Anthony of Padua

Just as a tower defends a fortress, so humility of heart defends bodily chastity from the darts of fornication.

Just as the root feeds the tree, so humility feeds the soul. The spirit of humility is sweeter than honey, and whoever is fed by this sweetness produces fruit.

Saint Anthony of Padua (1195–1231), born Fernando Martins de Bulhões, was a Portuguese Franciscan priest, later venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church. He was born to a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal, where he lived most of his life. He was a prominent follower of Saint Francis of Assisi in the Order of Friars Minor, and died in Padua, Italy. He was canonized by Pope Gregory IX on May 30, 1232. He was recognized as a Doctor of the Church on January 16, 1946, and is known as the Doctor Evangelicus, or Evangelical Doctor.

Quotes

Sermons

• Stellae sunt sancti, quos Christus sub signaculo suae providentiae claudit, ne appareant quando velint, semper parati ad tempus a Deo statutum, ut, cum audierint aure cordis vocem iubentis, a secreto contemplationis egrediantur ad opera necessitatis.
  • The saints are like the stars, who, in His providence, Christ hides under a seal, lest they appear whenever they wish. Instead, they are always ready to disembark from the quiet of contemplation into the works of mercy at the time decided upon by God, whenever their heart should hear the word of command.
  • Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Easter (Part III: De Christi omnium scientia, par. 10)

• Sicut radix portat arborem, sic humilitas animam. Spiritus humilitatis est super mel dulcis, quo qui regitur dulcia poma facit.
  • Just as the root feeds the tree, so humility feeds the soul. The spirit of humility is sweeter than honey, and whoever is fed by this sweetness produces fruit.
  • Sermon for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (Part II: De bonae arboris fructificatione et de malae arboris excisione, par. 10)

• Sollicitudo mentem distrahit, distractam dividit, divisam diabolus rapit, et sic animam interficit.
  • Solicitude for material things rends the soul; thus distracted, it divides it. The devil seizes the divided soul and thereby kills it.
  • Sermon for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Part II: De sollicitudine expellenda, par. 7)

• Sicut turris defendit castrum sic humilitas cordis defendit castitatem corporis a iaculis fornicationis.
  • Just as a tower defends a fortress, so humility of heart defends bodily chastity from the darts of fornication.
  • Sermon for the Second Sunday of Lent (Part II: De Iesu Christi transfiguratione, par. 8)

Quotes about Anthony of Padua

• Si quaeris miracula,
  Mors, error, calamitas,
  Daemon, lepra fugiunt,
  Aegri surgunt sani.
  Cedunt mare, vincula:
  Membra resque, perditas
  Petunt et accipiunt
  Iuvenes et cani.
  Pereunt pericula,
  Cessat et necessitas:
  Narrent hi, qui sentiunt,
  Dicant Paduani.
  • If, then, thou seekest miracles,
    Death, error, all calamities,
    The leprosy and demons flee,
    The sick, by him made whole, arise.
    The sea withdraws and fetters break,
    And withered limbs he doth restore,
    While treasures lost are found again,
    When young or old his help implore.
    All dangers vanish from our path,
    Our direst needs do quickly flee:
    Let those who know repeat the theme:
    Let Paduans praise St. Anthony.
  • Sequence attributed to Julian of Speyer, composed c. 1235 (The Raccolta, 531. New York: Benziger Brothers. 1952.)
• He knew everything in Scriptures and used to quote it by heart; he knew even its most arcane and difficult passages.
  • Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira

External links

• Works by and about St. Anthony
• Sermons of St. Anthony (Latin)