatic, who was immediately cured and restored to his family.
A magnificent ex voto, in the form of a large silver heart, was placed by the grateful family on the altar of Saint Anthony, at Kattern, as a memento of this miraculous cure.
44. A Happy Death Obtained
A Spanish nobleman, noted for the cordial and respectful welcome he gave to the Franciscans who asked hospitality from him, lay at the point of death, when two Franciscan Fathers came and wanted to see him. On hearing of their arrival, he immediately ordered them to be shown up to his room, and said to them: "I have always longed for two of your religious to come and assist me in my last moments, and God has heard my prayer; do, pray, I entreat you, remain with me till all is over."
"Most willingly," replied the elder of the two monks, whose hands were marked with the stigmata; "we are here for that purpose. I am Francis and my companion is Anthony. We have only come down from heaven in order to bring you back with us." What a consolation for a man on his death-bed!
45. Crushed by the Fall of a Tree
In the year 1666, one of the laborers of a nobleman, called Johannes Kaspar Inderman, residing at Kurtasch, in the Tyrol, experienced the protection of Saint Anthony in a most wonderful manner. One day whilst engaged in felling down a large tree, just after giving the last stroke his foot slipped, and the whole weight of the immense trunk fell on his body, rendering him unconscious. The wife of the noble man at once, on hearing of the accident, had recourse to the intercession of Saint Anthony, promising to have two Masses said in his chapel at Kattern, if he would only save the life of the poor fellow. The promise was hardly made before the man got up unhurt. Out of gratitude to Saint Anthony, he placed an ex voto in his chapel at Kaltern.
46. Carriage portion
In 1649, Saint Anthony did a great act of kindness to a poor girl. The mother, pressed by extreme poverty, wanted to sell her beautiful daughter for money. The unhappy girl, in her anguish, went and knelt before the picture of Saint Anthony, in the Franciscan church, imploring him, weeping bitterly, to save her honor. In the midst of her prayer, the saint stretched out his hand and handing a note to her, said: "Go to the bishop's administrator, and tell him in my name to give you for your marriage portion as much money as this paper weighs." Full of joy, she at once obeyed, and presented the note to the aforesaid gentleman. He at first laughed at her but after putting the paper in one side of the scales, and finding it weighed two hundred silver crowns, remembered a promise he had made the year before to give the above named sum of money, as a marriage portion, to a poor girl. He at once handed the sum over to her, thus saving her from dishonor.
47. Saved from Suicide
Discord is the greatest of all evils which can enter into a house. Union in wedlock, and in one's family makes life a real paradise on earth. Heaven cannot exist without harmony. Hell is one continual discord.
A most unhappy family lived in one of the small villages of Portugal. The husband, not content, on coming home at night, with calling his wife bad names, used to beat her, kick her, and even threaten to turn her out of doors. The cause of such conduct can be easily guessed; he used to stay out late at night and frequented bad company. The poor woman, at last despairing of her husband turning over a new leaf, determined to destroy herself. One night, after her husband had gone to his usual haunts, just as she was about fetching the rope which was to put an end to her misery in this world, she heard a knock at the door. On opening it, two Franciscan Fathers humbly asked if she could give them a night's lodging, saying: "We are come a great distance, and are called Francis and Anthony." On hearing these words, the poor woman exclaimed: "Oh, what beautiful names! They are the names of two saints I love very dearly. Do, pray, come in, reverend Fathers; you are indeed welcome." She at once set about getting everything ready, so as to make them as comfortable as possible. While listening to their conversation about heavenly things, at supper, all thoughts of despair and suicide vanished, a feeling of peace and gratitude stole over her heart, making her thank God for having sent her such guests. As soon as the strangers seemed to be preparing to retire to rest, she withdrew to a little room, and there, falling on her knees, humbly implored God's forgiveness, promising Him, for the future, never to yield to despair, being certain that He who is constantly watching over those who place their whole trust in Him, never permits anything to happen to them but for their greater good.
Whilst still on her knees, she heard her husband enter the house. But oh, how changed! Instead of beginning to curse and swear at her, as soon as he saw her, he fell at her feet, his face bathed in tears, and humbly entreated forgiveness. What could have changed him so? It was soon explained. Immediately after the poor woman had left the Fathers, they had appeared to the cruel husband, and, after sternly reproaching him with his crimes, threatened him with eternal damnation if he did not at once amend. "Richly, indeed, do you deserve to be among the damned, after committing crime upon crime. You will certainly be cast into hell in three days if you do not at once quit this place. Repent of your sins, confess, do penance for them and amend. Hasten home to your wife, ask her for the cord with which she was about to destroy herself, and beg her to forgive you. Tell her the two monks she received and welcomed into her house to-night are no other than Saint Francis and Saint Anthony." It would be impossible to describe the joy and gratitude of this now reconciled couple towards the two great saints who had been the instruments used by God to save them, soul and body. They at once, both of them, approached the Sacraments of Penance and of the Altar, and from henceforth led lives which were a foretaste of heaven.
48. The Great Harvest
A poor woman living near Padua had only a single field of wheat, which was so devoured by sparrows that hardly an ear of corn could be seen. No sooner had she driven them off one part of the field than they flew to another, with the greatest impudence. Finding her labor useless, she had recourse to Saint Anthony, and, asking him to take care of her field, promised to visit his tomb nine times. Certain of his protection, she at once began her novena, and during that time left the field entirely under his care. After the novena was finished, she went to see how things were going on, and to her surprise found that not a sparrow was to be seen. That year she had a finer harvest than she ever had before.
49. The Storm Ceases and the Sea becomes Calm
A Maronite bishop, Timothy di Sarca, had left Mesopotamia to go to Rome. The coast of Ostia was already seen in the distance, when suddenly a terrific hurricane arose on the Tyrrhenian sea, the ship being tossed about like a ball and her mast broken. All hopes of reaching land were given up, even by the oldest sailors, who only thought of preparing themselves for death. The good bishop, a devout client of Saint Anthony, alone did not lose courage, and urged the passengers and crew to have recourse to Saint Anthony, and to promise, did they reach the land, to burn a candle in his honor. To this all unanimously agreed. Immediately the storm ceased, the waters became as smooth as glass, and the vessel glided into port, driven by a favorable wind.
During his stay at Rome, the same bishop experienced another favor from his heavenly friend and benefactor. The Propaganda had given him a bill of exchange, in order to help him on his journey. Somehow or other, just as he was going to leave the city, it got mislaid and could not be found. In this dilemma he had at once recourse to his holy patron, and, having said Mass in his honor, begging of him to assist him, he returned to the house at which he was staying, where, to his great surprise, he found the bill lying on his table in his room.
50. "She is all Right Now"
A ship, heavily laden with silk from Catalonia, had just reached the coast of Sicily, when a terrific storm arose, and the vessel was driven back to sea with such violence that she became perfectly unmanageable. Everybody on board thought they were lost, except one of the crew, who, in a loud voice, called upon Saint Anthony to come to their rescue, saying: "Dear Saint Anthony, become the pilot of this vessel; we hand her over to you." Immediately, on the sailors responding to this appeal, Saint Anthony was seen at the helm, and, smiling at the crew, addressed them thus: "Let the vessel go by herself, she is all right now," after which he disappeared, and a gentle breeze drove the ship into harbor, without mast or rudder.
51. The Beacon
The remembrance of the protection of this great thaumaturgus is still preserved in the lagoons. Shortly after the canonization of the saint, a gondola containing more than twenty-six persons, whilst passing through Venice, during a night which was pitch dark, was caught in a sudden squall, and the boat was struck by the wind with such violence that for a moment the people in it did not know whether it was capsized or not. In this dilemma, they all cried out with one voice: "Saint Anthony, help us; Saint Anthony, help us." At once, in the midst of the darkness, a bright light was seen, and they found the boat was close to the little island of San Marco Piccolo, where they were safely landed. The light then disappeared, and the rescued party fell on their knees to thank their heavenly benefactor.
52. The Singer in the Boat
During a violent storm, a poor fisherman in Portugal, whose sole means of getting an honest livelihood depended on his boat, had the misfortune to see it break from its moorings and drift into the open sea. In his distress, he at once appealed to Saint Anthony. Two days afterwards, one of his neighbors came and told him how some young men, during a terrific storm, had seen a boat in the open sea, with no other occupant than a Franciscan monk at the helm, who was singing beautiful hymns. Struck by the coincidence, the poor man at once ran to the shore, where, to his great joy, he found his boat stranded on the beach.
53. Chains as an Altar Decoration
In the year 1672, a poor man, living in Cracovia, Poland, was unjustly accused of murder and condemned to the rack. This punishment, most terrible in itself, was frequently resorted to in the Middle Ages to force suspected criminals to confess the crimes of which they were accused, and it is certain the most innocent have declared themselves guilty of offences of which they had not even the remotest idea, rather than undergo this terrible torture a second time. Once a Capuchin Father was known, through fear of being again placed on this cruel instrument, to confess having struck Our Lord whilst He was hanging on the cross. What happened to the priest also happened to the poor Pole, who, whilst stretched on the rack, finding death preferable to what he was suffering, although quite innocent, declared he was guilty. On being taken back to prison, he began preparing himself for death, by receiving the sacraments of the Church, giving abundant alms and recommending himself especially to Saint Anthony. The good saint would not permit his devout client to suffer such a disgraceful death, and on the night before his execution appeared to him, opened the prison gates, and, breaking his chains, ordered him to take them to his judges, so as to have his sentence revoked. The proofs of his innocence were too palpable to be doubted; the man was set free, and at once, out of gratitude, placed the chains on the altar of the saint, where they are still to be seen.
54. Saint Anthony is Never Invoked in Vain
The celebrated Jesuit Father, Daniel Papebroch, relates the following incident which took place at Antwerp, in his youth, and which he never forgot: It happened that a woman in business who had received a note of hand from the head of a mercantile house could not find it anywhere, just at the time it became due. The loss of it did not at first trouble her very much, as having had dealing with the above-named house for several years, and her honesty being known to the firm, she felt certain payment would not be refused. She was mistaken; not only was she informed that the money had been already paid, but she was grossly insulted, which hurt even more than the loss of the money. She therefore determined to consult a well-known soothsayer as to the best means of finding the lost note. Fortunately for her, she met on her way the mother of Father Papebroch, to whom she related what had taken place. After hearing her story, the lady strongly advised her to have a Mass said to Saint Anthony, to which she at once agreed, and assisted at it herself. On her return home, she found a servant waiting for her, who informed her that his master, believing what she said to be true, was quite prepared to pay her the money with out the note being produced.
55. King Charles II of England
In 1655, Charles II, who had been banished from England, went to reside at Cologne. Whilst there, the little gold and silver plate he had, and which he greatly valued, was stolen. In spite of being a Protestant, he sent one of the gentlemen of his suite to beg of the Friars Minor to pray for his intentions. The following day, Father Werner Burich, a highly respected priest, whilst passing through the church, noticed a stranger beckoning to him and pointing to a confessional. Thinking something was wrong, he went at once to the place, and found there the sack containing the lost plate. He immediately sent for the superior of the monastery, Father Thomas Martine, who ordered two of the Brothers to restore the plate to the rightful owner. The king, delighted at having recovered his lost property, ordered an account of it to be published, which he attested and signed with his own hand.
56. The Grateful Captain
In 1674, a Swiss captain, stationed at Dunkirk, in French Flanders, one night on retiring to rest, put his purse, containing sixty gold doubloons, under his pillow, but on awakening the next morning could not find them; the purse had disappeared. He at once went to ask the assistance of Saint Anthony, and had a Mass said in his honor at the Franciscan church. During the Offertory, somebody knocked at the door of the monastery. On the porter opening it, a soldier, accompanied by another man, gave him the purse, which the Brother at first hesitated to receive. The soldier insisted, and, throwing it at his feet, exclaimed: "I did not steal the purse," and disappeared. When Mass was over, the money was restored to the captain, who, out of gratitude, made a present of the greater part of it to the monastery. A picture, commemorating this and other miracles worked by the saint, was placed in his chapel.
57. A Child Stolen
In 1720, a poor woman left her little four-year-old child alone in her garden, surrounded by high walls, as she was obliged to go to Botzen on business. On her return from town, she went to fetch her little girl, who was nowhere to be found. Full of anguish, she immediately made a pilgrimage to Saint Anthony's chapel, at Kattern, and on coming home, found the little one safe and sound in the house. On being questioned by her mother, she replied: "Whilst you were away, a man climbed over the wall of our garden, and carried me to the top of a big hill, but I had not been long there before a priest found me, and brought me home, telling me I must be a very good little girl and always say my prayers and mind what you tell me, which I certainly shall try." The grateful mother easily guessed that the good priest could be no other than Saint Anthony.
58. Erysipelas Cured through Invoking Saint Anthony
The youngest son of John Amaldus von Buren, a lad of thirteen, owing to a severe attack of erysipelas, had to have the knee bone of his right leg taken out. In spite of this painful operation, cancer set in, and the only hopes of saving the sufferer's life was by amputating the diseased limb. The boy, on hearing this, asked for a picture of Saint Anthony, and full of confidence in his powerful intercession, implored him to take pity on him and cure him; promising if he did so, to make a pilgrimage to his shrine at Padua, and always to wear a gray dress in his honor. No sooner was the promise made than he felt himself perfectly cured. Shortly afterwards he started for Padua to fulfill his vow, and was able to kneel at the altar of the saint without feeling any pain. Those who had seen him during his illness could hardly believe in the cure, but, after carefully examining the knee, they found to their great astonishment no trace of the bone having been taken out.
59. The Bishop's Ring
Don Ignatius Martiques, Bishop of Cordova, had a great devotion to Saint Anthony and received many favors from him. Once he lost his bishop's ring, which he had received at his consecration, and naturally, for this reason, the loss of it greatly troubled him. He at once had several Masses said for his intention, but the saint seemed to have turned a deaf ear. One day whilst at table with several gentlemen, the conversation ran upon the miracles the saint was working, and which filled the whole world with astonishment. The bishop also spoke about the many favors he had received, and how greatly he trusted the dear saint, but added: "I am just now rather inclined to quarrel with him, for in spite of my repeatedly asking him, he has not yet given me back my ring." Hardly had he uttered these words before the ring, to the astonishment of all present, fell on the table, as if coming from the ceiling, and every one joined in giving three cheers for Saint Anthony.
60. The Manuscript Ready for the Press
The Dominican bishop, Ambrosius Catherinus, as renowned for his virtue as for his great learning, has written several books, among others one bearing the title of "Honor due to the Saints," from which the following anecdote is extracted: The bishop, on his way home from Toulouse, after travelling a considerable distance, discovered that a valuable manuscript, ready for printing, was missing. He immediately retraced his steps, in the hopes of finding it, and even took the trouble of asking the governor of the city to assist him. Finding earthly aid of no avail, he had recourse to Saint Anthony, promising to mention this favor in his book, were the manuscript found. Full of these thoughts, he resumed his journey and on the road met a stranger, who, drawing near to him, asked if he had not lost a manuscript. The bishop replied in the affirmative, and gave a description of the lost treasure. Upon which the man, after returning it to him, showed him the place where he had dropped it. Full of gratitude, the bishop faithfully kept his word, and gave an account of his loss in the book, which was printed at Lyons, 1541.
61. Heard during Mass
John Comez Cano, chamberlain to the Duke of Brabant, had a great lawsuit to carry on in the Senate House, but unfortunately some very important documents had been mislaid, with out which the case would be lost. In this predicament, John Comez Cano's only hope was to make an appeal to Saint Anthony and implore his assistance, promising, in return, to have three Masses said in his honor. Full of these thoughts, he went to the Franciscan church in Brussels, and, while on his way to the chapel, met one of the Fathers in the cloisters, who, looking at him most benevolently, asked in Spanish the cause of his sadness. On being informed of it, he said: "Go and hear a Mass in honor of Saint Anthony, and you will receive the lost documents to-morrow," which was, in fact, the case. The lawsuit was gained and an ex voto was placed in the chapel of the saint to commemorate the miracle, which happened in 1646.
62. An Ant Employed as Porter
Saint Anthony is ever ready to help those who fully trust in him, even in the most trifling matters. Supposing you lose a key, only ask St Anthony and he will certainly find it for you. The following incident clearly proves the truth of this assertion: A lay Capuchin Brother had a rosary which, for the many indulgences attached to it, he greatly prized. One day he accidentally broke the string on which the beads were strung, so that they were scattered all over the ground. He at once began to pick them up, but to his great vexation, one was missing, and not being able to find it he at once said a prayer to Saint Anthony, which was no sooner finished than to his great astonishment he saw an ant coming with great difficulty towards him, carrying on her back the lost bead. Filled with gratitude, the good Brother wept for joy at the sight of the kindness of his dear saint.
63. Returned at Midnight
In 1664 a rich merchant from Augsburg sent his confidential servant on business to Saint Andrew's market, at Botzen, and gave him at the same time two hundred and thirty guldens in coin and several thousands in paper money, which were carefully packed up in his travelling bag. The servant being obliged to go to Trent on business, returned by way of Tramin. Worn out by his long journey, and finding it impossible to proceed any further until he had rested a little, he lay down near the roadside close to Tramin, and was soon fast asleep. On awaking, he found his bag had disappeared. He at once made use of every means he possibly could to discover the thief, but finding it useless, went to Kattern on 23 November, and on seeing the superior of the Franciscans, informed him of his loss, at the same time asking for three Masses and other prayers to be said in honor of Saint Anthony, and returned again to Botzen, fully convinced that the money would be found. In the meantime, the antiphons in honor of Saint Anthony were daily said by the choir Brothers, in order to obtain his assistance. On 13 December, whilst matins was being sung, a terrible noise was heard at the church door, which increased so much that the Brothers, greatly alarmed, went to see what was the matter. Suddenly all was silent, and, on their reaching the door, they found it forced open and inside a quantity of paper scattered over the floor, together with two bags of money, a pair of stockings and an old veil, all of which was the stolen property of the merchant, M. Morrell, who was then staying at Botzen. On his receiving the stolen things, he found only twenty-one gulden and thirty-eight kreuzers missing; out of gratitude he had an ex voto placed in the chapel, on which was a representation of the church door being forced open, and bags of money being thrown inside the church.
