PREFACE.
PERHAPS no saint, after our blessed
Lady and St. Joseph, is more popular
and venerated than the great St. An
thony of Padua.
Although in many lands, owing to
revolution and persecution, the Fran
ciscan churches where the devotion to
this great saint first began have been
destroyed, it still remains as flourish
ing as ever, and every year thousands
in all parts of the world make the nine
Tuesdays in his honor.
It cannot, therefore, be doubted that
the following anecdotes, derived from
reliable sources, will not only interest
the devout clients of St. Anthony, but
will also strengthen and encourage
them to still greater confidence in his
powerful intercession.
3
CONTENTS.
PART I. MIRACLES WORKED DURING THE
LIFE OF ST. ANTHONY.
PAGE.
i The Miracle of Tongues n
2 Dumb Animals Obey the Saint. . 12
3 The Sermon to the Fishes at
Rimini 13
4 Why St. Anthony is Invoked for
Lost and Mislaid Things 20
5 A Messenger from Hell Un
masked 23
6 The Consoler of Mothers 24
7 The Rain respects the Friend of
the Saints 25
8 An Extraordinary Prophecy 27
9 St. Anthony the Consoler of Per-
secuted Women 29
10 Truth from the Lips of a Little
Child 31
ii Broken Goblet and Running Bar
rel 34
12 The Carved Capon 36
13 The Apparition of the Holy Child. 37
14 Flight to Lisbon 41
5
6 Contents.
PAGE.
15 St. Anthony Again Rescues His
Father 45
16 Where Thy Treasure Is, There
Also is Thy Heart 46
17 St. Anthony Cures a Cripple 50
18 Bilocation of the Saint 51
19 Wind and Rain Obey St. Anthony. 52
20 Zeal for the Word of God 54
21 The Saint s Sermon is Heard at a
Great Distance 55
22 Cure of a Paralyzed Child 56
23 A Martyr s Death Predicted 58
24 Death of St. Anthony. The Great
Miracle Worked After His
Death . 59
PART II. MIRACLES WORKED AFTER THE
DEATH OF ST. ANTHONY.
25 A Skull Injured 62
26 The Picture of St. Anthony 62
27 In Company with St. Anthony. . . 63
28 Boys Playing in a Mill Stream. ... 64
29 Back from Paradise 66
30 Assassins Frightened 63
31 A Strong Shield 69
32 Dragged by a Mule 71
33 A Scoffer Changed into an Ad
mirer 7 2
Contents. 7
PAGE.
34 A Glass as Hard as a Rock 74
35 A Wish Granted 75
36 A Poor Clare Cured 76
37 Places Exchanged 78
3 8_ "Dost Thou Know Me?" 80
39 A Son Restored to His Parents.. 82
40 Gangrene Cured 84
41 "Take Courage" 85
42 A Good Name Restored 87
43 A Lunatic Cured 89
44 A Happy Death Obtained 90
45 Crushed by the Fall of a Tree 91
46 Marriage Portion 92
47 Saved from Suicide 93
48 Great Harvest 98
49 The Storm Ceases and the Sea Be
comes Calm 99
50 "She is All Right Now" 101
51 The Beacon 102
52 The Singer in the Boat 103
53 Chains as an Altar Decoration... 104
54 St. Anthony is Never Invoked in
Vain 106
55 King Charles II., of England.... 107
56 The Grateful Captain 109
57 A Child Stolen no
58 Erysipelas Cured through Invok
ing St. Anthony in
59 The Bishop s Ring 112
Contents.
PAGE.
60 The Manuscript Ready for the
Press II4
6 1 Heard during Mass 115
62 An Ant employed as Porter 117
63 Returned at Midnight 118
64 The Victorious Admiral 120
65 Saved from the Scaffold 124
66 A Choirmaster without Employ
ment
133
67 A Costly Ex Voto 136
68 The Franciscan Church of St.
Anthony in the Tyrol 137
PART III. PETITIONS GRANTED IN MORE
MODERN TIMES.
69 Saved from Eternal Damnation.. 142
70 St. Anthony Converts an Officer. . 143
7i The Heathen Baptized on His
Death-bed I4 7
72 St. Anthony assists Poor Nuns... 148
73 Honor Vindicated 149
74 St. Anthony assists all Those Who
Invoke Him jcji
75 Saved from Drowning 151
76 Preserved from Fire 152
77--St. Anthony s Protection 153
78 Saved from Shipwreck and other
Difficulties 155
Contents. 9
PAGE.
79 St. Anthony Finds Lost People.. 158
80 A Mistake in Reckoning Dis
covered 160
81 The Lost Railway Ticket 161
82 The Lost Document 161
83 Clearsighted 165
84 Found Again 168
85 Seven Hundred Francs Recov
ered 171
86 Paper Money Returned 172
87 The Valuable Sketch 173
88 From Caffraria 175
89 The Stolen Watch 177
90 "See, the Watch is Found!" 178
91 St. Anthony is Ever Ready to
assist 181
92 Striking Combination of Circum
stances 184
93 Pilgrimage to St. Anthony s
Church at Oberachern 186
94 Sickness Yields to the Interces
sion of St, Anthony of Padua. . 189
95 Incontestable Miracle 191
96 Praise be to God and His Holy
Servant Anthony 194
97 Prompt Assistance 195
98 Paralysis Cured 197
99 A Needle Swallowed 198
100 St. Anthony Bestows the Gift of
Medical Penetration 200
io Contents.
ioi Swelling of the Throat Cured. .. . 202
102 How St. Anthony Listens to His
Clients 204
103 The Signet Ring 205
104 The Wedding Ring 207
105 The Thread in the Water 208
106 Three Examples of Lost Money
Found 209
107 Trust and Hope 210
108 St. Anthony s Assistance 211
109 The Lost Washing Found 214
PART IV. DEVOTIONS AND PRAYERS TO
ST. ANTHONY.
no The Antiphons of St. Anthony in
the Form of Prayer 221
in Prayers for Every Day of the
Nine Tuesdays in Honor of St.
Anthony 223
PART I.
MIRACLES WORKED DURING
THE LIFE OF ST. ANTHONY.
1. be /flMracle of {Tongues.
AMONG the saints of the Church
few are better known than the
great St. Anthony of Padua.
Endowed with great natural gifts,
enjoying excellent health, a powerful
voice, combined with great eloquence,
an admirable delivery, a perfect knowl
edge of the Scriptures and theology,
he was, soon after his ordination,
sent to preach in France, Italy and
Portugal.
Although in his youth he had never
spoken anything but Portuguese, he,
like the apostles after Pentecost, re
ceived that wonderful gift of tongues,
12 Miracles Worked During
which not only enabled him to preach
even with eloquence in French and
Italian, but to make himself under
stood by people from all parts of the
world.
An instance of this may be given:
When ordered by the Holy See to
preach the Lenten sermons at Rome
he was perfectly understood by the
immense multitude from all nations,
whom the renown of his great sanctity
and marvellous gifts had attracted.
This same gift was of most frequent
occurrence during his missionary
career.
2. 2>umb Bnfmals beg tbe Safnt.
There was near the monastery of
the Friars Minor, at Montpellier, a
large pool filled with frogs, whose per
petual croakings greatly disturbed the
saint and his community. At last,
the Life of St. Anthony. 13
wearied by this perpetual noise, he de
termined to put an end to it, and going
to the pond, after blessing it, ordered
the frogs to stop their croaking, which
at once ceased, and the pond from
that time was called St. Anthony s
Pond.
But stranger still, if a frog was
taken out of this pond and placed in
another, it instantly recovered its
power of croaking, while it was just
the reverse were a strange frog put
into St. Anthony s Pond.
3. Cbe Sermon to tbe fffsbes at
IRfmfnf.
During the eleventh and twelfth
centuries Europe had much to suffer
from various heresies, more especially
from that of the Albigenses, which in
fested the south of France and north
of Italy.
14 Miracles Worked During
God, ever watchful over His spouse,
the Church, soon raised up two great
men, St. Francis and St. Dominic,
who, with their sons, came to her as
sistance.
St. Anthony of Padua, on account
of his great sanctity and learning, was
chosen by his superiors to be one of
the first to enter the battlefield. Ri
mini, in Romagna, in spite of all the
endeavors of the Holy See and of its
own saintly bishop, continued to re
main the hotbed of heresy, and here
it was St. Anthony began his arduous
task of conversion.
The heretics, on hearing who was
to enter the lists against them, were
filled with dismay, but instigated by
the evil one, resolved at any cost to
face their enemy.
The saint on his arrival met with
the reverse of a cordial reception; the
the Life of St. Anthony. i5
church in which he was to begin his
labors was empty, save for a few old
men and women; but his longing for
the glory of God and salvation of
souls was too great to make him hesi
tate for a moment. He therefore as
cended the pulpit, and preached with
such earnestness and zeal that the
heretics, on hearing about it, deter
mined to leave nothing undone to
get rid of one who was so dangerous
an opponent.
This great servant of God, being in
formed of their intentions, withdrew
to a remote part of the city, to pre
pare himself by prayer, fasting and
penance for the encounter, imploring
at the same time the mercy of God
on this poor benighted people.
His enemies had, however, not lost
sight of him, and on seeing him leave
his retreat, some of them followed him
1 6 Miracles Worked During
to the place where the river Marecchia
empties itself into the Adriatic. Here
the saint stopped, and in a loud voice
commanded the fishes of the sea and
river to come forth and listen to the
word of God, saying: "Come, ye
senseless fishes of the deep, and by
your attention to the word of your
God and mine, put to shame these
men, who in their blindness and hard
ness of heart refuse to hear it."
The words were barely out of the
saint s mouth before a great commo
tion was noticed in the sea. Thou
sands of fishes of every size and
species were seen to come in the great
est order to its surface, the smaller
ones placing themselves in front, and
the larger ones behind. Then began
one of the most extraordinary sermons
ever preached. The saint addressed
the Life of St. Anthony. 17
them as if they were beings endowed
with reason.
"Oh! ye fishes of the deep, praise
and thank your God and Creator for
the unspeakable blessings He has lav
ished on you, favoring you above all
dumb animals. See and admire the
beautiful home He, in His infinite
goodness, has prepared for you; look
at those crystal waters, in which it is
so easy for you to find a refuge
against the storm and the enemy. Not
only has He provided for all your
wants, but He has made you prolific
above all other creatures. You alone
have been exempted from the domin
ion of your fellow beings and from His
wrath at the time of the deluge. To
you it has been given to save His
prophet Jonas; to cure His blind ser
vant. Tdbias; to be the food of the pen
itent; to procure for the Saviour of
1 8 Miracles Worked During
mankind and His disciples the tribute
money due to Caesar; it was after His
Resurrection by eating of your flesh
He proved He was truly risen from
the dead; it was over your heads He
walked on the sea, and after the great
draught of fishes, He called His apos
tles fishers of men. "
The fishes seemed to be filled with
admiration, and anxious not to lose
one of his words, their numbers ever
increasing, marking their approval
by the lifting up and down of their
heads, the opening of their mouths,
but not one of them thought of leaving
the spot till the saint had blessed -them,
and ordered them to return to their
homes below, when they immediately
disappeared. But the commotion of
the waters continued for some time
after. In the meantime, so deep had
been the impression made upon the
the Life of St. Anthony. ig
bystanders, eye-witnesses of this re
markable scene, that many hastened
back to the city, imploring their
friends to come and see the miracle;
others burst into tears, and kneeling
at the feet of the saint, implored for
giveness, while only a few remained
obdurate in their heresy.
