In 1222, when St Anthony was only 27 a number of Dominicans and Franciscans where ordained by Bishop Ricciardellus Belmenti. The preacher did not turn up and St Anthony who was present at the reception decided to say a few words in his place. His words captured their imagination and their hearts caught fire under the power of the Holy Spirit. Once he finished all the Friars realised that they were in the presence of a brilliant and powerful preacher. This was a dramatic moment and if Friar Anthony had not been ordained by now it would not be much longer until he was.
His New Life of Preaching
Hi s search was complete and he could now start a whole new life being able to preach. St Anthony was one of Gods many surprises to St Francis. Asking for permission of St Francis to teach the friars begged St Anthony to teach them due to his tremendous knowledge. Anthony asked of St Francis calling St Anthony my Bishop out of respect because a Bishop is the teacher and guarding of the flock. From his first preaching onwards Anthony was on the roads often, making preaching and teaching his number o0ne priority. Soon his fame spread quickly and he was commissioned by St Francis to preach everywhere, in Italy and some parts of Southern France. Anthony became an Evangelical Crusade.
Drawing such huge crowds to his sermons the churches could hold the people who came. Eventually ten, twenty to thirty thousand people where attending his electrifying sermons.
His life of preaching in France was nearing its end because 1228 he was recalled to Italy where things where getting better as the days past. He became provincial at Romagan in Northern Italy. It was here where he preached to Pope Gregory IX and also to the clergy and the people. St Anthony made such an impression that the Pope called St Anthony “armoury of the bible”. This meant that if all bibles in the world were lost, Anthony could surely rewrite them all. Anthony’s last sermons where coming to an end and he decide to preach in Padua during lent. This time there was a complete up roar as accommodation was limited as was food. The crowds were simply invading the city to hear him preach. The effect was just simply amazing, quarrels were patched up, mortal enemies were reconciled, poor debtors were released from prison, and immortal men and women re formed their lives. Basically the public life of Padua was improving rapidly because of one man, St Anthony.
Sadly the years of preaching was coming to an end as Anthony became so ill due to his years of preaching which had worn him out. He developed dropsy, which made his breathing difficult. On the 13 July 1231 he knew he was dying and his years of preaching were coming to an end so he asked the friars who he was staying with to take him to Padua. It was summer before he knew it and with all the dust and heat he was soon unable to speak. Sadly he passed away. The friars who were planning to bring the body home quietly was not to be as children were running through the streets shouting “the Holy Father is dead, St Anthony is dead”. Crowd poured into the Franciscan Church to pray to the “Saint” and a steady stream of miracles caused a wave of enthusiasm among the populace. Before the month was over the City of Padua sent requests for Anthony to be listed among the Saints. When his body was exhumed to be transferred it was found that although his body had disintegrated his tongue was whole, life like and of natural colour. St Bonaventure who was then the Minister General, seeing this miracles cried out “O blessed tongue; you have always praised the Lord and lead others to praise him! Now we can clearly see how great indeed have been your merits before God”
St Anthony’s Canonization
His canonization was one of the fastest on record. It took less than twelve months. He was canonized in the town of Spoleto by Pope Gregory XI on the 30 May 1232. Of the 56 miracles accepted for his caonization only one was noted as having occurred during his lifetime. Perhaps his canonization process was too quick to collect all his miracles.
Conclusion
During my time in writing this project my main aim in which I set out to achieve was to learn a little more about “St Anthony” as he was my chosen saint for my confirmation. Also I wanted to research into the effects he had on society. Throughout my research I have learned that in life we have to keep trying. St Anthony is a perfect individual who has succeeded in doing that. A person who got no acceptance from the people whatsoever and who was simply ignored eventually tried his hardest to learn sacred scriptures which lead to him not getting enough of the people. He was so good at preaching that everyone would take the time to listen to him and learn. He worked miracles at a total of 56. This was his main effect on society. I have also learned that if all the bibles in the world were lost he could surely re-write them all by hand. His canonization was one of the fastest on record which also makes him stand out among all of the other saints. I personally feel that he was a man well worth of his honour as he was such a great person for his merits before God and his miracles which he made were very extraordinary. Compared to people nowadays St Anthony is definitely an individual as some of the people nowadays such as the president of the USA and the prime minister try to get the peoples respect and to fight for their countries where as St Anthony worked hard to earn the peoples respect. There was no one who had no respect for St Anthony which is quite astonishing. In doing this project I have seen a huge relevance as it has helped me to understand a lot more about the saint and I now know why my great gran would never stop praying to him.
St Anthony’s Gravestone