64. The Victorious Admiral
The very reverend Father Provincial Kuck, of the Franciscan province of Bavaria, heard, himself, the following incident related by Admiral Don Mondemar, during his visit to Spain, when convoked to the General Chapter, held at Murcia. The then reigning King of Spain, Philip IV, determined to send a fleet to recapture Oran from the Moors. Several attempts had already been made, all of which had failed, and the fortress was considered impregnable. In spite of everything the admiral could say, the king persisted in his determination, and, consequently, nothing remained but to obey. On reaching Alicant, Don Mondemar allowed his troops to disembark, and availed himself of this opportunity to visit the church of the Franciscans, dedicated to Saint Anthony, where he placed the whole business in his hands. With this intention, after spending some time in prayer, he called upon the superior, begging of him to have he office of Saint Anthony said. This being ended, he, in the presence of a great many people, asked the Father Superior's permission to have a ladder placed before the high altar, over which a life-size statue of the saint stood. This granted, he mounted the ladder and clothed the statue with all the insignia of a Spanish admiral in active service, and thus addressed the saint: "You, Saint Anthony, must capture Oran, for I am unable to do so;" and laying his hand on the head of the statue, continued: "You are now the admiral, and I am only your humble servant and soldier, ready to obey your orders, for after God, I place my whole trust in you." This ceremony concluded, he came down from the ladder and returned with his men to the fleet, where they embarked. As the squadron drew near Oran, all waited anxiously for the enemy to begin the attack. Seeing no notice was taken of them, the admiral ordered his men to fire. Again no response from the citadel. At a loss to understand what this meant, the command was given to land the troops, and, to the great astonishment of every one, the city gates were wide open. Thinking this was a stratagem of the enemy, they proceeded very cautiously through the empty streets, which, like the fortress, were completely deserted. Here an old Moor was discovered, concealed in his house, and was immediately brought before the admiral, who demanded an explanation of this extraordinary behavior on the part of the garrison and inhabitants. "As soon," replied the old man, "as the Christian squadron appeared in sight, a legion of soldiers was seen in the air, led by a Franciscan monk, wearing all the insignia of an admiral on duty, who threatened to destroy every one of us if we did not at once leave the city." Terrified beyond description at this unexpected apparition, both citizens and garrison had fled in the greatest disorder.
It was in this way that, thanks to the assistance of Saint Anthony, Mondemar captured the city of Oran, without shedding a drop of blood. He at once sent a dispatch to the king, informing him of all that had taken place. The statue, clothed with an admiral's insignia, is still to be seen at Alicant, but the miracle was only confirmed in Rome in 1770.
65. Saved from the Scaffold
A Franciscan Father, who lived at Naples in the monastery dedicated to Saint Lawrence, relates the following incident which took place in that city. One stormy night a young fisherman was sitting alone with his mother, in his little cottage close to the sea, when he heard, in the midst of the howling of the wind, some one in great distress calling for help. He immediately went out and found a man mortally wounded, lying close to his door. The murderer had fled, but the coast-guard had also heard the cries for help, and seeing the young fisherman bending over the dead man, naturally concluded he was guilty, and, in spite of all his protestations, he was brought before the judge and accused of murder.
His guilt was, in fact, only too evident; he had been found bending over the corpse of a man, still warm. No one else could be found in the neighborhood, and there was only his mother who could prove his innocence, and what is a mother's evidence in such a case, even had she come in time? But the poor creature was so stunned by grief on hearing the accusation against her only son, that she reached the court just before the sentence of death was pronounced on her child. On hearing which, the wretched mother, in spite of all the rebuffs she received from the judge, persisted in asking him to spare her child's life. At last, weary of her importunities, and perhaps also in the hopes of getting rid of her, he informed her that if she could see the king, there was a small chance of a reprieve being obtained. Full of hope, the unhappy parent at once started upon her mission, but what appeared so easy was truly beset with difficulties. On reaching the palace she was told she must have a petition presented to the king, and who was to write that petition? When she at last succeeded in getting it done, it was far too late for her to obtain an audience of the king. Broken-hearted, she left the palace, and, as she was passing by the Church of Saint Lawrence, she entered, and kneeling before the railings which separated Saint Anthony's chapel from the rest of the church, she implored the saint's intercession in behalf of her unfortunate son. She would have remained there longer, had not the sacristan told her he must shut up the church, and then, in her despair, she threw her petition on his altar, crying out: "Saint Anthony, Saint Anthony, you must save my child." She then returned home, consoled and comforted, convinced that the saint would assist her.
It was ten o clock in the evening, and the king, having some important work to do, had dismissed his attendants, when suddenly he heard a knock at his door and a young Franciscan monk entered. There was something so modest and prepossessing in his appearance that the king was perfectly fascinated, and received him most courteously. "Pardon me, sire," said the priest, "for disturbing you at so late an hour, but my errand is urgent and brooks of no delay, since the life of a fellow creature depends on it." "Speak, Brother, how can I help you?"
"Your majesty has to-day signed a sentence of death on a young fisherman found near the corpse of a murdered man. Although appearances are against him, I declare to you he is innocent."
"When the law has pronounced judgment," answered the king, "it is not for me to change it or to presume that the sentence is unjust."
"I can swear to the innocence of my protege," responded the monk. "All I entreat your majesty to do is to write the word reprieved under this petition."
The Franciscan Father uttered these words in so determined a manner, that the king, in spite of himself, took up his pen, then paused, and said: "Where do you come from?" "From the Franciscan monastery, which bears the name of Saint Lawrence."
"Even if I grant the reprieve, the young man will have been executed before it can reach the prison."
"I am well aware the time is short, but do what I ask you," replied the Franciscan, firmly, pointing to the petition. To this the king, in spite of himself, acceded. The petition was signed and, after thanking his majesty, the monk disappeared. The king felt strangely impressed by this visit, and, after remaining a few minutes absorbed in thought, said to himself: "How could this man have come here at this time of night?" And sending for one of his chamberlains, he asked who had introduced the monk into the palace? But neither the chamberlains nor any one else had seen the monk enter, and how he had done so remained a perfect mystery. The king, finding it was impossible to discover who the Father was, determined to make inquiries at the convent of Saint Lawrence.
The following afternoon the king, anxious to unravel the mystery of the preceding night, went to the Franciscan monastery of Saint Lawrence and, summoning all the community together, asked the superior whom he had sent the night before to the palace. To his astonishment the superior informed him he was not aware of any one being out of the monastery the preceding night. After carefully examining the faces of the monks and not finding the one he wanted, his majesty ordered the mother of the boy to be sent for, in order to question her as to the person to whom she had given the petition, and to while away the time inspected the monastery and then went to visit the church. After examining the different altars the king paused before the picture of Saint Anthony and exclaimed, pointing it out to the superior:
"Ah! here is the priest who came to see me last night."
"Pardon me, sire, that Father is not under my jurisdiction," replied the superior.
It may be interesting for some to know how Saint Anthony finished saving the young fisherman. The day after he was condemned to death was the one appointed for his execution, and early that same morning the public prosecutor, on awaking, found lying on the table near his bedside a paper containing the free pardon of the condemned, signed by the king and dated the night before. Thinking his servant had forgotten to give it to him the preceding evening, he hastily dressed himself and not daring to trust it to any one, for fear of it not reaching the prison authorities in time, took it himself to the jail. The surprise of the poor youth on seeing the royal official enter his cell, bringing with him not only the reprieve, but also the order for him to return to his mother, can be very easily imagined.
This occurrence soon spread all over Naples, and Saint Anthony of Padua was chosen to be one of the patron saints of the city.
66. A Choir Master without Employment
For some time a choir master had vainly sought employment in Rome and Naples in order to procure the bare necessaries of life for his little family. On 13 June they were on the verge of starvation, and the poor man, in order to obtain the assistance of Saint Anthony, approached the holy Sacraments of Penance and of the Altar, and heard several Masses in his honor. On leaving the church a stranger came up to him, and placed sufficient money in his hands to satisfy his most pressing necessities. But the good saint's favors did not cease here. When he came home, his wife, with a beaming countenance, told him how an unknown benefactor had sent his servant with enough food to last them several weeks; and that very day a letter came from Spoliation offering him the post of music director in the choir of the cathedral, which was, of course, accepted. The grateful family never afterwards omitted reciting the antiphons in honor of the saint. The last line, Dicant Paduani, is an everlasting testimony of the wonderful manner in which Saint Anthony still watches over Padua. For six hundred years he has justly been considered its patron and protector. In every direction churches have been built, altars erected, and pious and charitable institutions founded in his honor. The citizens are almost daily eye witnesses of the marvellous power God has bestowed on His faithful servant. Thousands of pilgrims, from every part of the world, are constantly flocking to his shrine, either to thank him for past blessings or implore his aid. His altar is so covered with ex votos that it has been found necessary to set a room aside to receive the treasures which his grateful clients are constantly sending to his shrine.
67. A Costly Ex Voto
The Franciscan architect, Father Valentine, a native of Worms, who built the magnificent church dedicated to Saint Anthony, at Padua, related the following incident, which took place in the year 1871:
A Portuguese prince had long been wishing for a son to inherit his vast possessions. At last, after promising a present of a silver statue of the holy Child to the above-mentioned church, a son was born. Filled with gratitude, he ordered a statue of solid silver to be cast of the same weight as the infant prince. Fearing, on account of the persecution of religious houses in Italy, it might not fall into the right hands, he forwarded it to Rome, by a special escort, where it was delivered over to Pope Pius IX. His Holiness immediately sent for Father Valentine, ordering him to place it in the newly erected church of Saint Anthony, at Padua, where it is still to be seen.
Few among the rich or learned of this age of incredulity and unbelief, in the pride of their hearts, place any faith in miracles. Let us not allow ourselves to be ranked among their number, but rather, like those believers in the Gospel, thank God He has given such power to men, and more especially to His faithful servant, Saint Anthony.
68. The Franciscan Church of Saint Anthony in the Tyrol
It has been the design of God to glorify His faithful servant, Saint Anthony, by spreading his devotion, not only in Germany, France, Italy and Spain, but throughout the whole Catholic world. It is not here my intention to mention the names of the principal places where this great saint is honored, but simply to give an account of the origin of the pilgrimage to the Church of Saint Anthony at Kattern in the Tyrol.
