Thurakapalem (Gandikota): Saint Anthony of Padua

Saint Anthony Biography

Saint Anthony was canonized (declared a saint) less than one year after his death. (1195-1231).

There is perhaps no more loved and admired saint in the Catholic Church than Saint Anthony of Padua, a Doctor of the Church. Though his work was in Italy, he was born in Portugal. He first joined the Augustinian Order and then left it and joined 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 -- St. Bernard, St. Peter, St. Otho, St. Accursius, and St. Adjutus -- who shed their blood for the Catholic Faith in the year 1220, in Morocco, in North Africa, and whose headless and mutilated bodies had been brought to St. Anthony’s monastery on their way back for burial. St. 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.

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. Saint Anthony was only 36 years old when he died. He is called the “hammer of the 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 St. Anthony of Padua found he was preaching the true Gospel of the Catholic Church to heretics who would not listen to him, he then went out and preached it to the fishes. This was not, as liberals and naturalists are trying to say, for the instruction of the fishes, but rather 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 whom He miraculously appeared, and 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, yet his tongue was totally in corrupt so perfect were the teachings that had been formed upon it.

Symbols of Saint Anthony

Catholic tradition assigns each saint visual symbols that invoke imagery of the saint's virtues and circumstances in their lives, miracles and death. These symbols serve as remembrances of the saint's life and devotions and as symbols of spiritual ideals.

The lily represents St. Anthony's purity and his battle against the demon since childhood.

The lily symbolizes purity. It symbilizes the Virgin Mary. Thie lily, if portrayed among thorns, sybolizes the immaculate conception of Mary. The imacualte conception is a Roman Catholic belief that Mary was born without original sin so as to be a perfect vessel to give birth to a perfect son, Jesus. THe lily represents purity and the thorns represent sin. The lily represents the annunciation, the time when the angel is portrayed with a lily in his hand. Occasionally in early art the lily was used to symbolize various virgin saints. Lilies of different colors have different meanings. A red lily symbolizes divine love, yellow symbolizes divine light and purple symbolizes humility and chastity.

The Franciscan Habit is a reminder of the Franciscan order. St Anthony was moved by their simple lifestyle, asked to join them and in the summer of 1220 he received his habit.

The Baby Jesus is reminiscent of the vision that Anthony had in Camposampiero. It also expresses his attachment to the humanity of Christ and his closeness to God.

His Vision of the Baby Jesus is an event which, more than any other, characterizes the contemplative spirituality of St Anthony. The Book of Miracles says:

Blessed Anthony found himself in a city to preach and was put up by a local resident. He gave him a room set apart, so that he could study and contemplate undisturbed. While he was devotedly observing the room on which St Anthony has immersed himself in prayer, peeping through the window, he saw a beautiful baby appear in blessed Anthony's arms. The baby was Lord Jesus.

The flame represents Anthony's love for God and his neighbor.

The flame is a symbol of zeal and passion and inspiration, sacrifice. It symbolizes the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. In this case, the flames are depicted on people's shoulders or floating above their heads.

Youth is connected to the image of St Anthony as pure, good and receptive to anyone.

Bread is a remembrance of St. Anthony's charity to the poor. Catholic charity groups have been named in reemergence of Saint Anthony. "St Anthony's Bread to the Poor" is still operating, and Saint Anthony's Charities, which spreads solidarity of St. Anthony all over the world. The practice of distributing St. Anthony's Bread recalls his concern for the poor.

Bread is the sustenance of life. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35). Therefore bread is a symbol of life. Bread was used at the last supper when Jesus said, "This is my Body broken for you..." (Luke 22:19). In this context the bread usually shown with a chalice of bunch of grapes, represents the Lord's supper (Eucharist) The bread can also represent St Anthony's spreading the Word of God to the world.

The book is a symbol of Anthony's science, of his doctrine, his preaching and of his teaching, always inspired by the Bible.

A single book represents the Holy Word of God. If the book in held by any of the four evangelists, it symbolizes the books he wrote. If the book is in the hands of an apostle, it can represent his learning and/or being a teacher of the Christian faith. If both evangelists and apostles/disciples are shown, the evangelists will carry books and the disciples will carry scrolls. Books in the hands of saints show they were well educated in the scriptures.

Prayers to Saint Anthony

Prayer For Miracle

Holy Saint Anthony, gentle and powerful in your help, your love for God and charity for His creatures, made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were always ready to request for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me (state request here). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle. Even so, you are the Saint of miracles. Gentle and loving Saint Anthony, whose heart is ever full of human sympathy, take my petition to the Infant Savior for whom you have such a great love, and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.

Prayer To Find Lost Things

St. Anthony, perfect imitator of Jesus, who received from God the special power of restoring lost things, grant that I may find (name your lost item) which has been lost. At least restore to me peace and tranquility of mind, the loss of which has afflicted me even more than my material loss. To this favor, I ask another of you: that I may always remain in possession of the true good that is God. Let me rather lose all things than lose God, my supreme good. Let me never suffer the loss of my greatest treasure, eternal life with God. Amen.

Saint Anthony of Padua Novena

O wonderful St. Anthony, glorious on account of the fame of your miracles, and through the condescension of Jesus in coming in the form of a little child to rest in your arms, obtain for me of His bounty the grace which I ardently desire from the depths of my heart. (State your intention) You who were so compassionate toward miserable sinners, regard not the unworthiness of those who pray to you, but the glory of God that it may once again be magnified by the granting of the particular request (State your intention) which I now ask for with persevering earnestness. Amen

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY ONE

O holy St. Anthony, gentlest of saints, your love for God and charity for his creatures made you worthy while on earth to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena (State your intention). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle; even so, you are the saint of miracles. O gentle and loving Saint Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms, and thee gratitude of my heart will always be yours.