Sunday 13 June 2021

St. Anthony of Padua


Reflection for the Feast of St. Anthony 





Anthony Ascends:

His long travelling days over,
there is now only one direction left;
up, or is it, perhaps, 
more truly, in?
The hilltop hermitage
was not high enough
to discourage those
who would still
seek his words,
disturb his deep prayer,
his long sought peace.
So now the boughs 
beckon him higher
to a cell, a nest woven
between the branches
by the brothers.
This is his place now;
held halfway between
Heaven and Earth
What matter?
His heart has lived this way
all his life;
now the rest of him does so too.
Here, finally, the weariness
of the world may be dropped,
as he, worn out from roads
and crowds, and even from miracles
climbs just a little nearer 
to the clouds.
His body, almost too frail now 
to hold Heaven’s fire. 
Still, there are glints
of golden flame along the edges,
in his flashing eyes, 
in his measured movements,
or on his tongue 
as it tells the hours
in psalming whispers.
He is now,
a prophet become a burning bush,
a priest become a burnt offering,
a brother following the seraph song
all the way to Heaven’s vestibule.
He leans his back 
against the trunk, 
sits still and slowly fades.
A brown robed, grey-friar,
a hooded crow, upon the branch 
as weather beaten as the wood 
on which he rests.
His chapel vault, 
an arching branch.
The greening sunshine 
through the leaves,
his stained glass window.
His choir, the birds.
And he who has learned 
at last, their song of innocence,
hears, understands, and smiles
at their skyborn summons.
From here he will ascend,
this sylvan stylite,
and will be ever after known,
and busied even in eternity as,
Finder of the lost things,
Friend of the poor ones,
Pilgrim preacher of peace,
Brother to the sisters 
in their needs.
But for now, at least, 
there is a moment’s rest,
here upon the hillside
under the passing sun 
and moon,
beneath the branches, 
and breeze played leaves,
above the earth,
alone, at last,
where all the words
are dropped
like leaves
upon the wind,
Anthony 
simply
is.

(At the end, St. Anthony retired to a hermitage but owing to the crowds who came the brothers built him a treehouse in in which to spend his days in uninterrupted prayer. Icon by Br. Robert Lentz)

Feast of our brother St. Anthony of Padua today! Known as the "Good Doctor" for his immense wisdom and learning he was an indefatigable preacher and teacher of the Gospel and the first teacher of theology to the Friars from amongst their own number. 
Known for the immense number of miracles worked during his life he was granted the title of Thaumaturge or Wonderworker. He also worked tirelessly on behalf of the poor and opposed corruption wherever he found it. His last years were spent living as a hermit (in a treehouse!) and teaching the brothers. He is the patron of the poor, of children and pregnant women and of preachers and teachers, and is invoked to find that which is lost and, above all, of miracles! 
He is one of our truly extraordinary brothers and one of my own special spiritual teachers and friends. We entrust ourselves to his prayers this day and always +





(Photos include wonderful moment I got to venerate the cross St. Anthony burned into the wall of the Cathedral in Lisbon with his finger when only 12 years old in order to repel a temptation of the devil to leave his studies to become a priest.)
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SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA - JUNE 13, 2018
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Glorious St. Anthony, I salute thee as a good servant of Christ, and a special friend of God. You once were favored to hold the Christ Child in your arms as you cherished His Word in your heart.
Today I place all my cares, temptations, and anxieties in your hands. I resolve ever to honor you by imitating your example.
Powerful patron, model of Purity, please win for me, and for all devoted to thee, perfect purity of body, mind, and heart I promise by my example and counsel to help others to the knowledge, love, and service of God. Amen.

The creator of the heavens obeys a carpenter; the God of eternal glory listens to a poor virgin. Has anyone ever witnessed anything comparable to this?" .
"The birds are the saints, who fly to heaven on the wings of contemplation, who are so removed from the world that they have no business on earth. They do not labour, but by contemplation alone they already live in heaven." ~ St Anthony of Padua

The relics of St. Anthony of Padua (of Lisbon originally) exposed for veneration. A detail of them that always makes my heart ache is that upon forensic examination of his bones it was found that his foot bones were worn almost away due to the countless miles he walked to preach the Gospel and serve the poor... Miraculously, his tongue and vocal chords have remained incorrupt to this day.

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