In 1638, the ruined castle of Rottenburg and grounds adjoining it were conceded to the Franciscan Fathers of the Tyrolese reformed Province, for the purpose of building a monastery, which, to the great joy of the inhabitants of the neighboring country, was completed in 1643. The picture for the altar dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua, was destined by divine Providence, on account of the many favors, spiritual and temporal, which the devout clients of the saint were to receive at this favored spot, to be the means of making the monastery known far and wide.
A nobleman, Christopher Ulrich von Bach, was to be the instrument chosen by God to procure this miraculous picture. He had in 1638, thanks to the protection of the saint, escaped a most dangerous plot laid by his enemies. Filled with gratitude, he determined, at his own cost, to erect in the church of Kattern an altar dedicated to Saint Anthony. It was found, after the altar had been set in its proper place, that a picture of the saint was wanting. God, desirous of spreading the devotion to His faithful servant, sent an unknown painter to Herr von Bach, who had just gone on a pilgrimage to Padua, to ask permission to paint a picture for him. The nobleman, being a stranger in the city, and a lover of art, gladly consented and, inspired by God, ordered a painting of Saint Anthony. A few days afterwards, the artist returned, bringing with him a life-sized picture, representing the saint with two angels above his head. In his right hand, he holds a lily, the symbol of his virginal purity, and in his left a book, on which the holy Child is standing. Saint Anthony has a gentle but serious expression on his countenance, and is clothed in the habit of the reformed Tyrolese Province. Under his feet the spire of the church is seen. The nobleman, finding he had not enough money in his purse to pay the painter, left the room to get some more. To his great astonishment, on his return, the painter had disappeared, and, in spite of every inquiry, was nowhere to be found. This circumstance has led many to believe that the picture is the work of an angel, and they are probably right in their conjecture, for it has never been found possible to make a correct copy of it. For two hundred years Saint Anthony worked so many miracles at the church at Kattern that it was impossible to inscribe them on the registers, and the walls of his chapel were so covered with ex votos from the grateful clients of the saint that the old ones had to make room for the new. It was a common saying: "If Saint Anthony will not hear you at Padua, go to Kattern; he is sure to hear you there."
69. Saved from Eternal Damnation
A man had for twenty-four years concealed in confession a grievous mortal sin, so that every time he received the sacraments he committed fresh sacrileges. At last a ray of light pierced through his darkened soul, and he implored the assistance of Saint Anthony. One day whilst saying his prayers the saint appeared, and so forcibly pointed out to him the infinite justice of God, and the danger of eternal damnation, that, filled with terror, the poor sinner hastened to make a good confession and to be reconciled with God.
70. Saint Anthony Converts an Officer
The wife of an officer was in great distress about her husband, who whilst serving in the army, had lost his faith. One day, when, in order to bring about his conversion, she was imploring Saint Anthony's intercession, she suddenly turned to her little daughter, who was kneeling by her side, and said to her: "You must earnestly ask Saint Anthony to make your father find what he has lost."
"What has he lost?" innocently asked the child.
"That you will know one day," replied her mother; "but pray earnestly and do not say anything to father about it."
The child did as she was told. Some time after, the officer wanting to speak to his wife, went to her room, and to his surprise found his little girl kneeling before the statue of Saint Anthony, entreating him "to give back what father had lost."
Quite astonished at this, he asked himself: "What can I have lost?" Turning to his wife, he asked her the same question: "Wife, tell me what does the child want Saint Anthony to find for me; what have I lost that she is praying for me to recover?"
She made no answer, and he did not press the matter, but in spite of himself the thought haunted him. On 12 June, the eve of the feast of Saint Anthony, the officer, finding he could get no peace, again asked his wife what he had lost, and insisted on being answered this time. Looking sadly at him, she said: "Are you prepared to leave me forever?"
"I have never thought of such a thing," was the reply, "but if it were the case, perhaps you would not miss me much, as you are constantly praying in church."
"And yet it must be so, dearest husband," she replied, with tears streaming down her face, "if you do not find what you have lost."
He anxiously asked her: "I entreat you to tell me what I have lost."
The poor woman, weeping bitterly, answered: "What have you lost? Your faith, your mother's faith, and as I do not want to be parted from you for eternity, I implore you to come back to that faith, otherwise you cannot go to heaven."
The officer, without saying another word, silently left her, but the anxious wife could hear him repeating to himself: "The faith, my mother's faith, my wife's faith, my child's faith." And during the night, whilst she was praying for him, he paced up and down his room, saying from time to time the same words: "The faith, my mother's faith."
The next day he again went to her room, and finding her dressed in her best clothes, inquired if it was a holiday. "No," was the reply, "but we are going to keep Saint Anthony's feast." "Oh, that saint?" said he, pointing to the statue of Saint Anthony, "who finds lost things. Well, thank Saint Anthony!" And as his wife looked anxiously into his face, he continued: "Yes, dearest wife, I have found what I had lost. Let us go at once and burn a candle before Saint Anthony's altar."
They went to the Franciscan monastery, asked to see a priest, and the officer made his confession and was reconciled to God.
71. The Heathen Baptized on His Death-bed
A Jesuit missionary Father, stationed at Madena, in the East Indies, sends us the following account of the conversion of a poor heathen who had often heard the Christians speak of Saint Anthony. Whilst still a pagan, he had such devotion to Saint Anthony that he used yearly to make a pilgrimage to his altar, and also give a dinner to thirty poor persons in his honor. In spite of this, he did not become a Christian. At last he fell dangerously ill, and, whilst on his sick-bed, remembered his dear Saint Anthony. Anxious, as he said, to see him in heaven, he sent for the Jesuit Father, and asked to be baptized. The priest, availing him self of the poor man's good dispositions, instructed him in our holy religion, baptized him, gave him the scapular, and had the consolation of seeing him die in the best dispositions.
72. Saint Anthony assists Poor Nuns
Missouri, 1 June 1882.
A teaching order of nuns had been settled for some time in one of the large towns of Missouri, but, owing to the expiration of the lease of the house in which they resided, they were forced to look for a place where they could build a convent. Unfortunately money was scarce with them. In vain they appealed for assistance; none was forthcoming, and being at an utter loss how to procure funds sufficient to build even a convent of the humblest description, they at last thought of placing the matter in Saint Anthony's hands, promising him if he did really prove a friend to them, to have it published in the German paper entitled Sanct Franzisci Glocklein.
Their confidence was not misplaced. Funds came from a most unexpected quarter, and they have now not only a more convenient convent for themselves, but also the charge of the parish schools and a high school for American young ladies.
73. Honor Vindicated
12 December 1883.
Whilst staying at a house at which I used frequently to visit, a considerable sum of money was suddenly missed from a room in which no one else had been but myself. I could clearly see, though not openly accused of the theft, that every one thought I was the guilty party. Naturally enough, I felt my position most keenly. To leave my friend's house would only have confirmed his suspicions, and yet what was to be done? Nothing was left but for me to implore assistance from above, and I determined to make a novena to Saint Anthony, begging of him to vindicate my honor. On the third day of the novena the owner of the lost money suddenly remembered he had removed it from the place from which it had been missed, and locked it up elsewhere. He at once went to fetch it, and to my great joy found it perfectly safe. In this way was my honor vindicated, thanks to that dear saint.
74. Saint Anthony assists all Those Who Invoke Him
Rothsburg, 18 November 1879.
Our present chaplain was taken dangerously ill, and consequently we were without any spiritual assistance. In this emergency we resolved to ask Saint Anthony to obtain the cure of our respected pastor, promising at the same time to make a novena of the nine Tuesdays in his honor. We began it on 15 July and on the feast of the Assumption our good priest was well enough to preach to us.
75. Saved from Drowning
An Italian priest from Carlovago on the Adriatic sea, writing to the Sanct Franzisci Glocklein, begs, out of gratitude, for the following paragraph to be inserted: "On 24 June 1881, I had to hire a boat to take me to my parish in order to say Mass. Suddenly a storm arose and the north wind began to blow with such violence that the boat began to fill with water. Death, humanly speaking, was inevitable. Bearing, as I do, Saint Anthony's name, and having great confidence in his protection, I at once called upon him to come to our rescue, and thanks to his powerful assistance we were saved."
76. Preserved from Fire
The following incident took place in the Tyrol in 1881: A young girl in the month of March dreamed that her neighbor's house was on fire, and in her terror rushed to the window, where she saw a young Franciscan monk in the street, who, blessing her house, said to her father, who was standing on the doorstep: "Do not be afraid, the fire will not touch you."
This dream made a deep impression on her, and when, the following June, her neighbor's house, just opposite, was struck by lightning during a terrible thunder-storm and burnt to the ground, she at once remembered her dream and Saint Anthony's promise. All the time the fire lasted she continually called upon Saint Anthony to bless her family and save their house, which he did, for although the roof was thatched and there was a high wind blowing, the fire did not touch it. Truly it can be said: "If you want a miracle go to Saint Anthony."
77. Saint Anthony's Protection
The following account, showing the care Our Lady and Saint Anthony take of all who call upon them, is from an extract of a letter written in thanksgiving by M. S., who lived in the little town of Pecham, in Austria, and published in the Sanct Franzisci Glocklein, dated 15 September 1885: On 31 May a fire broke out at midnight, completely destroying forty houses. About one o clock of the same night the brother of M. S., who kept a shop, had the roof of his house burnt, and all the goods placed in the yard destroyed. Fearing they would lose everything, M. S., her brother, and the other members of the family, imprudently rushed back to their sitting-room in the hopes of being able to save a few articles. Owing to the rapidity of the fire and the dense smoke, they had hardly reached the room before all possibility of exit or rescue was cut off, and there they were obliged to remain for three hours, expecting every moment to perish in the flames. M. S. had often read in the Sanct Franzisci Glocklein of the miracles worked by Saint Anthony. Full of confidence, she and all those with her fell on their knees, imploring Our Lady of Seven Sorrows and Saint Anthony to protect them. They were not mistaken, for although the cellar was filled with casks of petroleum and other dangerous combustibles, although all the window sashes were destroyed by the fire, and red hot cinders not only fell into the cellar, but even under the beds, yet not even a single article in the house, except a few sacks of potatoes, were destroyed.