St. Anthony, availing himself of this
opportunity, at the close of the ser
mon to the fishes addressed the im
mense multitude now gathered to
gether, exhorting them to repentance,
rebuking them for their unbelief and
ingratitude, pointing out to them the
heinousness of sin, and showing them
what a lesson of obedience the fishes
had just given them.
It was through this sermon that
Rimini was purged from heresy.
20 Miracles Worked During
St. Bntbons is Unvofcefc for
Xost anO /IIMslato
The following incident in the life of
St. Anthony accounts for his being
invoked for lost and mislaid articles:
During his stay at the Franciscan
monastery at Montpellier St. Anthony
was not only engaged in preaching,
but also in teaching theology to his
younger brethren. It was here a most
extraordinary adventure happened to
one of his novices. The latter, weary
of the monastic life, suddenly left
the monastery, taking with him
a book of psalms, copied and anno
tated by the saint for the benefit of his
pupils.
The loss of this book was deeply
felt by St. Anthony, as books at that
time were only written, the art of
the Life of St. Anthony. 21
printing being unknown, an ordinary
book costing at least a hundred dollars
of our money.
In the year 1240 the monks at
Camaldoli paid as much as two hun
dred gold ducats for an illuminated
missal. (See History of Pope Inno
cent III., volume iv.) Whole fortunes
sometimes were spent in the purchase
of a single book.
What pained the saint evenmore than
the loss of a work invaluable to him,
was the outrage committed against
God, and the spiritual danger threat
ening the culprit. The saint, with his
usual trust in God, at once betook
himself to prayer, humbly imploring
the divine mercy on the unhappy
youth, and at the same time asking
for the restitution of his book. His
prayer was barely finished before it
was heard. Just at that moment, as the
22 Miracles Worked During
thief was about to cross a bridge, the
devil, in the shape of a hideous negro,
appeared before him with an axe in his
hand, threatening at once to kill him
and trample him under foot if he did
not immediately retrace his steps. The
novice, terrified at the sight of the
monster, hastened to obey, and falling
at the feet of the servant of God, not
only gave back the book, but im
plored forgiveness, begging to be re
admitted into the monastery.
The saint, full of gratitude to God,
readily forgave the culprit, warning
him at the same time against the
snares of the devil and encouraging
him to persevere in his holy vocation.
The stolen book has been for years
preserved in the Franciscan monas
tery at Bologna.
the Life of St. Anthony. 23
5. B dfcessen0et from 1bcll "dnmaefteD.
While the saint was preaching at
Puy a messenger suddenly appeared
in the midst of the congregation, call
ing out to a ladyin a loudvoicethather
son had been foully murdered by his
enemies. Anthony, who easily dis
covered who the messenger was, com
manded silence by a motion of his
hand, and, after consoling the lady by
telling her that her son was never in
better health in his life and that she
would shortly see him, added that the
supposed messenger was no other than
the evil one, who had only come in the
hopes of disturbing the sermon and
marring its effects. This proved per
fectly true, as the pretended messenger
at once vanished. The saintly preach
er then availed himself of the oppor
tunity thus presented to him to warn
24 Miracles Worked Ditring
his hearers against the artifices of the
evil one.
6, abe Consoler of dfcotbers.
Whilst at Brives God glorified His
servant by making him work many
miracles.
A poor woman had gone to hear
the saint preach, leaving her child
alone, with no one to take care of him.
During her absence the little one fell
into a caldron of boiling water, and
on her return she found him playing
unhurt in his dangerous bath.
But a greater miracle than that was
worked on another occasion. A
mother having left her infant at home
by itself, in order to go and hear the
sermon, found him on her return dead
in his cradle. In the midst of her grief
she rushed back to the church and in-
the Life of St. Anthony. 25
formed the saint of what had taken
place. "Go home," he replied, "your
son liveth," making use of the same
words as Our Lord did when the
father asked Him to cure his son. Full
of confidence in St. Anthony, she has
tened back, and to her great joy,
found the baby up and playing with
his little companions.
7. Gbe IRain IRespects tbe ffrfenfc of
tbe Saints.
It happened one day that the cook
of the monastery at which the saint
was staying had nothing to give the
brethren to eat, and went and told An
thony of his difficulty. The saint at
once went to see a pious lady he knew,
begging her to have compassion on his
brethren and send them a few cab
bages. So great was the veneration
26 Miracles Worked During
in which he was held that she imme
diately, in spite of the inclemency of
the weather, for it was pouring
rain, ordered her servant to go into
the garden and cut as many vegetables
as the monks would require. The
maid obeyed and took them to the
convent. Notwithstanding the drench
ing rain, she returned home perfectly
dry, and, full of admiration, said to her
mistress: "When you want something
done for Father Anthony or the other
monks, do, pray, send me; I would
not care if the weather was a thousand
times worse than to-day; see, there is
not a drop of rain on my clothes and
my shoes are not even damp."
The lady, full of admiration, earnest
ly recommended the monks to the
care of her only brother, a canon at
Noblet, entreating him to assist them,
as far as lay in his power, and to rest
the Life of St. Anthony. 27
assured that God would reward him a
hundredfold for his charity.
8. Bn ^itraorOinar^ propbecg.
While the saint was at his monas
tery at Puy he used sometimes to meet
a lawyer, who led a very bad and
profligate life. Every time they met
the saint would uncover his head and
bow most respectfully to him. Think
ing the servant of God was only laugh
ing at him, the lawyer one day turned
round and said to him: "If I did not
fear the judgment of God I would
soon make you repent of insulting one
who has never injured you, by thrust
ing my sword through your body."
The saint replied that, far from having
any intention of insulting him, he only
bowed through a feeling of deep love
and respect, for in thus saluting him
he was saluting one who was to be a
28 Miracles Worked During
glorious martyr, and begged of him,
when undergoing his tortures, not to
forget him in his prayers. The lawyer
for the time being laughed at what
seemed to him to. be a most unlikely
thing. Strange to say, the prophecy
was shortly afterwards fulfilled. A
bishop started for Palestine, with the
intention of converting the Saracens,
and urged on by a secret impulse from
heaven, the lawyer followed him. On
his arrival he was suddenly filled with
such a desire to convert the infidels
that he himself at once began to
preach the truths of the Christian re
ligion to them and point out the
wickedness of Mahometanism, which
so enraged these fanatics that after
making him a prisoner and torturing
him for three days, they put him to
death. When about to die he revealed
to those present how the saintly
the Life of St. Anthony. 29
Father Anthony had predicted his
martyrdom, declaring at the same
time that a great prophet had risen in
their midst.
9. St. Sntbons tbe Consoler of per*
secuteo Women.
St. Anthony always took a great in
terest in women in- distress, or perse
cuted, and they therefore look on him
as their special protector.
Among those who, owing to the
sanctity of the Franciscans, held them
in great veneration and aided them in
their daily wants, was a lady who suf
fered much from a jealous and irrit
able husband. One evening, after fin
ishing some work and making some
purchases for the Brothers, finding it
too late to take them to the monastery
that night, she took them home with
30 Miracles Worked During
her. This so greatly roused the anger
and jealousy of her husband that, not
content with loading her with re
proaches, he pulled almost all her hair
off her head. The poor woman was
naturally greatly hurt at such treat
ment, but full of confidence in her
good Father Anthony, after carefully
gathering up all her hair, she wrote,
begging of him to call on her the next
day. Her trust in the saint was not
misplaced. After hearing her story he
immediately on his return to his mon
astery, summoned his community to
gether and begged of them to unite
with him in praying for their bene
factress. These prayers were not in
vain, for before they were finished the
pain left her and her head was covered
with hair, as if nothing had happened.
The sight of this miracle was not only
the means of converting her husband,
the Life of St. Anthony. 3 1
but also of making him a great bene
factor to the monastery.
10. Grutb trom tbe Xfps of a Xittle
Cbtlfc.
St. Anthony, when travelling
through Romagna, not only visited
Padua, but also Polesine and Ferrara.
He remained some time in the last
place and worked a miracle as touch
ing in its circumstances as it was bene
ficial in its results. A nobleman in
that city had married a lady of remark
able beauty and highly gifted. Her
rare talents, winning manners and ac
complishments soon made her a gen
eral favorite in society, wnich so in
censed her husband and excited his
jealousy that it was hardly possible for
her to live with him, and their home
became one scene of continual strife.
The birth of a lovely boy, far from
32 Miracles Worked During
bringing peace to the unhappy couple,
only increased the suspicions of the
wretched father, who now, under the
complete power o>f the evil one, deter
mined to destroy both mother and
child. Whilst he was thus fostering
these evil thoughts in his mind, St.
Anthony came to preach a mission in
this city, and the lady, like Susanna of
old, came to this new Daniel, certain
that she would through his interces
sion obtain the conversion of her hus
band.
What follows will show how success
attended the prayers of the servant of
God. Not long afterward, whilst this
gentleman and several others were
talking together with the saint on the
public square, the mother, as if in
spired by God, sent the nurse to take a
walk with the infant. At the sight of
the child the jealous husband bit his
the Life of St. Anthony. 33
lips with vexation and anger. St. An
thony, on the contrary, drew near the
nurse and began caressing the child,
asking him, as if in a joke, "Who is
your father, my little one?" The by
standers smiled at this childish quesv
tion. But the servant of God had an ob
ject in view, the justification of the in
nocent. The little babe, only a few
weeks old, smilingly turning his face
to where his father stood, replied in a
clear voice, to the astonishment of all
present: "There is my father." St.
Anthony, putting the child into the
arms of the now delighted parent,
said: "Take the child and never again
doubt he is your son, since he himself
has told you so." The happy husband
at once carried him home in triumph
to his mother, and from that time
peace and joy reigned in this favored
household.
34 Miracles Worked During
The news of this event spread far
and wide, and there is a memento of it
to be seen sculptured in marble in the
chapel of the saint at Padua.
11. JBrofcen Goblet and IRunnfng
Barrel.
The Vicar-General of the Franciscan
Order, Brother Elias, on the death
of the saintly founder, St. Francis of
Assisi, in a pathetic circular convoked
all the superiors of the various prov
inces to attend a general chapter, in
order to proceed to the election of
his successor. It was probably in
the autumn of A. D. 1226 that An
thony, accompanied by one of his
brethren, went to Italy, passing
through Provence in order to be pres
ent at this general chapter.
On their way through Provence
they stopped to rest at one of the
the Life of St. Anthony. 35
towns, in the house of a pious woman.
She, being anxious to pay her weary
guests as much respect as she possibly
could, borrowed a splendid cut glass
goblet from one of her neighbors for
them to drink their wine out of. Un
fortunately the companion of the saint,
wanting to examine it more closely,
took it up in his hand and broke it.
This was not the only mishap. The
kind hostess, thinking only of the com
fort of her guests, forgot to turn the
tap of the barrel when she w r ent to
draw their wine, and on returning tu
the cellar found it had all run out. The
saint, seeing how distressed she was
by these misadventures, bowed his
head in prayer, and to the great as
tonishment of the good woman, who
was silently watching him, she saw the
broken pieces of the goblet unite to
gether, leaving no mark of breakage.
