Homily – June 13, 2009 – St. Anthony of Padua

The readings today have the classic theme of preacher and evangelist carrying out the ministry of the Lord Jesus himself. St. Anthony of Padua was one such preacher and proclaimer of the gospel. There is perhaps no more loved and admired saint in the Catholic Church than Saint Anthony, a Doctor of the Church. He was born in Portugal, and first joined the Augustinian Order and then left it to join the Franciscan Order in 1221 when he was 26 years old. The reason he became a Franciscan was because of the death of the five Franciscan protomartyrs in North Africa—Sts. Bernard, Peter, Otho, Accursius and Adjutus. Anthony became a Franciscan in the hope of shedding his own blood and becoming a martyr. He lived only ten years after joining the Franciscan Order. St. Anthony was only 36 years old when he died and was canonized less than one year after his death.

So simple and resounding was his teaching of the Catholic Faith, so that the most unlettered and innocent might understand it, that he was made a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1946. He is called the "hammer of heretics." His great protection against their lies and deceits in the matter of Christian doctrine was to utter, simply and innocently, the Holy Name of Mary.

When the heretics would not listen to his preaching Anthony went out and preached the true Gospel to the fishes. This was not for the instruction of the fishes but for the glory of God, the delight of the angels and the easing of his own heart. St. Anthony wanted to profess the Catholic Faith with his mind and his heart at every moment.

He is typically depicted with a book and the Infant Child Jesus, to who He miraculously appeared. He is commonly referred to today as the "finder of lost articles" Upon exhumation, some 336 years after his death, his body was found to be corrupted with the exception of his tongue, so perfect were the teachings that had been formed upon it!

As Isaiah prophesied about Jesus, and about Anthony of Padua "the Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me and sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and release to prisoners – to announce a year of favor from the Lord."

And as Jesus himself sent out his disciples, so he sent St. Anthony to proclaim very loudly and clearly: THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND FOR YOU! – if you want to allow it to make any difference for you; the choice is now yours! He armed them, he armed Anthony with "peace" – and sent them on their way!

Jesus, his disciples and St. Anthony of Padua delivered – along with the Gospel of truth - the peace which the world cannot give to any who would have it! May we be open to receive the truth and the peace today – for they are for us too – if we want them!

For ever we will sing the goodness of the Lord.