78. Saved from Shipwreck and other Difficulties
In the autumn, of 1880 a merchant went with his family to America. During the voyage they encountered such stormy weather that even the oldest sailors on board feared they were lost. The merchant's wife, a devout client of Saint Anthony, promised if they reached land, not only to make a pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint Anthony, but also that her little girl, who was being educated in a convent in Europe, should wear the Franciscan habit for three months in his honor. Her prayer was heard, and on her return home she not only visited the shrine of the saint, but also had a habit of Saint Francis made, which the child wore for the first time on his feast, 13 June.
About the end of May 1881, four Franciscan monks sailed from New York for Glasgow, intending to pass through Edinburgh on their way to Hull, where they were to take the first steamer sailing for Rotterdam. To save expense they had, on reaching Glasgow, sent their luggage on to Hull, where, on arriving, to their great dismay, it was nowhere to be found at the luggage office. Two of them, greatly annoyed and quite out of temper, determined to go and pay a visit to the Catholic church at some distance from the port. Their devotions finished, they left the church, intending to rejoin their fellow travellers, but found it quite impossible to remember their way back to the place where they had left them. In this dilemma they had recourse to Saint Anthony, and not in vain.
A young man, seeing they were in trouble and strangers, accosted them, and after inquiring what was the matter, not only acted as their guide and brought them back to their companions, but also found the lost luggage, and never left them till they were safe on board their vessel.
79. Saint Anthony Finds Lost People
Saalem, 24 September 1883.
Some time in September 1883, a blind, imbecile, and self-willed old woman left her home under the pretext of going to see some relatives close by. Finding she did not return home that night the people of the house where she lived naturally concluded she had stayed with her friends. However, early on the second day, hearing she had not been to their house, but had been seen wandering through some fields, they became alarmed and people were sent, but to no purpose, in search of her. On the third day her relatives had a Mass said in honor of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and Saint Anthony, with the promise of publishing it in the Sanct Franzisci Glocklein were she found, but in spite of inquiries being made in every direction and in the surrounding villages, they met with no better success than on the preceding day. Finally, long after one o'clock in the afternoon one of the searchers noticed a lonely path leading into the woods, where the poor creature, more dead than alive, was found sitting under a tree, but so exhausted for want of food, which she had not tasted for more than two days, that it was with great difficulty she was carried home. She is now, thank God, in perfect health.
80. A Mistake in Reckoning Discovered
Cologne, 1884.
A bookkeeper, in balancing his books, found a considerable deficit in them, which he, morally speaking, thought he was in duty bound to make up.
In his difficulty he had recourse to Saint Anthony, promising to offer up in the saint's name all the Masses and communions of the month for the intentions of the Church. He once more began carefully to re-examine his books and accounts. After uselessly spending three days in this work, he again called on Saint Anthony to assist him, and in a few minutes afterward discovered his mistake.
81. The Lost Railway Ticket
Holland, 1885.
A bishop belonging to the Third Order of Saint Francis, and a devout client of Saint Anthony, had to go on a long journey, and, one day whilst waiting for the train to start, lost his ticket. After searching in vain everywhere for it, he asked Saint Anthony to help him, and was just on the point of going to the ticket-office for another when a porter came up to him and said: "Sir, have you lost your ticket? If so, go to the guard, for he has found one, and if it is yours will return it."
82. A Lost Document
About forty years ago a convent of nuns in Lower Austria received most extraordinary assistance from Saint Anthony. They were threatened with a lawsuit, and if on the day of the trial a certain document was not produced it would entail the loss of 30,000 florins. The Father Superior, who took great interest in the Sisters, asked the Reverend Mother a short time before the trial began to give him the above-mentioned necessary document, but to her great dismay she could not find it. At last she sent for some Sisters to help her. Every cupboard, shelf and nook where there was a chance of finding it were most carefully searched, but to no purpose. The Father, seeing the great distress of the Sisters, and knowing how important it was for the papers to be found, said to the Reverend Mother and the few Sisters who were in the secret: "There is nothing else to be done but to ask Saint Anthony to help you." The Reverend Mother at once went with the Sisters to the chapel and, kneeling before the statue of the saint, entreated him to help them. Just as they were leaving the chapel and about to resume their weary task, they met a lay Sister coming down-stairs with a large basket in her arms which she put on the ground near the chapel door, while she rested a moment.
"What have you got there?" said the superioress to the Sister.
"You told me yesterday to clean the attics, Reverend Mother, and as I could not finish them yesterday I have done so to-day."
"What have you in the basket?"
"Broken slates, waste paper and a lot of rubbish."
Whilst this conversation was going on one of the Sisters began examining the waste paper, and all of a sudden cried out: "Mother, mother, we are saved; here are the papers," taking up one of the pieces and handing it to the superioress. The latter was at first quite overcome, but, soon recovering herself, said:
"Let us go at once to the chapel and thank God and Saint Anthony;" then, turning to the lay Sister, "And you, Sister, go to Father – and tell him the papers are found."
The feelings of the Sisters can be easily imagined at this marked proof of the providence of God watching over them. Had they left the chapel a minute earlier or later they would not have met the Sister, and the papers with the other rubbish would certainly have been thrown in the dust hole, and who would have thought of finding them there? It has never been discovered who put the papers in the attic, but one thing is certain, that God sent the Sister down-stairs just at the nick of time, thanks to the intercession of Saint Anthony.
83. Clear-sighted
In the year 1841 Dr. Joh. Ness Ringseis, the well-known author and physician of Munich, was invited by the Reverend Father Valentine Riedl, rector of the seminary at Freising, and afterwards bishop of Regensburgh, to go and spend some time with him in this beautiful part of Bavaria, in order to recuperate his health after a dangerous attack of inflammation of the lungs. He availed himself of this enforced rest to complete some valuable manuscripts. On his leaving the seminary, he found he had not sufficient room in his trunk for them, and asked his friend the sculptor, Conrad Everard, also on a visit to Freising, to take them back to his wife on his return to Munich. This good lady, anxious to spare her husband, the doctor, all the discomforts of changing houses, during his absence removed to a larger and more commodious residence. On his return home his first thoughts were for his manuscripts, but although his wife remembered seeing them, she quite forgot where they had been put. Greatly annoyed at this, both husband and wife began searching all over the house for the missing papers, but without success. Ringseis, thinking that perhaps, after all, his friend had not sent them to Munich, wrote to the rector at Freising to inquire if by chance they were there, but Father Riedl replied, saying that no such papers had been seen. On this, the doctor, quite beside himself, rushed to his wife's room without waiting even to finish his letter, to inform her of the bad news. On leaving her he resumed the perusal of his letter, which his friend, knowing he was a sincere Christian, concluded in this way: "Go and ask Saint Anthony to help you." Greatly struck by these words, he immediately knelt down, begging the saint's assistance. On returning to his library to continue his search, the first thing that met his eyes was the lost manuscript. Perfectly bewildered with joy, it was some time before he could recover his scattered senses, and then to his surprise found himself sitting on the floor, his loved manuscripts in his lap, large books and folios of the Museum Florentinum strewn round about him. These, he remembered, owing to their size, had been placed on the lowest shelf of the library, and as they reached the next one it was impossible to see any papers had they been put behind them. The only conclusion to which he could come was that the moment he had entered the room Saint Anthony had obtained for him the gift of clear sight, that is, seeing through opaque objects, which had enabled him to find his manuscripts. Some years later Dr. Ringseis became a tertiary of Saint Francis, and was renowned throughout the south of Germany not only for his great learning, but for his sincere piety.
84. Found Again
A parish priest living at K— had paid seventy-seven florins for a chasuble he had bought in Holy Week. At the commencement of the following year he received a summons demanding payment for the above-mentioned vestment. Naturally enough, he went to look for the receipt he had received on sending the post-office order. It was nowhere to be found. He searched all over the presbytery, emptied the chest where he kept his books and papers, examined them sheet by sheet, leaf by leaf, but to no purpose. He then went to the post-office, but the money had not been entered in the register. The loss of seventy-seven florins is a serious loss at any time to a priest, and more especially in our days; but great as the loss was it was nothing to be compared with the grief he felt at the thought of his good name being at stake, for to all appearances he had not paid the money, but kept it for himself. In his distress he mentioned it to some of his intimate friends, who tried to console him as best they could, urging him to pray to Saint Anthony, who would be sure to find it. Comforted a little, he asked them to join with him in saying the well-known antiphon, Si quaeris miracula, to which they gladly consented. Greatly encouraged, the priest returned to his chest, and calling on Saint Anthony to help him, as he had helped so many others, took off the lid in order to empty it more easily. On opening the box, which was uppermost, the first thing he found was the missing receipt. He was so overcome that he began to cry, and then ran to call his curate, saying: "Pray read this; what is it?"
"What!" replied the curate, "I congratulate you; it is nothing else but the paper you have been so long searching for."
"Oh!" exclaimed the poor priest; "if I had only prayed to Saint Anthony he would have spared me many sleepless nights."