36 Miracles Worked During
Full of hope, she ran to the cellar, and
to her great joy, the barrel, which be
fore the occurrence was half empty,
was now filled with the most delicious
wine.
St. Anthony, in his deep humility,
at once continued his journey to Italy,
so as to avoid the applause awaiting
him as soon as the news of this fresh
miracle got abroad.
12. abe Carved Capon.
St. Anthony was one day invited by
a party of heretics to come to dine
with them, in order, as they said, to
give them the opportunity of laughing
at his stupidity. He good-naturedly
accepted their invitation. After sit
ting down to table a large bat, such
as are found in Sicily, was served up to
him, with the request to carve it. When,
without being the least disconcerted,
the Life of St. Anthony. 37
he began to do so, they could hardly
refrain from laughing aloud; but soon
their laughter was changed into as
tonishment, for hardly had the saint
begun to carve the wretched bird be
fore it was changed into a magnificent
capon, emitting the most delicious
smell. This miracle so completely
changed their hearts that they not only
acknowledged the power of the ser
vant of God, but renounced their
errors and were received into the
Church.
13. Cbe Bpparition of tbc
The Friars Minor had no monastery
within the walls of Padua, the nearest
one, at Arcella, outside the city, being
about three-quarters of an hour s
walk. It often happened that, owing
to the gates being closed early in the
evening, it was impossible for the
38 Miracles Worked During
saint on account of his missionary
work, to return home. But he easily
found a night s shelter among his
friends, who were only too happy to
have him for their guest. Tito Bor-
ghese, Count of Campo San Pietro,one
of the saint s dearest friends, was
among the few whom he honored the
most with his presence. This noble
man had so great a veneration for him
that he carefully noted down all that
took place during his visits, even ris
ing up at night to watch his guest
through the keyhole. Once, when
thus visiting him, he noticed an extra
ordinary light piercing through the
chinks of the saint s apartments. Anx
ious to discover the cause of this, he
drew near, and to his great surprise
saw through the cracks of the door St.
Anthony holding a beautiful child in
his arms, whom he was lovingly
the Life of St. Anthony. 39
caressing. His host was first at a loss
to understand how this lovely infant
had entered the apartment of his
guest, but soon discovered, through
his majestic bearing and the rapture of
Si. Anthony, that the child was no
other than our divine Lord, who, un
der this form, had come to console,
encourage and strengthen His faithful
servant. The apparition lasted some
time, then suddenly disappeared, leav
ing the room in total darkness. At
once the saint rose from his prayers,
and on going to his bedroom,
knocked against his host in the dark.
As if guilty of a crime, he entreated
his friend not to betray his secret.
During the lifetime of St. Anthony the
Count faithfully kept his word, but
after his death, with tears streaming
down his face, he gave a minute ac
count of everything that had taken
4O Miracles Worked During
place. The heavenly light, of a bluish
color, issuing forth from the divine
Child, although brighter and more
beautiful than the sun, did not -dazzle
the eye, whilst at the same time the
heart was filled with unutterable joy.
He, moreover, declared that the holy
Child Himself had informed the saint,
by pointing to the door with His
finger, that he was watched, but that
St. Anthony appeared to pay no at
tention to this, as if anxious not to de
prive his friend of this heavenly con
solation. He furthermore added that
the holy Child was standing on the
breviary of the saint.
This apparition has been so frequent
ly mentioned by old historians that its
veracity cannot be doubted. It is for
this reason St. Anthony is usually rep
resented with the holy Child standing
on his breviary.
, v-
the Life of St. Anthony. 41
14.-3fligbt to OLisbon.
While the father of St. Anthony,
Don Martin de Buglione, was living
at Lisbon a murder was committed in
the street close to his house and the
corpse thrown into his garden, so that
suspicion might fall upon him. The
nobleman was in fact accused of the
murder, thrust into prison, and a long
and painful trial began, with every
prospect of ending in his being con
demned to death. St. Anthony was
just then at the monastery in Padua
working for the interests of that Goc 1
for whose sake he had left everything
dear to him. But God, in permitting
this accusation, intended through it to
make His beloved child known and
glorified in his own land. Informed
during prayer of his father s situation,
he, in spite of his being provincial,
42 Miracles Worked During
went at once, according to his usual
custom, to beg permission from the
superiors to absent himself from the
monastery for a few days. This grant
ed, he started for Lisbon, convinced he
would reach that city before sentence
of death had been pronounced, mean
while continuing his prayers for his
unhappy parent. After journeying
some distance he suddenly found him
self transported to Lisbon, and his
feelings can be easily imagined on re
ceiving this fresh favor from heaven
He at once went to the place where
the court was sitting, and began to
plead his poor father s cause. The
judges, although struck by the elo
quence and cleverness of this strange
Father, could not be convinced of the
innocence of the accused. Anthony,
repulsed by men, did not lose heart,
and after a few moments spent in
the Life of St. Anthony. 43
prayer, without asking leave or giving
the judges time to recover from their
astonishment, went to the cemetery,
followed by the judges and an im
mense crowd of people, attracted
hither by curiosity, and ordered the
body of the murdered man to be ex
humed. As soon as the coffin was
visible he then, in a loud voice, in the
name of God, commanded the de
ceased to bear witness before the
judges present as to whether Don
Martin de Buglione was his murderer
or not. The corpse at once obeyed,
and sitting up, one hand raised and
the other leaning against the ground,
replied in a clear and sonorous voice:
"Don Martin de Buglione is not my
murderer." The youth then entreat
ed St. Anthony to give him the
priestly absolution from excom
munication which his sudden death
44 Miracles Worked During
had deprived him of. After re
ceiving it he quietly laid him
self down in his coffin, not to be dis
turbed again. As for St. Anthony, he
suddenly disappeared from both
judges and people, who cried aloud, as
if awaking from a dream: "A miracle!
a miracle! a great miracle!" It was
thus that through the intervention of
his son Don Martin de Buglione was
declared innocent and restored to lib
erty.
The reply, "I am come to save the
innocent, and not to betray the guilty,"
which St. Anthony made to the judges
when asked who was then the real cul
prit, soon spread far end wide. He re
turned back to the monastery of Santa
Ivlaria dell Arcella in the same miracu
lous manner after an absence of one
day and two nights.
the Life of St. Anthony. 45
is. St. Bntbons again IRescues fcte
ffatber.
St. Anthony s father held an im
portant post at the court of Lisbon.
What it was is not exactly known; but
it is certain he had a great deal to do
in the management of the royal rev
enues. Owing to the fact that he al
ways thought others as good and
honest as himself, he one day neglect
ed asking for a receipt from certain
officials of the royal household, to
whom he had paid large sums of
money. The latter, jealous of his high
position, and more especially of the
royal favors lavished on him, had long
been waiting for an opportunity to
ruin him. They, therefore, gladly
availed themselves of this occasion,
declaring they had not received the
money. A lawsuit was begun, and he
46 Miracles Worked During
certainly must have lost it for want of
proofs but for the intervention of his
son, Anthony, who suddenly appeared
before the dishonest officials, and,
looking them straight in the face, bore
witness as to the day, hour, place, and
even coin, in which the money had
been paid, at the same time threaten
ing them with the vengeance of God
did they not at once give the required
receipt. Terrified at having to con
front such a witness, the enemies of
the count acknowledged having re
ceived the money, and from that time
Don Martin de Buglione was no
longer molested by his enemies.
16. Wbere Cbg treasure is, Cbere
also is Ebg Ibeart
Among the many vices infesting
Florence, usury was the one against
the Life of St. Anthony. 47
which the saint waged the greatest
war.
St. Bonaventure himself relates an
occurrence which took place in that
city, and of which St. Anthony availed
himself in one of his sermons to illus
trate how severely God punishes that
vice.
A rich usurer died, and whilst the
saint was in prayer God revealed to
him that this man s soul was in hell
on account of his unjust dealings with
others. An immense crowd of people
had gone to hear the saint preach the
funeral sermon. He at once, on ascend
ing the pulpit, began by pointing out
the heinousness of the sin of usury,
declaring that usurers in their thirst
for gold were the enemies of mankind,
desiring nothing so much as war,
famine, pestilence and so forth, so as
to enrich themselves at the expense of
48 Miracles Worked During
others, and satisfy their craving for
those riches in which their happiness
alone consisted. Then, speaking with
still greater emphasis, he exclaimed:
"They are also the enemies of their
own souls, for it is indeed rare for a
usurer to become holy." Adding:
"This is precisely what has happened
to the one to whom these last honors
are being paid," and pointing to the
catafalque before him, he continued:
"To prove the truth of my assertion
you need only go and look at the
chest of money, which, for the short
time he lived on earth, was the joy and
god of his heart, and you will find
there that heart lying under his gold.
For the Son of God Himself has de
clared, Where thy treasure is there
also is thy heart. "
The people at this announcement
remained at first perfectly dumbfound-
the Life of St. Anthony. 49
ed, after which crowds of them rushed
to the house of the deceased in order
to ascertain for themselves the truth
of this assertion, insisting upon the
chest being opened, and there, to their
great astonishment, found the heart
still warm, lying under the gold. But
not yet fully convinced of the truth,
they again returned to the church
where the corpse was lying, and on
opening the body found no heart in it.
Filled with indignation against the
usurer, they declared his body should
not be buried in consecrated ground,
and taking it off the catafalque,
dragged it out of the city and threw it
on a place where dead beasts were
buried.
This wonderful occurrence did not
fail to produce a good and lasting im
pression on the people. From that
time usury was almost stamped out of
So Miracles Worked During
Florence; but the respect and venera
tion in which St. Anthony was held
were such that he and his companion
fled from the city to seek the solitude
of Mt. Alvernia.
17. St. BntbonE Cures a Cripple.
Whilst the saint was at Padua a
youth called Leonardo accused him
self in confession of having kicked his
mother so violently that she fell to the
ground. St. Anthony, wishing to
make him understand the enormity of
his crime, said to him: "The foot of
one who kicks faither or mother de
serves to be cut off." The young man
did not understand his words in the
sense he meant them, and on return
ing home actually went and chopped
off the foot with which he had kicked
his mother. This news soon reached
the Life of St. Anthony. 5*
the ears of the saint, who at once went
to see the youth. After making the
sign of the cross upon the mutilated
limb both leg and foot were again
joined together, without leaving any
mark.
i8.-3Bfiocatfon of tbe Saint.
Another wonderful miracle has been
handed down to posterity. Whilst
preaching on Easter Sunday in the
cathedral at Montpellier the saint sud
denly remembered he had to sing the
Alleluia at the convent Mass. He
paused for an instant and was silent,
as if trying to get breath. But in
reality he was singing the Alleluia in
his own monastery, after which he re
sumed his sermon. Such occurrences
naturally caused St. Anthony to be
held in great veneration by everybody.
52 Miracles Worked During
1 9. *CClin> and IRafn bes St.
Another extraordinary occurrence
took place at Bourges, in France, the
representation of which was long to
be seen carved on one of the portals
of the cathedral.
