Saint Anthony of Padua, the universal saint
by Fr. Don Anton Saman Hettiarachchi
Last year as we knelt in prayer in front of the sacred relics of the
Vocal Apparatus and Tongue of St. Anthony in the Chapel of the Relics in
Padua, we recalled some incidents in the past, both far and near.
In 1981, the canonical recognition of the Body of St. Anthony was
conducted with the permission of His Holiness John Paul II. Around 750
years after his death, the Saint's mortal remains were examined a second
time. After these examinations, people were allowed and so millions
venerated the relics of our beloved Saint prior to re-burial. Perhaps
you might have been among those millions.
The doctors and historians analysed the remains to reconstruct the
physical appearance of the Saint. To the surprise of these experts, his
Vocal Apparatus or the cartilage of the larynx (the parts of the body
used in phonation or speech) was found to be intact. Even 750 years
after his death, it had remained incorrupt. Why is it so, dear believer?
The body of St. Anthony was first recognised in 1263. When the
sarcophagus was opened, St. Bonaventure found the Tongue of the Saint
miraculously incorrupt. Given that tongue is a very fragile part of the
body that is usually among the first parts to disintegrate after death,
it can hardly remain in corrupt. More than 700 years have passed since
his death. But the Tongue remains incorrupt – a perennial miracle,
unique in history!
Commandments
We find answers to these questions in the words of our Master, “But
whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in
the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5,17-19). Jesus did not come to abolish the
law. His mission remained within the framework of the law. He fulfilled
it extending and deepening its meaning. His death and resurrection
ushered in the new and final age, the age of the new heavens and new
earth.
The Law of Moses, completed by Jesus, became a standard of conduct
for His disciples.
St. Anthony of Padua not only studied but he also obeyed this New
Law. Not only did he observe it, but also taught it. He composed sermons
for Sundays (around 1228) and feast days (between 1230-1231), as
preserved up to this day.
He shaped the development of Franciscan theology by introducing the
teachings of St. Augustine to the friars and founding in 1223 a theology
school for the friars which eventually became the school of theology at
the University of Bologna.
He travelled all over Italy and France preaching and teaching the
people as well as friars attracting multitudes wherever he went. He
preached against heresies of the day so passionately that he came to be
called ‘The Hammer of the Heretics.’
It is because the Saint taught the New law, his vocal apparatus and
tongue remain intact for ages.
The tongue is a seal that marks the laborious task of preaching and
teaching, carried out by the Saint. Hence Saint Bonaventure, having seen
the tongue when the coffin was for the first time opened in 1263, could
not help but sing these praises, with his heart full of admiration; “O
Blessed Tongue, you have always praised the Lord and led others to
praise Him! Now we can clearly see how great indeed have been your
merits before God”.
Hymn
“But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called
greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Yes, our Saint was counted among the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
On June 13, 1231 the dying Saint was taken on a farm wagon to Arcella
near Padua.
Having received the last rites, the Saint intoned the hymn to the
Blessed Mother: “O glorious Queen, exalted above the stars!” His bright
eyes gazed ahead.
“What do you see?” asked friar Luke. Then the dying Saint, who was
about to be counted among the greatest in the holy heavens in the bosom
of the glorious Queen, murmured, “I see my Lord.”
Our Saint was counted among the greatest in the church of Christ as
well. In the shadows of the evening crowds of children ran shouting at
the top of their voices; “The Saint is dead! Friar Anthony is dead!”
The Body of the Saint was laid in the small Chruch of Santa Maria
Mater Domini in fulfilment of his last wish. The entire population of
Padua, dressed in mourning clothes accompanied the funeral bier. That
very evening miracles began to occur around the grave of the Saint.
Miracles continued at an increasing rate. Pilgrims from the farthest
end of the world started visiting his tomb. The process of canonisation
was commenced and concluded rapidly. Less than a year on May 30, 1232 in
the Cathedral of Spoleto, Pope Gregory IX, who once called the Saint
‘The Ark of the Covenant’ being moved by his eloquent preaching in front
of him, elevated Anthony of Padua to the honours of the altar. The one
counted among the greatest in the kingdom of God was also counted among
the greatest in the church.
Universal Saint
Today Saint Anthony is a universal saint, venerated by Christians and
non-Christians alike. I can still remember how we, as altar servers,
could see large numbers of devotees from all faiths crowding our parish
church at Batagama, dedicated to St. Anthony, on Tuesdays in deep
veneration of the Saint.
People from all walks of life and from all faiths join in celebrating
the feast of the Saint in June.
The roads are well-decorated and lit. The night is like the day. It
is almost a national religious festival, celebrated without the barriers
of class, creed or caste.
It was with the arrival of the Portuguese Franciscan missionaries in
1543 that the undying devotion to this Saint reached our shores. They
spread it far and wide in the maritime provinces of the island. As a
result, St. Anthony, greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, is honoured even
today on the June 13 (the day of his funeral procession at Padua) or in
the month of June in churches, dedicated to him.
Such churches are significantly numerous, for example the shrines at
Kochchikade and Wahakotte and the exceptionally magnificent church, in
the verdant pastures of Batagama.
The devotion of St. Anthony is rooted in the lives of the people so
deeply that a considerable number of devotees bears his name. The names
of Antonio, Anthony and Anton are so popular among Catholics.
The writer, born on a Tuesday, the day of St. Anthony and to the
parish family of St. Anthony's Church, Batagama, is no exception.
The Sacred Relics of the Saint at Padua remind us of his zeal for the
Gospel.
Hence let us obey and teach the Gospel, the New Law of Jesus, which
was once faithfully obeyed and valiantly taught by our Saint. May he
intercede for us all! |