85. Seven Hundred Francs Recovered
The sum of 1200 francs had been stolen from a merchant, Nicholas Raulling von Esh. The police, suspecting a man whom they had noticed had been spending a great deal of money, arrested him, and in spite of his denying the theft he was committed to prison. Many persons, however, believed him innocent, and declared that the man who had been robbed had not so much money in his house. Hearing this, the merchant had recourse to Saint Anthony, whose protection he had many times previously experienced, imploring him to return him his money, and, what was still more precious, preserve his good name. A few days afterwards the prisoner sent for his lawyer, acknowledged his guilt, and informed him that he would find the greater part of the money buried in a field. This proved to be perfectly true, and seven hundred francs were returned to their rightful owner.
86. Paper Money Returned
Between the night of 10 and 21 August 1884, the sacristy of the church at Neukirchen was broken in, and a safe containing 23,030 marks in paper and one hundred and thirty-two in silver were stolen. Immediately the rector of the church began a novena to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and to Saint Anthony, in order to obtain the recovery of the lost money. The first day of the novena was not finished before a man from the neighborhood was seen coming to the presbytery carrying the stolen safe, in which the lost money was found untouched. Let those who are in difficulties or affliction have recourse to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and to Saint Anthony; they will be sure to find help.
87. The Valuable Sketch
Innsbruck, 16 January 1884.
A friend of mine had a sketch of Our Lady drawn by an unknown artist, and intended to have a copy of it made on glass. The sketch in itself was very beautiful, and a connoisseur declared it was a long time since he had seen anything to equal it. All of a sudden it was missed. The house was searched from top to bottom, every cupboard, chest of drawers, desk, were emptied, but to no purpose. Inquiries were even made to discover whether it had slipped into a collection of drawings which had been sent away. Useless trouble. One day my friend happened to speak to me about his loss, and promised he would have it made into a picture for an altar in my church if it were ever found. I was now an interested party, and I begged of him, together with another priest, to join with me in making a novena to Saint Anthony of Padua. That dear saint has on many occasions proved himself a good friend to me, and I felt certain he would be so again. The novena was finished. A week, a month passed, but still no picture. I have just received a letter to-day from my friend. The sketch is found. One day one of the maid servants, finding it lying about, thought it was of no value, and had coolly taken it and nailed it to the wall in her room.
88. From Caffraria
Under the burning sun of South Africa, even as in the old country, this dear saint is ever quite as ready to help his clients to recover lost articles.
Five Sisters of the Holy Cross from Messingen, Switzerland, had been sent to teach the Christians and heathens in Umtata, a small town in Caffraria. A farm provided them with the bare necessaries of life. In spite of this, their life was one of continual self-sacrifice.
One morning not less than six oxen, a cow and her calf were missing. Impossible to find them. A great cross certainly for our poor missionaries. Saint Anthony was stormed; he was in duty bound to advise and assist the Sisters, and, of course, he did so. The head steward of the farm remembered he had been obliged to discharge a Caffre servant for his laziness and unpunctuality. The characteristic feature of the Caffre is revenge, and no doubt the one just dismissed had driven the cattle away during the night. His track was discovered, but all private search proved useless. At last the matter was placed in the hands of a magistrate, and at the end of ten days the police found the animals, half-starved, in the possession of the Caffre, who was condemned not only to restore the stolen property, but also to give one of his own cows and her calf as a compensation to the rightful owners. From this time not only did the devotion to Saint Anthony become dearer to the Sisters, but it has spread all over this part of the country.
89. The Stolen Watch
10 June 1884.
During a short absence from my room my watch was stolen. On my giving information of it to the police, it was discovered that just at that time an ex-convict had been seen loafing about the street near my house. He was arrested, but declared he had not taken it, and as my watch was not found on his person, set free. Human means having failed, I had recourse to Saint Anthony, promising to have his antiphon said at the Mass in his honor. A few days afterwards, just before the church was going to be locked up for the night, a woman who was praying unnoticed near one of the chapels saw the same man go straight to the altar, put something on it, and then leave the church. The sacristan, on being told what had happened, at once went to the altar, and, on opening the parcel and finding it was my watch, immediately came and brought it back to me. Heartfelt thanks to the great thaumaturgus [wonder-worker].
90. "See, the Watch is Found!"
One Sunday morning after High Mass, in spite of the repeated remonstrances of my confessor about my working on Sundays, I finished mending a valuable watch which was to be called for that afternoon, and then left it lying on the table, with several others, in my workshop. It may have been mere accident or a punishment from God, but on my coming back some time later to my shop the watch had disappeared. I looked everywhere for it; impossible to find it. I went to the police. The children who had been playing in the house with mine were searched; the thief could not be found. I even offered to give a person whom I had every reason to suspect, but dared not openly accuse of theft, a new watch or money if he would only give the other one back to me. This he refused, saying he had never seen the watch. What my feelings were can be easily imagined. Had the watch been my own the loss would have been bad enough; but, being the property of another, my reputation for honesty was at stake, which made matters ten thousand times worse.
Some kind friends, hearing of my misfortune, came to see me and ad- vised me to have recourse to Saint Anthony, for said they: "This good saint is certain to find the watch for you, even if he has to make the thief return it." I at once acquiesced to their proposal, and we immediately began to say three Our Fathers in his honor three times a day. This was continued for a week, my trust in the powerful intercession of Saint Anthony daily increasing. On Sunday during High Mass I felt sure the watch would be found, although there seemed to be no signs of it. On Monday afternoon I went to help the man who was working in my field, taking my wife and children with me, so that no one was left at home. At two o clock my wife went back to the house, and, on going to the place close to the window where the latch-key was hidden, noticed something wrapped up in paper. What was her surprise on undoing the paper to find the lost watch. She ran breathless back to me, crying out: "Saint Anthony has helped us; the watch is found."
91. Saint Anthony is Ever-Ready to Assist
Wonderful are God's workings in His saints, but more especially in the manner He makes use of Saint Anthony to relieve and assist those who in their difficulties or trials have recourse to the intercession of His faithful servant. It is in order to encourage others to place their trust in this universal favorite that I am going to relate one or two things which happened to myself.
During the French war in 1870 I was sent with other Brothers to nurse the sick and wounded in France. On Christmas eve we reached the little town of Corbeille, on the Seine, where, for want of better accommodation, we had, together with members of other orders, to take up our sleeping quarters in the Hoterde Ville. I cannot wish for a better picture of the stable at Bethlehem. A few bundles of straw on a stone floor served us for beds. Owing to most of the windows being broken, there were draughts on every side. Impossible to light a fire in the stove for want of fuel. It was a consolation for us to think that on that Christmas night we shared the sufferings and discomforts of the holy Child at Bethlehem. We rose early next morning in order to say Mass at a convent at some distance. Our Brothers were soon ready to start, except one, whom I noticed was anxiously searching for something in the straw. I asked him what was the matter. On being told he had lost the key of our valise, I at once said a "Hail Mary" in honor of Saint Anthony. It was not finished before I felt myself as if pushed down on the ground. I put my hand in the straw in which our brother had been searching for the key and at once found it. Glory be to God in the highest, and honor to Saint Anthony, to whom God has given such power.
Another time, again on Christmas eve, 1884, I wanted to read over a manuscript I had just finished. For more than half an hour I searched every sheet of paper lying on my table one by one; impossible to find the paper I wanted. Meeting one of our Brothers, I told him my loss. "Have you prayed to Saint Anthony?" he asked. I had quite forgotten to do so, and, on being thus reminded, immediately went to the chapel and said a prayer to the dear saint. Returning to my cell, I at once resumed my search, and was about giving it up as useless when I heard an interior voice distinctly say to me I would find the lost manuscript under the other papers, which proved to be the case. I am now convinced that God permitted my having so much trouble in finding the manuscript in order for me to honor and have greater confidence in dear Saint Anthony.
92. Striking Combination of Circumstances
I was engaged as geometrician to take the measurement of a small fish pond which was to be let on lease. Not suspecting there was another close by, I naturally went to the first one which came in my sight. Whilst taking the necessary instruments for my work I missed a small and valuable one called a geometric pen. For more than an hour my two assistants, myself and three boys searched all over the grass near the pond in the hopes of finding it. At last we said a rosary for the souls in purgatory, and after praying to Saint Anthony I promised to have a Mass said in his honor. I then resumed my work and on finishing it, seeing a man coming from the other side of the pond, near which there was a nursery of young trees, entered into conversation with him. I soon discovered there was a pond in the middle of the trees and that this was the one to be let. Of course, I went to fetch my instruments, but hardly had I taken two steps before I saw the identical lost pen lying on the ground. I could not help thinking to myself how extraordinary the ways of God are, for had I not met the man, not only would I have measured the wrong pond, but also not found the lost pen.
93. Pilgrimage to Saint Anthony's Church at Oberachern
About 1765 the inhabitants of Oberachern, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, and the inhabitants of the neighboring villages built a magnificent church in the place of the old wooden chapel, erected on the very spot where some pigs had discovered and dug up the miraculous statue of Saint Anthony. In 1770 a picture commemorating this extraordinary event was laid on the tomb of Saint Anthony at Padua, and after remaining there three days was blessed and sent back to the church at Oberachern. To inquiries which had been made respecting the pilgrimage to Oberachern, the following answer was given: "This spot is undoubtedly a favored one, for Masses are constantly asked to be said here, either for the pilgrims themselves, or for others anxious to be restored to health or obtain other graces through the intercession of Saint Anthony. The Church is now covered with ex votos, and fresh miracles are constantly taking place." We shall only speak about one which took place in 1880. That year Madame von Urloffen, a lady well known in the Duchy of Baden, wrote and asked the rector of the Church of Saint Anthony to have a Mass said in honor of the saint for her intention.