Owing to the vast crowds who
wanted to hear the saint preach, it was
found impossible for any of the
churches or squares within the city to
contain them. It was therefore decid
ed to hire a large field outside the city
walls, and the people, headed by
the canons and clergy, walked in
procession to the place. Fortunately
it was summer. When St. Anthony
began his first sermon the weather was
magnificent, but suddenly the sky be
came overcast, a high wind began to
blow, dark clouds were seen floating
in the air, and distant peals of thunder
the Life of St. Anthony. 53
were heard. The immense crowd be
came alarmed and began to think of
seeking- shelter, when the saint, no
ticing the movement, quietly said to
them: "Do not be frightened, remain
in your places; not one drop of rain will
touch you." Full of confidence in his
words not one left, and St. Anthony
continued his sermon in the midst of
a most terrific hail and thunder-storm,
and neither the saint nor his vast con
gregation received one drop of rain.
Even the ground on which they stood
was perfectly dry, just in the same
manner as when ages before the Israel
ites passed through the waters of the
Red Sea.
At the sight of the miracle a hymn
of praise and thanksgiving to that
God whom the rain and winds obey
burst forth from the lips of all those
present, who were also filled with still
54 Miracles Worked During
greater respect and veneration toward
one whom God so highly favored.
20. 2eal tor tbe TKHorfc of <3oD.
The more St. Anthony endeavored
to remain hidden and unknown, the
more did God exalt His servant be
fore his death. A noble lady, richly
dressed, was going to hear one of the
Lenten sermons preached by the saint,
accompanied by her servants. Ab
sorbed in her own thoughts, she paid
little attention to the road, and fell into
a pool filled with dirty water. She nat
urally expected to be covered with
mud, which, to her great vexation,
would have prevented her from hear
ing the sermon. Strange to say, on
her being assisted out of the pool, not
a speck of mud was to be seen on her
clothes.
The news of this miracle was soon
the Life of St. Anthony. 55
repeated from mouth to mouth, and
was universally attributed to the
prayers of St. Anthony.
A twofold lesson can be learned
from it. First, that extravagance in
dress, even in the wealthy, is displeas
ing to God, and secondly, that the
hearing of the word of God is certain
to bring down a blessing.
21. Gbe Saint s Sermon is DcarD at
a <3reat distance,
A woman, living at about an hour s
distance from the church where the
saint was to preach, wanted very
much to hear him, but was prevented,
owing to her husband s illness. Not
able to console herself for the loss, she
stepped out on to the balcony and lean
ing on the railings, longingly looked
in the direction where the sermon was
being preached. Suddenly she fancied
56 Miracles Worked During
she could hear every word the preach
er said, as distinctly as if she had been
inside the church. Fearing it might
be an illusion, she ran and begged her
husband to come and listen. The sick
man at once complied with her re
quest, and he also distinctly heard
what the saint said. Their joy can be
easily imagined; but in order to be
sure it was no illusion on their part,
they asked their neighbors on their
coming home what was the subject of
the sermon, and then informed them of
what had taken place, to the greater
glory of God and of His holy servant
Anthony.
22. cure of a paral^eD CbflD.
One day after his sermon, as the saint
was hurrying back to his monastery,
in order to avoid the applause of the
the Life of St. Anthony. 57
multitude, he was stopped by a man
carrying in his arms a little girl, both
of whose feet were paralyzed, so that
it was impossible for her to walk. Be
sides this, she suffered from epileptic
fits of extraordinary violence. The
unhappy father, full of confidence in
the saint, determined to ask his as
sistance, and kneeling at his feet, hold
ing the little one in his arms, implored
him to bless her. Filled with pity for
the unhappy parent, St. Anthony im
mediately did as requested. On his re
turn home the poor man. certain his
child was cured, placed her on the
ground, making her stand, holding
by the rail of a bench. Shortly after
ward, when she began to take a few
steps, he gave her a stick, but soon
that was discarded, and Padovana,
full of glee, was seen running about
the rjom, perfectly cured. From that
58 Miracles Worked During
time she never suffered either from
epilepsy or paralysis.
These wonderful cures were almost
of daily occurrence, so that the same
thing- could have -been said of the
saint as of Our Lord : "He went about
doing good and curing all."
23 B dfcartgr 2>eatb
God also bestowed upon His ser
vant the gift of prophecy, and the saint
predicted to a woman at Assisi that
the son about to be born to her would
suffer martyrdom, which indeed hap
pened. He was called Philip, and
after joining the Franciscans was sent
to Asia, recently recaptured from the
Christians by the Saracens. After
courageously refusing to abjure Chris
tianity and embrace Mahometanism,
he was cruelly tortured, being flayed
the Life of St. Anthony. 59
alive, and he, with several other Chris
tians whom he encouraged to suffer
martyrdom, was beheaded.
24. Deatb oC St. Bntbonis. <Tbe (Brcat
Miracle TO>rfce& attec Dte 2>eatb,
The city of Padua, so often the
scene of St. Anthony s apostolic
labors during his lifetime, was
also to witness his death. On
his return to that city, just before
Lent, he was entreated to preach the
Lenten sermons. This, in spite of his
excessive weakness, he agreed to do.
But hardly were they finished before
he felt himself attacked with that ill
ness which he knew would be his last.
He received all the sacraments with
the greatest devotion, having only one
desire left, that of soon beholding the
face of his God.
On the i3th of June, whilst the saint
60 Miracles Worked During
was lying in his death agony on hi.3
wretched pallet, in a small convent
near Padua, towards evening- the news
reached the city that he was ill, dying.
Immediately an immense crowd of
people hastened to the monastery to
ascertain <the truth, and receive a last
blessing from their beloved father.
When about to breathe his last the dy
ing saint, as if anxious to give one
more token of his love for our blessed
Lady, was distinctly heard, in the
midst of the tears and sobs of those
surrounding his bedside, to sing in an
angelic voice the beautiful line:
gloriosa Domina, excelsa super sidera
"O glorious Mother of God, raised
above the skies," and with these words
on his lips he expired.
God, to glorify His saint, worked
many miracles in his behalf, but the
greatest took place A. D. 1326, thirty-
the Life of St. Anthony, 6t
two years after his death. The inhabi
tants of Padua had built a magnificent
church in his memory, and St. Bona-
venture came himself to superintend
the removal of the body. On opening
the coffin nothing but bones were
found, except the tongue, which was
exactly the same as when the saint was
alive. At this sight St. Bonaventure,
falling on his knees, thus apostro
phized it: "O 1 blessed tongue, who
hast so often praised thy God, now
does He, in His turn, make manifest
how great are thy merits." He then
placed it in a magnificent casket, cov
ered with precious stones, and carried
it to the chapel, where it is still to be
seen.
PART II.
MIRACLES WORKED AFTER THE
DEATH OF ST. ANTHONY.
25.-21 Sfcult Unjurefc.
A YOUNG relative of the saint had
so injured his skull through a
fall that there was no hope of saving
him through human means. The child
was taken and placed on the altar
dedicated to St. Anthony, and was
so completely cured that he never
suffered from any pain in his head
again.
26. Ube picture of St.
In the year 1683, Antonia Palormi,
a young girl of fourteen, living at
Naples, fell on her head from a great
62
After the Death of St. Anthony. 63
height on to the top of a stone build
ing. She bled profusely from her right
ear and was half killed. The child,
who had a great devotion to her name
sake, St. Anthony, not only wore a
picture of the saint round her neck,
but used daily to recite the thirteen
Our Fathers and Hail Marys in his
honor. In the midst of her battle be
tween life and death, he appeared to
her, and taking hold of her by her
hair, said: "Even had you not called
upon me, I would have come to your
rescue, on account of your devotion
to me." She, at once, out of grati
tude, joined the Order of St. Francis.
27. 1Tn Company wftb St.
A child had fallen into the water,
and its mother, who, from a distance,
saw the accident, cried out: "Oh!
St. Anthony, help." She looked in
64 Miracles Worked After
vain for her son, but at last, discov
ering him among- the reeds in the
river, succeeded in saving- him. He
was not at all hurt, but laughed
heartily. On being asked the cause
of his merriment, he replied: "I was
playing with St. Anthony, who told
the water not to harm me, and I like
playing with him."
28. JSoES Placing In a /Ifcfll Stream*
A nobleman had promised to make
every year a pilgrimage to the tomb
of St. Anthony, in thanksgiving for
his having obtained for him the birth
of a lovely boy, the darling of his
heart. When -the child was old
enough, he used to accompany his
parents to Padua. But one year, just
as they were about starting, the boy
fell ill, and the father went alone. In
a few days he was quite well again, and
the Death of St. Anthony. 65
one day went out with his little com
panions to play in the dry bed of a
mill stream, near the fields. Whilst
they were amusing themselves, the
water was suddenly turned on, and no
trace of the ten children could be
found. The grief of the distracted
mothers on hearing the news of this
accident, can easily be imagined. In
the meantime the count returned from
Padua, and his first thought was to
ask for his son. At first no one dared
tell him the truth, but soon it eked out.
In the midst of his anguish, on learn
ing this news, he had recourse to St.
Anthony and said to him: "My dear,
holy protector, it rests with you to re
store to me the child you gave me, for
surely you will not take him back."
After this prayer, he rose from his
knees, certain that his heavenly friend
would not desert him. He was right,
66 Miracles Worked After
for hearing the noise of boyish laugh
ter, he looked out of his window and
saw the merry little band of children,
with his son in their midst, returning
home from the meadow. It would be
impossible here to describe the feelings
of the happy parents. The boys, on
being questioned how they had spent
their time, replied they had had lots
of fun, but knew nothing of what had
happened. In this manner did the
saint reward the pilgrimage of his
pious votaries, by saving the lives of
those little ones so dear to them.
29. JSacfc from paradise.
A Spanish princess had died, and her
funeral was already ordered, but the
queen mother, who had a great de
votion to St. Anthony, now that all
human assistance was of no avail had
the Death of St. Anthony. 67
recourse to his intercession. In her
grief she never left the corpse of her
beloved daughter, and, with streaming
eyes, said to our divine Lord: "It
will not cost you more to raise my
daughter from the dead than it did
when you raised Lazarus from the
grave, after being buried four days."
St. Anthony in heaven joined in her
supplications, and to the joy and as
tonishment of all present, the young girl
arose, and said to her mother: "Dearest
mother, while you were praying to
St. Anthony, I was in heaven, amid
the choir of virgins, and I so clearly _
understood all the vanities of this
world that I entreated God not to hear
your prayers. He replied He could
not refuse any favor to His servant, St.
Anthony, and that also, on account of
your earnest prayers, I must return
to this world, to change your grief
68 Miracles Worked After
into joy, promising me, at the same
time, I should return to my place
among the blessed in a fortnight."
Everything happened as she predicted.
A fortnight afterwards she expired,
and went back to enjoy forever the
presence of God.
30. Bssassfns 3frfQbtenet>.
A priest in Padua, who had a great
devotion to St. Anthony, had several
enemies, who were eagerly watching
for an opportunity to destroy him.
One night, whilst they were waiting in
ambush for the priest, a Franciscan
monk suddenly placed himself a few
steps before them. Finding he had no
intention to move, one of them surlily
ordered him in loud voice to move on.
