THE ADVENTURER SAINT
We
are back to the series of Gospel readings taken from Jesus’ Sermon on
the Mount. Today we have the wonderful spiritual benefit of celebrating
the liturgical memorial of a saint: that of the ever-popular St. Anthony
of Padua.
When a full-length feature film about him was produced some years ago,
the many “twists and turns” in his life were highlighted in the
narrative. His life was portrayed as exciting and dramatic, even to the
extent of having the elements of action and adventure.
It’s worth recalling a few of such “twists and turns.” Born in Lisbon,
Portugal in 1195, Anthony at the age of 15 joined the Augustinian Monks
of Coimbra, where he was ordained priest. In 1221, when the relics of
five Franciscan martyrs were brought from Morocco to Portugal, he had an
ardent desire to follow in their footsteps. He then transferred to the
Franciscan Order, and after some time was sent to Africa to preach to
the Muslims. However, he was soon afflicted with a severe illness, and a
few months later he had to return to Portugal. The ship in which he
sailed was driven off its course and landed in Sicily. From there,
Anthony went to Assisi,
where he met St. Francis. Eventually Anthony was discovered for his
gift of preaching and teaching theology. He spent the last years of his
life in Padua, where he died at 36 years old.
It all somehow connects with today’s Gospel message. As Jesus revisits
and revises the law concerning retaliation (the famous “an eye for an
eye”), He raises the bar with an almost completely new teaching on
non-violent, passive resistance. Such is the disarming forcefulness, the
“violence” of the peace and generosity which Jesus advocates, along
with its totally countercultural character.
St. Anthony of Padua was certainly without the violence of a
revolutionary, nor with the bravado of an action star. His was that of a
man of God, a follower of Jesus’ radical teaching, a saint. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB
REFLECTION QUESTION: What is it in St. Anthony of Padua’s life do you want to imitate? Pray to God for that grace.
Thank You, Lord, for the gift of St. Anthony of Padua. May his life inspire me to be a non-violent disciple in the world. Amen.
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