Her son, a boy of twelve, was accidentally shot in the eye, and it was so seriously injured that, acting on the advice of the physicians of their own town, he was taken to the eye infirmary at Freiburg and placed under the care of the celebrated oculist, Professor Manz, who, after a careful examination of the diseased eye, declared it was beyond medical skill to cure it, and strongly advised it to be cut out. To this Madame von Urloffen was greatly averse, and entreated the doctor, unless her son's life was in immediate danger, to postpone the operation for a fortnight. On his consenting to it, mother and son began earnestly to implore the assistance of Saint Anthony, since human science was of no avail. The saint heard their petition. In a few days the eye was decidedly improved, and when at the end of a fortnight the boy was taken to the infirmary the doctor, on seeing him, exclaimed: "This is a miracle; there is no longer any necessity for an operation." The child has now perfectly recovered his eyesight, and has since made a pilgrimage in thanksgiving to the church at Oberachern, accompanied by his mother.
94. Sickness Yields to the Intercession of Saint Anthony of Padua
Although I have had the happiness of being a tertiary of the Third Order of Saint Francis of Assisi for some years, I knew very little about the life of Saint Anthony of Padua till a friend of mine brought me the life and account of the miracles of this great saint, by Father Philibert Seebock. Since reading it I have always felt so great devotion and confidence in Saint Anthony that I have never missed saying the antiphons in his honor, and, oh, how promptly and generously has he rewarded me! Not long ago my dear mother, already advanced in years, fell dangerously ill, and seeing her sufferings increase, I at once had recourse to the intercession of this good saint, entreating him to obtain from the Sacred Heart the cure of that beloved parent. I also promised to begin a novena of nine holy communions, say the litany and antiphon in his honor, and have an account of her cure published in the Sanct Franczisci Glocklein. I had scarcely finished my prayers before my mother called out to me, saying, "God be praised, I feel better. The pain is not so acute. I think I shall get well." She is now perfectly recovered from her illness, although, of course, a little weak. A thousand thanks to the Sacred Heart, who has granted me this blessing through the intercession of His great miracle worker.
95. Incontestable Miracle
The following wonderful cure of a Sister of Charity, which took place 13 June 1886, is extracted from an account sent to the Osservatore Catolico. Her sisters, after doing all in their power to save the life of their dear invalid, determined to have recourse to Saint Anthony, and every one began, in order to prepare herself for his feast, by making a tri-dicini, or thirteen days prayer, in his honor, for this intention. On the morning of his feast Sister Olive was perfectly cured.
The following is an account of her illness, written by Dr. Chemin, the director of the hospital at Bassano, to the very Reverend Mother General of the Order.
VERY REVEREND MOTHER GENERAL: It is my duty to inform you of a most extraordinary and consoling event which has just taken place here at Bassano. I mean the sudden cure of Sister Olive, who was literally at death's door. Late in the evening of Saturday, 12 June, I visited her professionally, and found her suffering greatly, being unable to get her breath, owing to dropsy, which had increased so greatly that it was impossible to perceive the upheavings of the chest. I considered death so imminent that I wrote to my friend, the director of the hospital at Rovigno, about the kind of grave which was to be prepared for a Sister of Charity. At four o clock on Sunday morning, 13 June, Sister Olive got out of bed, a thing she had not done for two months, went to the room of the Sister Superior and awoke her, saying "I am cured." The good Sister, thinking she was delirious, sent her back to bed. At eight o clock I returned to the hospital to make my usual visits, and what was my surprise, on entering the part assigned to the Sisters of Charity, to see my patient up and dressed. As soon as I recovered from my astonishment, I carefully examined her, but could find no trace of disease. This incontestable cure cannot be scientifically accounted for, it is so far beyond the reach of the natural order of things. Not only had I given up every hope of curing her, but the two physicians who attended her conjointly with myself were of the same opinion, and such being the case, it is sufficient matter for the reflection of the materialists. Sister Olive continues so well that yesterday she was able to receive holy communion in the church. In one word, it could be nothing else but a miracle.
I remain, very Reverend Mother General, yours, etc.,
Bassano, 16 June 1869.
96. Praise be to God and His Holy Servant Anthony
Innsbruck, 20 June 1885.
"For three years I suffered greatly from general debility, which rendered me perfectly incapable of any exertion. During the last six months of my illness my circumstances were so changed that it became imperative for me to earn my livelihood, and a situation was found for me. As every earthly means of curing me had failed, I had recourse to the assistance of One who is ever ready to help those who implore His intercession. I promised to enter the Third Order of Saint Francis of Assisi, and began a novena for this intention. On the second day of the novena I already found myself better, and before it was ended was perfectly cured. I have now an excellent appetite, sleep well, which was never the case before, have entered my situation, and can endure any amount of fatigue."
97. Prompt Assistance
Innsbruck, 2 February 1882.
"We shall be grateful to the editor of the Sanct Franczisci Glocklein, if he will kindly insert in his valuable paper the enclosed, among the long list of favors Saint Anthony bestows on those who ask his intercession.
"The father of a respectable family, in the prime of life, had suffered for some months from general debility, which made one suspect the existence of an internal complaint. The physician who sounded him thought the seat of the disease lay in the lungs, which was confirmed by the continual pain he had near that region. His poor wife, seeing him daily wasting away, did nothing but weep. At last a friend, touched by the intensity of her grief, advised her to make a novena to Saint Anthony, which she at once began, and promised to make the novena of the nine Tuesdays should her dear husband be restored to health. Scarcely was the first novena ended before a marked improvement was noticed in the patient, his appetite returned, he slept well, and before the second novena was finished he had perfectly recovered."
98. Paralysis Cured
Claudia Bartolini, a young woman of nineteen, residing with her parents at 6 Via delle Penzochere, Florence, had, owing to a severe attack of gout, become perfectly paralyzed on the left side, and could only crawl about on crutches. Every possible remedy had been tried in vain. At last a rich and pious lady took her in hand, and placed her under the care of the good Passionist nuns, who encouraged her to have recourse to Saint Anthony. This year the good nuns had her carried to the large and beautiful Church of Santa Croce, where the saint's feast was to be celebrated with great pomp and solemnity. Here she must have prayed with great devotion, for in the middle of the Mass, in presence of an immense congregation, she suddenly stood up, threw away her crutches and exclaimed: "I am cured." The authenticity of this miracle has been officially signed by the episcopal authorities of Florence.
99. A Needle Swallowed
The Reverend Capuchin Father P. W., residing in A—–, guarantees the veracity of the following incident, which happened to one of his parishioners, Mrs. F. H.
On 14 November 1893, she swallowed a needle, which was concealed in some food. She never suspected what it was, but thought it might be a sharp bit of bone which pricked her so much. From that time on she suffered great pain, especially when drinking, and this, during an attack of influenza, owing to the great thirst she experienced, increased greatly. The doctors tried in vain to pull the supposed bone out of her throat, but only drove the needle in further. The poor sufferer constantly implored Saint Anthony to relieve her. It was not in vain, for on 25 November, while clearing her throat, she felt something move up, and, putting at once her two fingers in her mouth, pulled up, to her great astonishment, a large needle.
100. Saint Anthony Bestows the Gift of Medical Penetration
1 November 1880.
As parish priest I have not only myself frequently experienced the assistance of Saint Anthony in serious cases, but have constantly urged my parishioners to invoke him in every emergency. Today I shall confine myself to speak about a case which recently happened, and which proves how ready he is to help those who invoke his intercession. At the commencement of this month I was called to visit a sick man, suffering from acute pains in the bowels. Danger of death seemed imminent, and I administered the last sacraments to him, encouraging him at the same time to place great confidence in the intercession of Saint Anthony. I told him I would copy out the antiphons of the saint for him, and bring them with me on my next visit. This I did. On my return to the sick man, he declared the pain had become so unbearable that the doctors feared inflammation had set in. After listening to all he had to say to me, I read the antiphons to him, and made him promise not only that he would say them every day, but if he recovered he would join the Third Order of Saint Francis of Assisi.
When I was once more in my study I mechanically took up a medical book which was lying on my table, and in distraction began turning over the pages. Suddenly my eye caught the passage speaking about the treatment of persons suffering from worms. I read the page carefully over, and the thought at once struck me that my poor parishioner might be suffering from them. I immediately went to see him, and, after carefully questioning him, felt convinced I was not mistaken in my surmises. I made him take some worm powders, which effectually destroyed the enemy. He is now perfectly cured and has joined the Third Order, as promised.
Knowing the interest you take in everything tending to promote the devotion to Saint Anthony, I am certain you will publish the above-mentioned cure in the Sanct Franzisci Glocklein, as it may be an encouragement for others to apply to this dear saint in an emergency.
101. Swelling of the Throat Cured
Dear Mr. Editor: I think it is my duty to inform you of the miraculous manner in which Saint Anthony has just cured me of a bad swelling in my throat, which was rapidly increasing, medical assistance being of no avail. I am not only a subscriber of the Sanct Franzisci Glocklein, but also a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis of Assisi. The perusal of the many favors obtained through the intercession of Saint Anthony, which are published monthly, encouraged me to make a novena to Saint Anthony and to ask you to insert it in the Sanct Fran zisci Glocklein, so that my brothers and sisters of the Third Order might be induced to have recourse to this dear Father. On the second day of the novena, I noticed that the swelling in my throat had considerably decreased, and before the novena was half over it had completely disappeared. (Extract taken from a letter written to the editor of the Sanct Franzisci Glocklein, 30 November 1881.)
102. How Saint Anthony Listens to his Clients
A nun had already received the last sacraments and lay in the agonies of death. Her father, well aware of the tender-heartedness of Father Colnago, S.J., implored him to go and visit his sick daughter. On reaching the convent, the reverend Father at once went to the grille, and said to one of the nuns: "Do you want your invalid cured?" "Certainly, Father," replied the religious, hardly able to conceal a smile. "Well, then," said the Jesuit, "we will cure her; we have only to ask Saint Anthony." Then raising his eyes up to heaven, he made the sign of the cross three times over a rosary, and ordered the nun to take it to her dying sister, Johanna Tedeschi. Hardly had the sick nun touched the rosary before she was completely cured.