The Father gently, but firmly, replied,
"Go your way yourselves; I shall re-
the Death of St. Anthony. 69
main here." Seeing him so deter
mined, another rudely asked him:
"Pray, who are you?" "I am," he
replied, "the saint of Padua." Upon
which, as if struck down by some in
visible power, they fell on their faces
to the ground, just at the time when
the priest, who, suspecting nothing,
passed by, and was informed by his
holy patron of the danger he had es
caped. The would-be assassins, filled
with remorse, humbly begged his for
giveness, and related how the great
St. Anthony, without being called
upon, watches over those who trust in
him.
31. -a Strong Sbielfc.
The following incident took place
at Puglia, in the kingdom of Naples,
before so many witnesses that the
70 Miracles Worked After
news of it soon spread all over the
country. A peasant boy was digging
a hole beside a steep rock, when it
fell suddenly, carrying the boy with
it in its fall. His younger brother, who
had seen the accident, ran to tell his
mother of it. Her first thought was
to call on St. Anthony to help her, as
well as those who were going to the
rescue of her child. At last, in the
presence of an immense crowd, the
stones were removed, and to the great
astonishment of all present,, not only
was the boy alive, but he had not even
a scratch on his face or head. Being
asked how he had been able to save
himself, he replied: "As soon as you,
mother, began praying to St. An
thony, he at once came and shielded
me with his hand, so that not only did
the sharp stones not fall on me, but
I could breathe freely."
the Death of St. Anthony. 71
32. 2>ra00e& bs a dfcule.
Once Father Coinage, S. J., who
had a great devotion to St. Anthony
of Padua, was returning to Palermo
from Mazzara, in Sicily, accompanied
by one of the Brothers, and saying
his breviary. He had just come to
that verse in the canticle of the young
men in the fiery furnace: "Praise the
Lord, all His works," when his mule,
which was considered a quiet animal,
took fright, and broke the bridle. The
Father was thrown out of the saddle,
and dragged for a considerable dis
tance over a rough and ragged road,
with his feet caught in the stirrups. He
went on all the time saying his pray
ers, as if nothing was wrong. At last
the mule was stopped. On getting up
from the ground he told his compan-
72 Miracles Worked After
ion, who expected to find him either
dead or seriously injured: "It is to the
prayers of St. Anthony that I owe my
safety."
33. B Scoffer Cbange5 into an
admirer.
The following- account of a most
extraordinary conversion, through the
intercession of St. Anthony, was writ
ten by a gentleman living in Venice,
A. D. 1677.
For many years he had been a Cal-
vinist, and on his way back from
Rome, visited Padua, where he heard
so much about the miracles of St. An
thony, that, having no faith in them,
he was sick of hearing them men
tioned. Curiosity, however, made him
visit the "Church del Santo," consid
ered one of the most beautiful in the
city. Whilst looking- at the chapel
the Death of St. Anthony. 73
under which the body of the saint lay,
he could not help thinking of the ne
cessity of saving his soul, and on
drawing near the sarcophagus, he be
gan reading an account of the miracles
engraved on it. He was so struck by
the story of the mule adoring the
Blessed Sacrament that he could
not forget it. Trusting that travel
would drive these thoughts, which
pursued him night and day, away,
he left Padua and started for
Milan, but to no purpose. At last,
yielding to grace, he became a fervent
Catholic, and a devout client of St.
Anthony. He was often heard to say
he would rather lose all the goods of
this world and suffer any amount of
torture than desert the Catholic
Church.
74 Miracles Worked After
34. B Glass as bar& as a IRocfc.
A Protestant soldier named Alear-
dino Sansalvatore went to see his
family at Padua. One day, whilst at
table, the conversation naturally ran
en the miracles of St. Anthony of
Padua, recently deceased. Full of
pride, and not believing a word of
them,, the heretic scoffingly said: "I
will become a Catholic, if this glass,
which I hold in my hand, does not
break into pieces when I throw it
against that stone," pointing to a large
stone not far off. No sooner said
than done. He threw the glass with
such violence that the stone against
which it was thrown was shivered to
pieces, whilst the glass remained unin
jured. Astounded at the sight of this
miracle, he became a Catholic and
the Death of St. Anthony. 75
made a present of the glass to the
Franciscan monastery at Padua,
where it may still be seen.
35. a TOsb Granted.
A lay Sister of the Order of the
Poor Ladies of Mount Olivet
approached the corpse of St. Anthony
whilst it was still lying unburied
in the church, and reverently kiss
ing his hand, implored him, in
her simplicity, to have her purga
tory here on earth, so that she
might go straight to heaven at her
death. Her petition was granted. On
her return home she was seized with
such violent pains all over her body
that her screams could be heard all
over the convent. At night they grad
ually abated, and she was able the next
day to get up and go to the refectory.
76 Miracles Worked After
She had hardly sat down, before they
returned with such intensity that the
mother abbess was compelled to send
her to the infirmary. Here she had
again recourse to the saint, begging
of him this time to cure her. Re
membering a poor woman had a
piece of his habit, she sent for it,
placed it on her body and instantly
recovered.
36. B IPoor Clare GureD.
Sister Victoria, a poor Clare, be
longing to the monastery at Vienna,
certainly deserved her name, owing to
her great confidence in God, even
when laboring under the greatest diffi
culties. On one occasion, after being
bled, one of the sinews of her right
arm was so injured that the whole
arm swelled up and became so in-
the Death of St. Anthony. 77
flamed that her life was despaired of.
The pain, which was intense, never
ceased, and the doctor lost every hope
of saving her. Victoria alone, full
of confidence in God and in the inter
cession of her patron, St. Anthony,
felt convinced of the contrary. In
stead of joining in the prayers of those
surrounding her bedside, she repeated
the Te Deum and antiphons. On the
eve of the feast of St. Thomas, the
inflammation had so increased that the
Sisters expected every moment the bell
to be tolled for her decease. Towards
midnight a slight improvement was
noticed in the state of the patient,
which continued, so that in a few days
she was able to move her hand without
danger. On her recovery, she in
formed the prioress of what had taken
place. About midnight the mother
abbess had brought two Franciscan
78 Miracles Worked After
monks to her bedside, St. Anthony,
and St. Bernardin of Sienna. One
repeated the antiphons to her, and or
dered her to stretch out her hand; the
other had blessed her in the name of
our dear Lord, and she was instantly
cured.
37. places Bicbangefc.
During the Middle Ages, leprosy
was very prevalent in Italy, and St.
Bonaventure used often, in the anti
phons, to implore the assistance of St.
Anthony to obtain the cure of those
attacked by this dire disease.
The following incident proves how
powerful his intercession was: A poor
leper, having heard of the miracles
worked by St. Anthony, determined,
full of confidence in his intercession,
to go and pray on his tomb. On his
the Death of St. Anthony. 79
way to the church, he met a sold er,
who scoffingly said to him: "Where
are you going, you simpleton? Do
you think the ashes and bones of that
Brother can heal you? Go, tell him
with my compliments, I am not afraid
of death, and he can send me your
leprosy if he likes." The leper went
his way, not heeding the words of the
scoffer, but full of trust in the saint,
and kneeling before his shrine soon
fell into a beautiful sleep, during which
he dreamt he saw St. Anthony, who
kindly said to him: "Arise, brother,
you are cured; go, give your crutches
to the soldier; he sadly needs them."
On awaking, he found it was no
illusion; he was perfectly cured, and
went at once, as he had been bidden,
to seek the soldier, whom he found
covered with leprosy. Giving him
his crutches, said: "I am cured; my
8o Miracles Worked After
saint has told me to give you my
crutches."
In this manner, two miracles were
wrought: one of mercy, the other of
chastisement. As for the soldier, the
sight of this miracle touched his
heart, and, full of repentance, he al
lowed himself to be carried to the
shrine of the saint, hoping he would
have compassion on him. Nor was he
mistaken, for after his promising to
lead a better life and become a good
Catholic, he was also restored to
health. He never forgot his promise,
and became a most devout client of
St. Anthony.
38. "2>06t bou Iknow jibe?"
Aldonisia, the daughter of Queen
Taraxia, of Portugal, lay on a sick
bed, given up by all, save the queen
the Death of St. Anthony. 81
mother, who could not believe her
child was going to die, for she felt con
fident that St. Anthony, whose devout
client she was, would cure her darling.
"Come," said she to him in her an
guish, "come, you were born in this
land, come and obtain, through your
powerful intercession, the cure of my
child." Shortly after midnight, the
young girl fell asleep, and the saint,
appearing to her, said: "Dost thou
know me? I am St. Anthony, and am
come here at the request of your
mother. You can have your choice,
either to be with me to-day in heaven
without passing through the flames
of purgatory, or to recover and return
to your mother." The child chose the
health of the body and was immedi
ately cured. Taking hold of the cord
of St. Anthony, she cried out to her
mother: "See, mother, here is St,
82 Miracles Worked After
Anthony, who has come to cure me."
The queen and her suite rushed to the
bedside of the princess, and on finding
her child cured, the mother fell on her
knees to thank God and St. Anthony.
39. B Son IRestoreo to bis parents.
The following miracle took place at
Rome, in the month of March, 1683:
Don Nicholas Grassi, the president of
the royal board of administration at
Naples, having to go to Rome, took
with him his wife and only son. They
had scarcely reached the city before
the child fell dangerously ill, and was
given up by the doctors. His mother,
a devout client of St. Anthony, full of
confidence in his intercession, im
plored the saint to befriend her on this
trying occasion. Suddenly at about
three o clock in the afternoon of
Shrove Tuesday, she heard her
the Death of St. Anthony. 83
son calling out to the saint. She
immediately rah to the sick-bed,
but he, waving her away with his
hand, distinctly cried out: "Anthony."
She again asked him whom he was
calling, and this time he replied: "I
saw a monk in a dark habit; it must
have been St. Anthony himself, for he
held in one hand some lovely red and
white roses, and in the other a book,
on which a beautiful boy was stand
ing." From that time the child got bet
ter, and in a few days was completely
cured. On being taken to a church,
where there was a picture of the
saint, he at once pointed it out to his
mother, saying: "Lpok, mother, there
is the monk who appeared to me dur
ing my illness and cured me." Every
time he met a Franciscan Father, he
would exclaim : "There is a monk who
wears the same habit as St. Anthony."
Miracles Worked After
40. <3angrene
In 1674, Count Mirola, the com-
mander-in-chief of the papal army, sent
to reinforce the Venetians in the war
against the Turks, was seriously
wounded in the ankle at the siege of
Sebenico. In the hope of saving his
life, the foot was amputated, but in
spite of this, gangrene set in. The
count, full of confidence in the in
tercession of St. Anthony, sent for
one of his pictures, and placing it on
the wounded limb, said: "Although
I am only a miserable sinner, knowing
how good thou art to us, I am certain,
dear St. Anthony, of being cured
through thy powerful intercession."
The count s confidence was not mis
placed; in a short time the wound was
completely healed, and soon the news
the Death of St. Anthony. 85
of this fresh miracle spread far and
wide.
41 "{Tafce Courage/
Such were the words which St.
Anthony himself addressed, in 1682, to
a poor man dying at Naples, of dropsy
in the head. Emmanuel Caravascione,
in spite of being given over by the
doctors, and speechless, never lost
hope, and although those round his
bedside were expecting him every mo
ment to breathe his last, he was himself
silently imploring the saint to inter
cede for him and to come to his rescue.
