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RUBRIC
THE SAINTS AND US
Sr. Delfina Queirós, asm
Sister of the Covenant of St. Mary


THE SAINT OF THE WHOLE WORLD


So many books, so many wonders have been written about St. Anthony. It's time to ask: what more can be said about the life of this saint?

I'll start by reaffirming what Leo XIII said about him: “Saint Anthony is the best known Portuguese, the most loved, the most humble, the greatest among the greats, he is the Saint of the whole world” (Fr. Oliveiros de Jesus Reis, Santo António nosso grande amigo).

And why this statement, “everyone's Saint”? Because in truth, Fernando de Bulhões, our Saint Anthony left what the world calls great: honors, human praise, all that is ephemeral, in order to adhere completely to Jesus Christ, with the will to consecrate himself to him and even to martyrdom, if it came to that, like those whom he wanted to resemble.

In this section “The Saints and Us”, I see St. Anthony as someone who, because he fought so hard to live in the deepest union with God, can help us achieve the goal for which we were all created: HOLINESS.

Already in the Old Testament, the Lord tells us: “Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev 19:1-2). The Church's documents tell us the same thing: “The most sublime reason for human dignity is union with God (...) if man exists, it is because God created him out of love and, out of love, does not cease to preserve him in existence” (GS 19).

St. Anthony deeply loved Sacred Scripture and tried to bring this love for the Word of God to everyone. Pope Gregory IX, who canonized him, even called him the “Living Ark of the Testament” because he preached what he lived, and it was with such ardor and fire that the crowds adhered to his words and many heretics were converted from their evil ways. We can see here what St. Augustine experienced at the time of his conversion:

“As soon as I had finished reading a few sentences of Scripture, a kind of serene light came into my breast, and all the darkness of doubt was dispelled” (St. Augustine, Confessions 8, 12).

We admire St. Anthony for his great humility. When he entered the Order of St. Francis, he didn't reveal his credentials, not even to his superiors, but the Lord, who didn't want that light to remain under a bushel, took care of it when he was asked to go up to the pulpit and preach the sermon for the ordination of new priests.

Let's remember a few sentences from the sermon he preached:

“We are here, brothers and sisters, to celebrate with these young people who have accepted to embrace the cross of Christ, following the only light that illuminates the darkness of the night. He does this who consecrates his life to the Lord. He abandons his beloved wife, forgets his friends, disappoints his father, leaves his mother alone, says goodbye to the charms of the world, to riches, comforts and his own country. However, he is not alone. Wherever he goes, he takes everything with him (...)

Because in Christ is rest, adventure and peace.

The questions are endless.

But the answer is only one, Jesus Christ.

From an early age, St. Anthony devoted himself to the Blessed Virgin, whom he loved very much, consecrated himself to, and chose as the guide and support of his life and death. Saints are in God. But for us. So what does St. Anthony say to us today?

He tells us: "God's first call is for us to recognize that this world is the way to the definitive homeland. We live in it and for him. For our journey on earth, we have so many means available: prayer, the Word of God in Scripture, the Eucharist, devotion to Mary Most Holy. Others like us, made of the same clay, have preceded us and, through their dedication to others, have become models for us and intercede for us.

He was considered “The Saint of the whole world” because of the many miracles attributed to him. No wonder, then, that on January 16, 1946, Pope Pius XII proclaimed him Doctor of the Church with the title of Evangelical Doctor, in the Apostolic Letter that begins with the eulogy:

“Rejoice, happy Lusitania; leap for joy, happy Padua, for you have begotten for earth and for heaven a man who can well be compared to a shining star, since shining not only for the holiness of his life and his glorious reputation for miracles, but also for the splendor that his heavenly doctrine sheds everywhere, he has enlightened and still continues to enlighten the whole world with the brightest light.”.

(Everyday Saints, National Secretariat of the Apostleship of Prayer)

July 2021


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