103. The Signet
One day a patient of Dr. M., noticing he was not in his usual spirits, but quite out of temper, wanted to know what was the matter. "What is the matter?" replied the doctor, curtly. "Why, I have just lost a valuable ring; and, after hunting all over the house for it, cannot find it."
"Have you prayed to Saint Anthony?" asked the invalid.
"Prayed to whom? To Saint Anthony?" said the doctor, scarcely able to suppress a smile of contempt.
"Well, then," answered the lady, "since you have no confidence in our good Saint Anthony, I suppose I must myself ask him to give you back your ring; he is sure to do so." The next day, when he came to pay his usual visit to his patient, her door was hardly open before he laughingly stretched out his hand, with the lost ring on his finger, no longer a disbeliever. He related how the ring had been found in a place he would never have dreamt of searching for it. It appears that morning he had been to see his horse in the stable, and, after staying there some minutes, went away. One of his servants, shortly after he had left, went for something in the stable, and what did she see lying on a heap of manure but the lost ring!
"And now do you believe in my good saint?" asked the fervent client of Saint Anthony.
"Well, I suppose I must believe in him this time," laughingly replied the doctor.
104. The Wedding Ring
The wife of a baker had lost her wedding ring shortly after her marriage. This greatly vexed her, as it was considered an ill-omen. She earnestly prayed to Saint Anthony in the hopes of finding it, but he seemed to have turned a deaf ear to all her entreaties. After searching everywhere for it, she came to the conclusion that she must have lost it while bathing in the Rhine at Breesach, and, therefore, gave up every hope of finding it again. A year had just passed, when the baker's little nephew came to pay them a visit, and one day while bathing in the Rhine, he began poking about the stones in the river, when suddenly something bright attracted his attention. It was the lost ring.
The joy and gratitude of its owner can be easily imagined.
105. The Thread in the Water
6 August 1880.
A poor woman, a tertiary of Saint Francis, was dragging a small cask laden with thread up a steep hill, when it accidentally upset, and the whole of its contents rolled into the Agerflusse, a stream in upper Austria. As the thread was her sole means of earning a living, she naturally felt greatly distressed, and at once promised to make a novena to Saint Anthony, being certain he would assist her. The following week, as she was passing by the same spot, a workman who was hauling some logs of wood out of the water caught hold of the sack of thread. On the sack being opened, the thread was found none the worse for having been a week in the water.
106. Three Examples of Lost Money Found
On 3 June 1879, the poster of a hotel in Montabaur (Massau), whilst going to Hadamar for a load of fruit, lost a pocketbook containing sixty marks (about twenty dollars), which got him into a great deal of trouble. He at once applied to Saint Anthony, promising, if help was forthcoming, to have it published in two newspapers, and also to say two Rosaries in thanksgiving. On his way back from Hadamar the lost pocketbook was handed over to him.
Having read in the Nothburga how Saint Anthony had assisted a porter in recovering lost money, I determined to try the saint's power, and, thanks to him, I have found the one hundred and fifty francs I had lost.
M. D. I had lost something of no intrinsic value, but which I greatly prized. After searching everywhere I said to myself, "Suppose I say three Our Fathers in honor of Saint Anthony; he is sure to find it for me," and I was not mistaken.
107. Crust and Hope
Zweibrikken, 9 November 1880.
A farmer, not very well off in the goods of this world, lost a sum of money, the want of which was greatly felt by his family. He at once asked the assistance of Saint Anthony, feeling certain that he would help him, and he was not deceived, for a few days afterwards the money was found, and in a place no one would have thought of looking for it. The good man, out of gratitude to God for hearing the prayer of His saint, intends giving, by installments, the same amount of money to erect an altar of the Sacred Heart in the church of that place.
108. Saint Anthony's Assistance
On 26 July 1879, I noticed, on returning home from a walk, that I had lost a gold locket which I prized very much, not only on account of it having been blessed, but also for its contents. The loss of it did not affect me very much, as Saint Anthony never failed helping me in similar circumstances. After saying three Our Fathers, and promising to have it published in the Nothburga, I retired to rest as soon as I had finished my prayers. Of course I did not leave the work of finding the locket to Saint Anthony without taking the trouble to try and find it myself; but the next morning I began to visit the different places to which I had been the evening before. I was interrupted in my search by the bell ringing for Mass. At first I hesitated about going to church, but finally I made up my mind to go, for is not one Mass worth more than all the lockets in the world? Besides, was there any certainty of my finding the locket even if I stayed away? When Mass was over I continued my walk, but to no purpose. Fearing the trinket might have fallen into the hands of some one who would only have cared for its intrinsic value, and perhaps laughed at its contents, I asked Our Lady not to permit such a thing to happen, and for this intention invoked our saintly Father, Pope Pius IX, Saint Anne, Saint Joachim, and especially Saint Anthony, in whose honor I said another Our Father.
I suppose my persistency must have touched our good Saint Anthony, for very shortly afterwards a stranger, noticing I was searching for something, accosted me, asking if I had lost anything. On my replying in the affirmative, and giving him a description of my locket, he returned it to me, saying he had found it near Saint Mary's Church.
Many thanks to our dear Lady and good Saint Anthony and my other holy friends.
109. The Lost Washing Found
From Silesia: There is a farm house at F—–, where devotion to Saint Anthony is quite a matter of course. He is a member of the family, and naturally his feast is a day of rejoicing.
Master and mistress, children and servants, all go to make their devotions in his church and hear Mass in his honor. Saint Anthony is quite at home here, and is constantly showing his loving care for each member of the house.
One morning the milkmaid rose very early to take the milk to town, and as she had the clothes to wash at the public wash house, she put a large bundle of dirty linen in her cart, in order not to have to return home before she had finished her work. A thief, availing himself of the darkness of the morning, stole the bundle out of the cart while she was serving the milk to her customers. The terror of the poor girl, on discovering her loss, can be easily imagined. Her first care was to give information to the police; her next, to go and have a Mass said in honor of Saint Anthony, at the Franciscan church. Of course, she naturally expected a good scolding on her return home, but, to her great astonishment, her mistress, who had already heard of the loss, uttered no word of reproach and only mingled her tears with her maid's. When the farmer came home he gently asked the women if it was about the lost linen they were crying. Upon their answering it was, he said very simply: "Why do you cry about it? Did not God give it to us? and if He has allowed it to be taken from us, He can let us have it back again, and besides, there is Saint Anthony to help us."
Here let us pause for a moment to consider how much holy trust elevates a soul. This confidence did not remain unrewarded. The very same day a poor widow came to the farm, and said the master and servant girl were to go to the police station, for the linen was found.
This is how it all happened. That very morning the widow had given all her earnings to her children to buy potatoes; it was very little, only four kreuzers (about seven cents). Little as it was, she was very happy. Often she had not so much, and then all she could do was to pray to God to help her. If she only had two kreuzers more, the children might have had a little salt, which would have been a real treat; but God was watching over her, and help was at hand. "Mother," said her eldest boy, "I will go and pick up the bits of broken glass in the canal, and perhaps I shall be able to get a little salt in exchange." He went and saw something lying under the water close to the edge of the canal. Not knowing what to do, he ran home to his mother, who immediately returned with him, and pulled out the bundle of linen. Thinking it might have been stolen, the good widow at once took the bundle to the police station. The police, after examining it, finding it corresponded to the description given by the servant girl, returned it to its rightful owners. As for the poor woman, she was rewarded by the farmer, and is now employed in the house.
One word in conclusion. On comparing the time in which the linen was found, it was discovered it must have been during the elevation of the Mass said in honor of Saint Anthony. Honor, praise and glory to God and to his dear Saint Anthony.
It may not be out of place to remind you, dear reader, that much as Saint Anthony loves to help you in your temporal concerns, he has your spiritual welfare still more at heart. Remember, it was owing to his thirst after the greater glory of God and salvation for souls that he became the instrument chosen by divine Providence to work out the salvation of thousands of poor sinners, to make thousands of heretics renounce their errors and to open the gates of heaven to thousands of the timid and afflicted. It was this great love that induced him to leave Lisbon and then Coimbra, to the astonishment of all, and enter the order of the Friars Minor. He had hoped to go and preach the Gospel to the poor heathen; but God had ordained otherwise, and the vessel on which he sailed for Africa was driven to the coast of Messina. Here he heard Saint Francis was holding a General Chapter at Assisi, and there he hastened to throw himself at the feet of his beloved founder. Saint Francis soon discovered the priceless treasure God had sent him in the person of the young and humble monk, who was soon to become one of the greatest champions of the Church. On leaving Assisi Saint Anthony preached at Rome, where Pope Gregory IX surnamed him the "Ark of the Covenant," and the "Hammer of the Heretic," on account of his success with sinners and heretics, as we have already seen.
The children in Padua, on hearing of his death, 13 June 1231, filled the streets with the noise of their lamentations, crying out, "The saint is dead; the saint is dead." More than six hundred years have elapsed since he left this world to receive his reward in heaven, but he still loves souls as dearly as when he lived on earth. Let us, therefore, never fail, in all our difficulties, to invoke one whose life can be summed up in these few words: "Love of God; zeal for His honor; care for the salvation of souls; obedience, humility and patience."
– text taken from , by Joseph A Keller, 1899; edited and language modernized by Brother Sean, a choir monk, 2008; images from Wikimedia Commons