It was not in vain. About midnight,
St. Anthony appeared to him and said:
"Take courage, friend. I will help
you," and disappeared. The sick man
at once recovered his speech, called his
wife, and, relating all that had
just taken place, told her to go
86 Miracles Worked After
to the Franciscan church and
earnestly implore the saint s in
tercession. To this the poor woman
gladly acceded, immediately going-
barefooted to the church, where
she had several Masses, together with
the antiphons of the saint, said in his
honor. On her return home, she
found the doctor perfectly astonished
at the marked improvement in the
state of the patient. Whilst he was
thus talking with her, her little three-
year-old boy, who had been staying in
the sick-room, suddenly ran up to her,
pulling at her dress, wanting her to
come and see St. Anthony, who was
talking with his father. Not paying
attention to what the little one said,,
she continued her conversation with
the doctor and then went back to the
sick-room, where, to her great aston
ishment, she found her husband per-
the Death of St. Anthony. 87
fectly recovered from his illness. "Oh,
mamma," said the child, reproachfully,
"why did you not come sooner? See,
St. Anthony is gone."
42. a <5oo& IRame TRestorefc.
In 1641, a parish priest in the Tyrol
was falsely accused by some of his par
ishioners of having committed a dread
ful crime, and denounced to his bishop.
The priest, conscious of his innocence,
did not hesitate for a moment, antici
pating the summons, but, after appear
ing before the consistory, he was con
demned and sent to prison.
Finding his good name gone, and
that there seemed no chance of his
obtaining redress from man, he did not
lose heart, but at once wrote to St.
Anthony, imploring his assistance.
As it was impossible for him to take
88 Miracles Worked After
the letter to the monastery at Kat-
tern, he sent it by a messenger, beg
ging- the monks to place it on the
altar dedicated -to the saint, which they
did.
St. Anthony, ever the friend of the
persecuted, came at once to the rescue
of his devout suppliant, and soon made
the judges discover the injustice of
the accusation. The sentence of im
prisonment pronounced against him
was at once annulled, and he was
honorably reinstated in his former
parish. His calumniators, in order to
save themselves from heavier penal
ties, were forced not only to retract
their accusations, and pay all the ex
penses of the trial, but also to perform
great works of charitv.
the Death of St. Anthony. 89
43 B Xunatic Cured.
In 1701, Herr Franz Zallinger, a
gentleman highly respected in Botzen,
was suddenly seized with madness
while attending the services at the
Franciscan church, and became so
convulsed that it required several
strong men to carry him out of the ter
ror-stricken congregation, and to put
him in one of the cells of the monas
tery, where he had to be closely
watched. His brother George, a de
vout client of St. Anthony, had at
once recourse to the saint s inter
cession in behalf of the unfortunate
lunatic, who was immediately cured
and restored to his family.
A magnificent ex voto, in the form of
a large silver heart, was placed by the
grateful family on the altar of St.
go Miracles Worked After
Anthony, at Kattern, as a memento of
this miraculous cure.
44. a fbappE 2>eatb btainefc.
A Spanish nobleman, noted for the
cordial and respectful welcome he gave
to the Franciscans who asked hos
pitality from him, lay at the point of
death, when two Franciscan Fathers
came and wanted to see him. On
hearing of their arrival, he immediately
ordered them to be shown up to his
room, and .said to them: "I have al
ways longed for two of your religious
to come and assist me in my last mo
ments, and God has heard my prayer;
do, pray, I entreat you, remain with me
till all is over."
"Most willingly," replied the elder
of the two monks, whose hands
were marked with the stigmata; "we
the Death of St. Anthony. gi
are here for that purpose. I
am Francis and my companion is
Anthony. We have only come
down from heaven in order to
bring you back with us." What a con
solation for a man on his death-bed!
45. Grusbefc b tbc ffall of a Cree.
In the year 1666, one of the laborers
of a nobleman, called Johannes Kas-
par Inderman, residing- at Kurtasch,
in the Tyrol, experienced the protec
tion of St. Anthony in a most wonder
ful manner. One day whilst engaged
in felling down a large tree, just after
giving the last stroke his foot slipped,
and the whole weight of the immense
trunk fell on his body, rendering him
unconscious. The wife of the noble
man at once, on hearing of the acci
dent, had recourse to the intercession
92 Miracles Worked After
of St. Anthony, promising to have two
Masses said in his chapel at Kattern,
if he would only save the life of the
poor fellow. The promise was hardly
made before the man got up unhurt,
Out of gratitude to St. Anthony, he
placed an ex voto in his chapel at Kal-
tern.
46 Carriage portion.
In 1649, St. Anthony did a great
act of kindness to a poor girl. The
mother, pressed by extreme poverty,
wanted to sell her beautiful daughter
for money. The unhappy girl, in her
anguish, went and knelt before the
picture of St. Anthony, in the Fran
ciscan church, imploring him, weep
ing bitterly, to save her honor. In the
midst of her prayer, the saint stretched
out his hand and handing a note to
her, said: "Go to the bishop s admin-
the Death of St. Anthony. 93
istrator, and tell him in my name to
give you for your marriage portion as
much money as this paper weighs."
Full of joy, she at once obeyed, and
presented the note to the aforesaid
gentleman. He at first laughed at
her but after putting the paper in one
side of the scales, and finding it
weighed two hundred silver crowns,
remembered a promise he had made
the year before to give the above-
named sum of money, as a marriage
portion, to a poor girl. He at once
handed the sum over to her, thus sav
ing her from dishonor.
47. Saved from SutclOe.
Discord is the greatest of all evils
which can enter into a house. Union
in wedlock, and in one s family makes
life a real paradise on earth. Heaven
94 Miracles Worked After
cannot exist without harmony. Hell
is one continual discord.
A most unhappy family lived in one
of the small villages of Portugal. The
husband, not content, on coming
home at night, with calling his wife
bad names, used to beat her, kick her,
and even threaten to turn her out of
doors. The cause of such conduct
can be easily guessed; he used to stay
out late at night and frequented bad
company. The poor woman, at last
despairing of her husband turning
over a new leaf, determined to destroy
herself. One night, after her hus
band had gone to his usual haunts,
just as she was about fetching the
rope which was to put an end to her
misery in this world, she heard a
knock at the door. On opening it,
two Franciscan Fathers humbly asked
if she could give them a night s lodg-
the Death of St. Anthony. 95
ing, saying: "We are come a great
distance, and are called Francis and
Anthony." On hearing these words,
the poor woman exclaimed: "Oh,
what beautiful names! They are the
names of two saints I love very
dearly. Do, pray, come in, reverend
Fathers; you are indeed welcome."
She at once set about getting every
thing ready, so as to make them as
comfortable as possible. While lis
tening to their conversation about
heavenly things, at supper, all
thoughts of despair and suicide van
ished, a feeling of peace and grati
tude stole over her heart, making her
thank God for having sent her such
guests. As soon as the strangers
seemed to be preparing to retire to
rest, she withdrew to a little room, and
there, falling on her knees, humbly
implored God s forgiveness, promising
96 Miracles Worked After
Him, for the future, never to yield to
despair, being certain that He who
is constantly watching over those
who place their whole trust in Him,
never permits anything to happen to
them but for their greater good.
Whilst still on her knees, she heard
her husband enter the house. But oh,
how changed! Instead of beginning
to curse and swear at her, as soon as
he saw her, he fell at her feet, his face
bathed in tears, and humbly entreated
forgiveness. What could have
changed him so? It was soon ex
plained. Immediately after the poor
woman had left the Fathers, they had
appeared to the cruel husband, and,
after sternly reproaching him with his
crimes, threatened him with eternal
damnation if he did not at once
amend. "Richly, indeed, do you de
serve to be among the damned, after
the Death of St. Anthony. 97
committing crime upon crime. You
will certainly be cast into hell in
three days if you do not at once quit
this place. Repent of your sins, con
fess, do penance for them and amend.
Hasten home to your wife, ask her for
the cord with which she was about to
destroy herself, and beg her to for
give you. Tell her the two monks she
received and welcomed into her house
to-night are no other than St. Francis
and St. Anthony." It would be im
possible to describe the joy and grati
tude of this now reconciled couple
towards the two great saints who had
been the instruments used by God to
save them, soul and body. They at
once, both of them, approached
the Sacraments of Penance and of
the Altar, and from henceforth led
lives which were a foretaste of
heaven.
g8 Miracles Worked After
48. <3reat tbarvest.
A poor woman living near Padua
had only a single field of wheat, which
was so devoured by sparrows that
hardly an ear of corn could be seen.
No sooner had she driven them off
one part of the field than they flew
to another, with the greatest impu
dence. Finding her labor useless, she
had recourse to St. Anthony, and, ask
ing him to take care of her field,
promised to visit his tomb nine times.
Certain of his protection, she at once
began her novena, and during that
time left the field entirely under his
care. After the novena was finished,
she went to see how things were going
on, and to her surprise found that
not a sparrow was to be seen. That
year she had a finer harvest than she
ever had before.
the Death of St. Anthony. gg
49 Ebe Storm Ceases ano tbe Sea
becomes Calm.
A Maronite bishop, Timothy di
Sarca, had left Mesopotamia to go to
Rome. The coast of Ostia was al
ready seen in the distance, when sud
denly a terrific hurricane arose on the
Tyrrhenian sea, the ship being tossed
about like a ball and her mast broken.
All hopes of reaching land were given
up, even by the oldest sailors, who
only thought of preparing themselves
for death. The good bishop, a de
vout client of St. Anthony, alone did
not lose courage, and urged the pas
sengers and crew to have recourse to
St. Anthony, and to promise, did they
reach the land, to burn a candle in his
honor. To this all unanimously
agreed. Immediately the storm
ceased, the waters became as smooth
ioo Miracles Worked After
as glass, and the vessel glided into
port, driven by a favorable wind.
During his stay at Rome, the same
bishop experienced another favor
from his heavenly friend and bene
factor. The Propaganda had given
him a bill of exchange, in order to
help him on his journey. Somehow
or other, just as he was going to
leave the city, it got mislaid and could
not be found. In this dilemma he had
at once recourse to his holy patron,
and, having said Mass in his honor,
begging of him to assist him, he re
turned to the house at which he was
staying, where, to his great surprise,
he found the bill lying on his table in
his room.
the Death of St. Anthony. 101
50. "Sbe te all IRfgbt mow."
A ship, heavily laden with silk from
Catalonia, had just reached the coast
of Sicily, when a terrific storm arose,
and the vessel was driven back to sea
with Such violence that she became
perfectly unmanageable. Everybody
on board thought they were lost, ex
cept one of the crew, who, in a loud
voice, called upon St. Anthony to
come to their rescue, saying: "Dear
St. Anthony, become the pilot of
this vessel; we hand her over to you."
Immediately, on the sailors respond
ing to this appeal, St. Anthony was
seen at the helm, and, smiling at the
crew, addressed them thus: "Let the
vessel go by herself, she is all right
now," after which he disappeared, and
a gentle breeze drove the ship into
harbor, without mast or rudder.
102 Miracles Worked After
si. abe JBeacon.
The remembrance of the protection
of this great thaumaturgus is still pre
served in the lagoons. Shortly after
the canonization of the saint, a gon
dola containing more than twenty-six
persons, whilst passing through Ven
ice, during a night which was pitch
dark, was caught in a sudden squall,
and the boat was struck by the wind
with such violence that for a moment
the people in it did not know
whether it was capsized or not. In
this dilemma, they all cried out with
one voice: "St. Anthony, help us; St.
