From the Desk of Father Nathan

A Message from Father Nathan

My dearest people closest to my heart!

God bless you and your generous heart

June 13 – We celebrate the Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua

This week on the 13th, we will celebrate the Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231), born in Lisbon Portugal.

He is the patron saint of my village. I have such a great admiration for this saint. He became a canon regular and then a Franciscan, preaching the Gospel everywhere in Portugal and Italy. Both as a theologian and a popular preacher, he fought vigorously against heresy. His preaching was inspired by his love of God and of souls and had an extraordinary power of conviction; it was filled with the penetrating power of the Bible.

“Arca Testamenti”, meaning the living repository of the Holy Scriptures

Pope Gregory IX, who heard him preach, called his during his lifetime the: “Arca Testamenti”, meaning “the living repository of the Holy Scriptures”. Pope Pius XII, when he proclaimed him a Doctor of the Church, declared that he based all that he said on the texts of the Gospels, and could justly be called the Evangelical Doctor.

Life, death & Miracles

St. Anthony lived for a time in France, but chiefly in Italy, and died near Padua in 1231 at the age of 36, with the reputation of great sanctity. From the day of his death, innumerable miracles caused the faithful to invoke him as a wonderworker of untiring benevolence.

An Accidental Preacher

the “Hammer of Heretics”

He became a preacher by accident. When a scheduled preacher did not show up for an ordination ceremony at Forli, the Franciscan superior told Anthony to go into the pulpit. His eloquence stirred everyone, and he was assigned to preach throughout northern Italy. Because of his success in converting heretics, he was called the “Hammer of Heretics” and because of his learning, St. Francis appointed him a teacher of theology.

St. Anthony of Padua was such a forceful preacher that shops closed when he came to town, and people stayed all night in church to be present for his sermons. He became associated with Padua because he made this city his residence and the center of his great preaching mission. After a series of Lenten sermons in 1231, Anthony’s strength gave out and he went into seclusion at Camposanpiero but soon had to be carried back to Padua. He did not reach the city but was taken to the Poor Clare convent at Arcella where he died. He was thirty-six years old, and the whole city of Padua turned out in mourning for his passing.

Saint Anthony, pray for us, that we may also live to be faithful to the church and to you.

Amen

With lots of love and blessings,

Ever wanting to be faithful to your service,

— Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan