Anthony of Padua
Super-preacher of God’s Word

Q U I C K S C A N

St. Anthony’s feast approaches
First sermon passage: Give yourself wholly!
Second sermon passage: Jesus loves us wholly in the Eucharist
Third sermon passage: Serve Christ in the poor
Fourth sermon passage: Seek God before all else

For many people the most famous thing about St. Anthony of Padua is his reputation as a wonder-worker. He’s brought happiness to many believers, for example, by helping them find their lost wedding rings or car keys. Or maybe his prayers helped bring about the healing of a sick child or spouse. Since the moment of his death on June 13, 1231, Anthony has had a reputation for working wonders. Indeed, he has been a real gift to the Church in bringing people joy and healing in these ways.

But Anthony has been a gift to the Church in other ways, too. In 1946, for example, Pope Pius XII named St. Anthony a Doctor of the Universal Church, that is, one of the great Christian teachers of all time—and a renowned preacher of God’s word. In fact, Anthony was such a famous preacher that in 1228—at age 33—he was invited to preach before Pope Gregory IX. Afterwards, the pope called Anthony the “Ark of the Testament.” Anthony revealed such a grasp of God’s word that, in the eyes of the pope, he seemed to “contain” within himself the whole of Sacred Scripture.

St. Anthony’s feast day approaches

St. Anthony’s feast day, as many of you know, is June 13. In many Franciscan churches and shrines around the world, novenas to St. Anthony are already taking place in preparation for his feast. It’s a good time for us to acquaint ourselves with this great preacher. In this E-spiration, I would like to share with you four “short passages” from the sermons of St. Anthony. These “sermon passages,” in actuality, are from sermon material or notes that Anthony compiled (in book form) for all the Sundays of the year and for certain feast days, too. Of course, these passages cannot totally reveal what Anthony was like as a preacher with all his charisma. I hope, however, they can give us a little flavor or inkling of Anthony’s spiritual wisdom and profound love of God.

First sermon passage: Give yourself wholly!

“You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart.…Yes, Christ says: with your whole heart. He doesn’t say: Leave a corner of your heart for yourself. Christ bought the whole of you by giving his whole self for you.…Do not try to hold back any part of yourself.…If you really wish to have the whole, then give it all to him, and he will give you all of himself.”

Second sermon passage: Jesus loves us wholly in the Eucharist

“During the meal, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it as a sign that his body would be broken, too, through his freely accepted death. The humanity of Christ is like the grape because it was crushed in the winepress of the cross so that his blood flowed forth over all the earth.…‘This is my blood of the new covenant, which shall be shed for many unto the forgiveness of sins.’ How great is the charity of the beloved! How great the love of the Bridegroom for his spouse, the Church!”

Third sermon passage: Serve Christ in the poor

“Today Christ stands at the door and knocks in the person of his poor. It is to him that we open the door when we give aid, when we give ourselves to those in need. For he tells us plainly, ‘When you did this to one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it to me’” (Matthew 25:40).

Fourth sermon passage: Seek God before all else

“Nothing apart from God can satisfy the human heart, for the heart is truly in search of God.”

Regarding this brief, yet meaningful, quote, it is interesting to remember that Anthony was an Augustinian monk for many years before he joined the Franciscans. Anthony, therefore, would have undoubtedly been familiar with one of St. Augustine’s most famous quotations, found near the beginning of his Confessions: “You have created us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” Anthony’s words strike the same chord.

We also know, from Anthony’s life, that he had an inner thirst for God that caused him often to step aside from his busy activities and to find a cave or solitary place where he could pray to God in silence, seeking God before all else.

There is a chapter in a new book I recently edited, Anthony of Padua: Saint of the People, which bears the title “St. Anthony, the Contemplative.” The chapter shows in detail how Anthony throughout his life nurtured his inner contemplative need to seek the face of God.

There is also a chapter in the book entitled “Making a Novena to St. Anthony.” Among other things, the chapter contains nine passages from the sermons of St. Anthony, including the four sermon passages you have just read. The nine sermon passages were formed into an optional novena in honor of St. Anthony. This book is the only one I know that offers a novena in that format. (Learn more about Anthony of Padua: Saint of the People.)

As St. Anthony’s feast day (June 13) comes closer, may the great preacher—and great finder of lost valuables—help each of us find our heart’s true treasure, namely, union with our loving God!

Visit the St. Anthony feature at AmericanCatholic.org
Learn how to make a St. Anthony novena at StAnthony.org

Friar Jim’s Inbox

Readers respond to Friar Jim’s “Anointing of the Sick and Prayers for the Dying.”

Dear Friar Jim: I loved the article on Anointing of the Sick. Once when my Dad (who was at the time 89 years of age) was rushed to the hospital (it was about 1:00 in the morning), I had a priest called in to anoint him. The heart monitor had been showing for about two hours an extremely irregular heartbeat. When Father came in and anointed my Dad, I physically saw the monitor change, in about two minutes, to a normal heart rate where it stayed for the rest of Dad's hospitalization. It was really awe-inspiring to watch this happen. I never forgot it and thank the Lord for it. My Dad is now 92 and in July, God willing, will be 93. In the hearts of Jesus and Mary, Anne, OCDS

Dear Friar Jim: A few years ago I developed a terrible infection. Within hours I was in the hospital but with all of their antibiotics the infection just got worse. It was going system wide and I was in danger of dying. When I received the sacrament I was so weak that I was barely able to confess my sins. I fell asleep only to wake up a few hours later feeling much better. I called the nurse and she found that my fever was way down. From there I quickly and completely recovered. I believe I know who healed me. Richard

Dear Friar Jim: I enjoy and look forward to your newsletters and have a question concerning the sacrament of the Last Rites: What if a Catholic passes away without a priest having been summoned and possibly also did not receive Anointing of the Sick prior to passing? What can those left behind do in addition to praying for their souls? Thank you for sending your interesting and inspiring newsletters and may God continue to bless your work. Mev

Dear Mev: I’m glad you asked that. As a matter of fact, most Catholics likely die without the Sacrament of Anointing or the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Also, most priests die suddenly also without benefit of the last sacraments. My Dad died on the golf course (heart attack) and my Mom died early one morning in her sleep (heart failure). I wished I could have been with them, but that was simply not possible. But not to worry. God knows the heart perfectly; he would not let a person’s salvation depend on the “good fortune” of having a priest nearby. It is a great consolation to receive the last sacraments, but it is not required for salvation. Friar Jim

Send your feedback to friarjack@americancatholic.org.

Tour the National Shrine of St. Anthony Web site for daily Catholic prayer, a biography and pictures of St. Anthony, e-cards, prayer requests and to help Franciscan ministries. Click here for details.

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Sample book chapters, audio clips and video clips before purchasing items from St. Anthony Messenger Press.
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Go on a “virtual retreat” with the beloved patron of all things lost. Read a free sample chapter online.

Rotzetter weaves personal impressions with stories of this remarkable saint’s life and ministry.
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Everything you always wanted to know about St. Anthony of Padua, patron of lost things, and many others.
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