Anthony, help us." At once, in the
midst of the darkness, a bright light
was seen, and they found the boat was
close to the little island of San Marco
Piccolo, where they were safely
landed. The light then disappeared,
the Death of St. Anthony. 103
and the rescued party fell on their
knees to thank their heavenly bene
factor.
52. abe Singer in tbe JSoat.
During a violent storm, a poor fish
erman in Portugal, whose sole means
of getting an honest livelihood de
pended on his boat, had the misfor
tune to see it break from its moorings
and drift into the open sea. In his
distress, he at once appealed to St.
Anthony. Two days afterwards, one
of his neighbors came and told him
how some young men, during a ter
rific storm, had seen a boat in the
open sea, with no other occupant than
a Franciscan monk at the helm, who
was singing beautiful hymns.
Struck by the coincidence, the poor
man at once ran to the shore, where,
104 Miracles Worked After
to his great joy, he found his boat
stranded on the beach.
53. Cbains as an Bltar 2>ecoratlon.
In the year 1672, a poor man, living
in Cracovia, Poland, was unjustly ac
cused of murder and condemned to
the rack. This punishment, most ter
rible in itself, was frequently resorted
to in the Middle Ages to force sus
pected criminals to confess the crimes
of which they were accused, and it is
certain the most innocent have de
clared themselves guilty of offences of
which they had not even the remotest
idea, rather than undergo this terrible
torture a second time. Once a Capu
chin Father was known, through fear
of being again placed on this cruel
instrument, to confess having struck
Our Lord whilst He was hanging
the Death of St. Anthony. 105
on the cross. What happened to the
priest also happened to the poor Pole,
who, whilst stretched on the rack, find
ing death preferable to what he was
suffering, although quite innocent, de
clared he was guilty. On being taken
back to prison, he began preparing
himself for death, by receiving the
sacraments of the Church, giving
abundant alms and recommending
himself especially to St. Anthony.
The good saint would not permit his
devout client to suffer such a dis
graceful death, and on the night be
fore his execution appeared to him,
opened the prison gates, and, breaking
his chains, ordered him to take them
to his judges, so as to have his sen
tence revoked. The proofs of his in
nocence were too palpable to be
doubted; the man was set free, and
at once, out of gratitude, placed
io6 Miracles Worked After
the chains on the altar of the
saint, where they are still to be seen.
54. st. BntbonE 10 Iftever 1Tm?ofce&
in Dafn.
The celebrated Jesuit Father, Dan
iel Papebroch, relates the following
incident which took place at Antwerp,
in his youth, and which he never for
got: It happened that a woman in
business who had received a note of
hand from the head of a mercantile
house could not find it anywhere, just
at the time it became due. The loss
of it did not at first trouble her very
much, as having had dealing with
the above-named house for several
years, and her honesty being known
to the firm, she felt certain payment
would not be refused. She was mis
taken; not only was she informed that
the money had been already paid, but
the Death of St. Anthony. 107
she was grossly insulted, which hurt
even more than the loss of the money.
She therefore determined to consult a
well-known soothsayer as to the best
means of finding the lost note. For
tunately for her, she met on her way
the mother of Father Papebroch, to
whom she related what had taken
place. After hearing her story, the
lady strongly advised her to have a
Mass said to St. Anthony, to which
she at once agreed, and assisted at it
herself. On her return home, she
found a servant waiting for her, who
informed her that his master, believing
what she said to be true, was quite
prepared to pay her the money with
out the note being produced.
55 iking Gbarles Ifff. of JEnglanft.
In 1655, Charles II., who had been
banished from England, went to re-
io8 Miracles Worked After
side at Cologne. Whilst there, the
little gold and silver plate he had, and
which he greatly valuedj was stolen.
In spite of being a Protestant, he sent
one of the gentlemen of his suite to
beg of the Friars Minor to pray for
his intentions. The following- day,
Father Werner Burich, a highly re
spected priest, whilst passing through
the church, noticed a stranger beckon
ing to him and pointing to a confes
sional. Thinking something was
wrong, he went at once to the place,
and found there the sack containing
the lost plate. He immediately sent
for the superior of the monastery,
Father Thomas Martine, who ordered
two of the Brothers to restore the plate
to the rightful owner. The king, de
lighted at having recovered his lost
property, ordered an account of it to
the Death of St. Anthony. iO}
be published, which he attested and
signed with his own hand.
56. Gbe Grateful Captain.
In 1674, a Swiss captain, stationed
at Dunkirk, in French Flanders, one
night on retiring to rest, put his
purse, containing sixty gold doub
loons, under his pillow, but on awak
ening the next morning could not find
them; the purse had disappeared. He
at once went to ask the assistance of
St. Anthony, and had a Mass said in
his honor at the Franciscan church.
During the Offertory, somebody
knocked at the door of the monastery.
On the porter opening it, a soldier, ac
companied by another man, gave him
the purse, which the Brother at first
hesitated to receive. The soldier in
sisted, and, throwing it at his feet, ex
claimed: "I did not steal the purse/
no Miracles Worked After
and disappeared. When Mass was
over, the money was restored to the
captain, who, out of gratitude, made
a present of the greater part of it to
the monastery. A picture, commem
orating this and other miracles worked
by the saint, was placed in his chapel.
57.-B Cbflfc Stolen.
In 1720, a poor woman left her
little four-year-old child alone in her
garden, surrounded by high walls, as
she was obliged to go to Botzen on
business. On her return from town,
she went to fetch her little girl, who
was nowhere to be found. Full of
anguish, she immediately made a pil
grimage to St. Anthony s chapel, at
Kattern, and on coming home, found
the little one safe and sound in the
house. On being questioned by her
mother, she replied: "Whilst you were
the Death of St. Anthony. in
away, a man climbed over the wall
of our garden, and carried me to the
top of a big hill, but I had not been
long there before a priest found me,
and brought me home, telling me I
must be a very good little girl and al
ways say my prayers and mind what
you tell me, which I certainly shall
try/ The grateful mother easily
guessed that the good priest could
be no other than St. Anthony.
58. Erysipelas CureO tbrougb IFnvofc*
ing St. Hntbon.
The youngest son of John Amaldus
von Buren, a lad of thirteen, owing to
a severe attack of erysipelas, had to
have the knee bone of his right leg
taken out. In spite of this painful op
eration, cancer set in, and the only
hopes of saving the sufferer s life was
by amputating the diseased limb. The
boy, on hearing this, asked for a pic-
H2 Miracles Worked After
ture of St. Anthony, and full of con
fidence in his powerful intercession,
implored him to take pity on him and
cure him; promising if he did so, to
make a pilgrimage to his shrine at
Padua, and always to wear a gray
dress in his honor. No sooner was
the promise made than he felt himself
perfectly cured. Shortly afterwards
he started for Padua to fulfil his vow,
and was able to kneel at the altar of
the saint without feeling any pain.
Those who had seen him during his
illness could hardly believe in the
cure, but, after carefully examining
the knee, they found to their great
astonishment no trace of the bone hav
ing been taken out.
59,-Cbe JBfebop s
Don Ignatius Martiques, Bishop of
Cordova, had a great devotion to St.
the Death of St. Anthony. 113
Anthony and received many favors
from him. Once he lost his bishop s
ring, which he had received at his
consecration, and naturally, for this
reason, the loss of it greatly troubled
him. He at once had several Masses
said for his intention, but the saint
seemed to have turned a deaf ear.
One day whilst at table with several
gentlemen, the conversation ran upon
the miracles the saint was working,
and which rilled the whole world with
astonishment. The bishop also spoke
a.bout the many favors he had received,
and how greatly he trusted the dear
saint, but added: "I am just now
rather inclined to quarrel with him, for
in spite of my repeatedly asking him,
he has not yet given me back my
ring." Hardly had he uttered these
words before the ring, to the aston
ishment of all present, fell on the table,
ii4 Miracles Worked After
as if coining from the ceiling, and
every one joined in giving three cheers
for St. Anthony.
60 Gbe Manuscript IRea&E for tbc
press,
The Dominican bishop, Ambrosius
Catherinus, as renowned for his virtue
as for his great learning, has written
several books, among others one bear
ing the title of "Honor due to the
Saints," from which the following an
ecdote is extracted: The bishop, on his
way home from Toulouse, after travel
ling a considerable distance, discovered
that a valuable manuscript, ready for
printing, was missing. He immedi
ately retraced his steps, in the hopes
of rinding it, and even took the trouble
of asking the governor of the city to
assist him. Finding earthly aid of no
avail, he had recourse to St. Anthony,
the Death of St. Anthony. 115
promising to mention this favor in his
book, were the manuscript found. Full
of these thoughts, he resumed his jour
ney and on the road met a stranger,
who, drawing near to him, asked if
he had not lost a manuscript. The
bishop replied in the affirmative, and
gave a description of the lost treas
ure. Upon which the man, after
returning it to him, showed him the
place where he had dropped it. Full
of gratitude, the bishop faithfully kept
his word, and gave an account of his
loss in the book, which was printed at
Lyons, 1541.
61. fjearfc during
John Comez Cano, chamberlain to
the Duke of Brabant, had a great law
suit to carry on in the Senate House,
but unfortunately some very import-
n6 Miracles Worked After
ant documents had been mislaid, with
out which the case would be lost. In
this predicament, John Comez Cano s
only hope was to make an appeal to
St. Anthony and implore his assist
ance, promising, in return, to have
three Masses said in his honor. Full
of these thoughts, he went to the
Franciscan church in Brussels, and,
while on his way to the chapel, met one
of the Fathers in the cloisters, who,
looking at him most benevolently,
asked in Spanish the cause of his sad
ness. On being informed of it, he
said: "Go and hear a Mass in honor
of St. Anthony, and you will receive
the lost documents to-morrow," which
was, in fact, the case. The lawsuit
was gained and an ex voto was placed
in the chapel of the saint to commem
orate the miracle, which happened in
1646.
the Death of St. Anthony. 117
62. an &nt employed as porter*
St. Anthony is ever ready to help
those who fully trust in him, even in
the most trifling- matters. Supposing
you lose a key, only ask St Anthony
and he will certainly find it for you.
The following incident clearly proves
the truth of this assertion: A lay Ca
puchin Brother had a rosary which, for
the many indulgences attached to it,
he greatly prized. One day he ac-
cidentany broke the string on which
the beads were strung, so that they
were scattered all over the ground.
He at once began to pick them up, but
to his great vexation, one was missing,
and not being able to find it he at
once said a prayer to St. Anthony,
which was no sooner finished than to
his great astonishment he saw an ant
coming with great difficulty towards
n8 Miracles Worked After
him, carrying on her back the lost
bead. Filled with gratitude, the good
Brother wept for joy at the sight of
the kindness of his dear saint.
63. -Returned at
In 1664 a rich merchant from
Augsburg sent his confidential ser
vant on business to St. Andrew s mar
ket, at Botzen, and gave him at the
same time two hundred and thirty
guldens in coin and several thousands
in paper money, which were carefully
packed up in his travelling bag.
The servant being obliged to go
to Trent on business, returned by
way of Tramin. Worn out by his
long journey, and finding it impossi
ble to proceed any further until he
had rested a little, he lay down near
the roadside close to Tramin, and
the Death of St. Anthony. 119
was soon fast asleep. On awaking, he
found his bag had disappeared. He
at once made use of every means he
possibly could to discover the thief,
but rinding it useless, went to Kattern
on the 23d of November, and on see
ing the superior of the Franciscans,
informed him of his loss, at the same
time asking for three Masses and
other prayers to be said in honor of
St. Anthony, and returned again to
Botzen, fully convinced that the
.money would be found. In the mean
time, the antiphons in honor of St.
Anthony were daily said by the choir
Brothers, in order to obtain his assist
ance. On the 1 3th of December,
whilst matins was being sung, a terri
ble noise was heard at the church door,
which increased so much that the
Brothers, greatly alarmed, went to see
what was the matter. Suddenly all
120 Miracles Worked After
was silent, and, on their reaching the
door, they found it forced open and
inside a quantity of paper scattered
over the floor, together with two bags
of money, a pair of stockings and an
old veil, all of which was the stolen
property of the merchant, M. Morrell,
who was then staying at Botzen. On
his receiving the stolen things, he
found only twenty-one gulden and
thirty-eight kreuzers missing; out of
gratitude he had an ex voto placed in
the chapel, on which was a representa
tion of the church door being forced
open, and bags of money being thrown
inside the church.
64. Cbe Dfctortou0 BDmftal,
The very reverend Father Provin
cial Kuck, of the Franciscan province
of Bavaria, heard, himself, the follow-
the Death of St. Anthony. 121
ing incident related by Admiral Don
Mondemar, during his visit to Spain,
when convoked to the General Chap
ter, held at Murcia. The then reign
ing King of Spain, Philip IV., deter
mined to send a fleet to recapture
Oran from the Moors. Several at
tempts had already been made, all of
which had failed, and the fortress was
considered impregnable. In spite of
everything the admiral could say, the
king persisted in his determination,
and, consequently, nothing remained
but to obey. On reaching Alicant,
Don Mondemar allowed his troops to
disembark, and availed himself of this
opportunity to visit the church of the
Franciscans, dedicated to St. Anthony,
where he placed the whole business in
his hands. With this intention, after
spending some time in prayer, he
called upon the superior, begging of
122 Miracles Worked After
him to have the office of St. Anthony
said. This being- ended, he, in the
presence of a great many people,
aske3 the Father Superior s permis
sion to have a ladder placed before the
high altar, over which a life-size statue
of the saint stood. This granted, he
mounted the ladder and clothed the
statue with all the insignia of a Spanish
admiral in active service, and thus ad
dressed the saint: "You, St. Anthony,
must capture Oran, for I am unable to
do so;" and laying his hand on the
head of the statue, continued: "You
are now the admiral, and I am only
your humble servant and soldier,
ready to obey your orders, for after
God, I place my whole trust in you. *
This ceremony concluded, he came
down from the ladder and returned
with his men to the fleet, where they
embarked. As the squadron drew
the Death of St. Anthony. 123
near Oran, all waited anxiously for the
enemy to begin the attack. Seeing no
notice was taken of them, the ad
miral ordered his men to fire. Again
no response from the citadel. At a
loss to understand what this meant,
the command was given to land the
troops, and, to the great astonishment
of every one, the city gates were wide
open. Thinking this was a stratagem
of the enemy, they proceeded very
cautiously through the empty streets,
which, like the fortress, were com
pletely deserted. Here an old Moor
was discovered, concealed in his house,
and was immediately brought before
the admiral, who demanded an ex
planation of this extraordinary be
havior on the part of the garrison and
inhabitants. "As soon," replied the
old man, "as the Christian squadron
appeared in sight, a legion of soldiers
124 Miracles Worked After
was seen in the air, led by a Franciscan
monk, wearing all the insignia of an
admiral on duty, who threatened to
destroy every one of us if w<e did not
at once leave the city." Terrified be
yond description at this unexpected
apparition, both citizens and garrison
had fled in the greatest disorder.
It was in this way that, thanks to the
assistance of St. Anthony, Mondemar
captured the city of Oran, without
shedding a drop of blood. He at once
sent a dispatch to the king, inform
ing him of all that had taken place.
The statue, clothed with an admiral s
insignia, is still to be seen at Alicant,
but the miracle was only confirmed in
Rome in 1770.
65, Saves from tbe Scaffold
A Franciscan Father, who lived at
Naples in the monastery dedicated to
the Death of St. Anthony. 125
St. Lawrence, relates the following in
cident which took place in that city.
One stormy night a young fisherman
was sitting alone with his mother, in
his little cottage close to the sea, when
he heard, in the midst of the howling
of the wind, some one in great distress
calling for help. He immediately
went out and found a man mortally
wounded, lying close to his door. The
murderer had fled, but the coast-guard
had also heard the cries for help, and
seeing the young fisherman bending
over the dead man, naturally con
cluded he was guilty, and, in spite of
all his protestations, he was brought
before the judge and accused of mur
der.
His guilt was, in fact, only too evi
dent; he had been found bending over
the corpse of a man, still warm. No
one else could be found in the neigh-
126 Miracles Worked After
borhood, and thereiwas only his mother
who could prove his innocence, and
what is a mother s evidence in such
a case, even had she come in time?
But the poor creature was so stunned
by grief on hearing the accusation
against her only son, that she reached
the court just before the sentence of
death was pronounced on her child.
On hearing which, the wretched
mother, in spite of all the rebuffs she
received from the judge, persisted in
asking him to spare her child s life.
At last, weary of her importunities, and
perhaps also in the hopes of getting rid
of her, he informed her that if she
could see the king, there was a small
chance of a reprieve being obtained.
Full of hope, the unhappy parent at
once started upon her mission, but
what appeared so easy was truly beset
with difficulties. On reaching the
the Death of St. Anthony. 127
palace she was told she must have a
petition presented to the king, and
who was to write that petition? When
she at last succeeded in getting it done,
it was far too late for her to obtain
an audience of the king. Broken
hearted, she left the palace, and, as she
was passing by the Church of St.
Lawrence, she entered, and kneeling
before the railings which separated
St. Anthony s chapel from the rest of
the church, she implored the saint s
intercession in behalf of her unfor
tunate son. Slie would have remained
there longer, had not the sacristan
told her he must shut up the church,
and then, in her despair, she threw her
petition on his altar, crying out: "St.
Anthony, St. Anthony, you must save
my child." She then returned home,
consoled and comforted, convinced
that the saint would assist her.
128 Miracles Worked After
It was ten o clock in the evening,
and the king, having some important
work to do, had dismissed his attend
ants, when suddenly he heard a knock
at his door and a young Franciscan
monk entered. There was something
so modest and prepossessing in his ap
pearance that the king was perfectly
fascinated, and received him most
courteously. "Pardon me, sire," said
the priest, "for disturbing you at so
late an hour, but my errand is urgent
and brooks of no delay, since the life
of a fellow creature depends on it."
"Speak, Brother, how can I help
you?"
"Your majesty has to-day signed a
sentence of death on a young fisher
man found near the corpse of a mur
dered man. Although appearances
are against him, I declare to you he is
innocent."
the Death of St. Anthony. 129
"When the law has pronounced
judgment," answered the king, "it is
not for me to change it or to presume
that the sentence is unjust."
"I can swear to the innocence of my
protege," responded the monk. "All
I entreat your majesty to do is to
write the word reprieved under this
petition."
The Franciscan Father uttered
these words in so determined a man
ner, that the king, in spite of himself,
took up his pen, then paused, and said :
"Where do you come from?"
"From the Franciscan monastery,
which bears the name of St.
Lawrence."
"Even if I grant the reprieve, the
young man will have been executed
before it can reach the prison."
"I am well aware the time is short,
but do what I ask you," replied
130 Miracles Worked After
the Franciscan, firmly, pointing to
the petition. To this the king,
in spite of himself, acceded. The
petition was signed and, after
thanking his majesty, the monk dis
appeared. The king felt strangely
impressed by this visit, and, after re
maining a few minutes absorbed in
thought, said to himself: "How could
this man have come here at this time
of night?" And sending for one of his
chamberlains, he asked who had in
troduced the monk into the palace?
But neither the chamberlains nor any
one else had seen the monk enter, and
how he had dorus so remained a perfect
mystery. The king, finding it was
impossible to discover who the Father
was, determined to make inquiries at
the convent of St. Lawrence.
The following afternoon the king,
anxious to unravel the mystery of the
the Death of St. Anthony. 131
preceding night, went to the Fran
ciscan monastery of St. Lawrence and,
summoning all the community to
gether, asked the superior whom he
had sent the night before to the palace.
To his astonishment the superior in
formed him he was not aware of any
one being out of the monastery the
preceding night. After carefully ex
amining the faces of the monks and
not finding the one he wanted, his
majesty ordered the mother of the -boy
to be sent for, in order to question
her as to the person to whom she had
given the petition, and to while away
the time inspected the monastery and
then went to visit the church. After
examining the different altars the king
paused before the picture of St. An
thony and exclaimed, pointing it out
to the superior :
132 Miracles Worked After
"Ah ! here is the priest who came to
see me last night."
"Pardon me, sire, that Father is not
under my jurisdiction," replied the
superior.
It may be interesting for some to
know how St. Anthony finished sav
ing the young fisherman. The day
after he was condemned to death was
the one appointed for his execution,
and early that same morning the pub
lic prosecutor, on awaking, found
lying on the table near his bedside a
paper containing the free pardon of
the condemned, signed by the king
and dated the night before. Think
ing his servant had forgotten to give
it to him the preceding evening, he
hastily dressed himself and not dar
ing to trust it to any one, for fear of it
not reaching the prison authorities in
time, took it himself to the jail. The
the Death of St. Anthony. 133
surprise of the poor youth on seeing
the royal official enter his cell, bring
ing with him not only the reprieve,
but also the order for him to return
to his mother, can be very easily im
agined.
This occurrence soon spread all
over Naples, and St. Anthony of
Padua was chosen to be one of the
patron saints of the city.
66. a Cboir faster witbout Employ
ment.
For some time a choir master had
vainly sought employment in Rome
and Naples in order to procure the
bare necessaries of life for his little
family. On the I3th of June they
were on the verge of starvation, and
the poor man, in order to obtain the
assistance of St. Anthony, approached
134 Miracles Worked After
the holy Sacraments of Penance and
of the Altar, and heard several Masses
in his honor. On leaving the church a
stranger came up to him, and placed
sufficient money in his hands to sat
isfy his most pressing necessities.
But the good saint s favors did not
cease here. When he came home, his
wife, with a beaming countenance,
told him how an unknown benefactor
had sent his servant with enough food
to last them several weeks; and that
very day a letter came from Spoleto
offering him the post of music director
in the choir of the cathedral, which
was, of course, accepted. The grate
ful family never afterwards omitted re
citing the antiphons in honor of the
saint. The last line,
Die ant Paduani,
is an everlasting testimony of the
wonderful manner in which St. An-
the Death of St. Anthony. 135
thony still watches over Padua. For
six hundred years he has justly been
considered its patron and protector.
In every direction churches have been
built, altars erected, and pious and
charitable institutions founded in his
honor. The citizens are almost daily
eye witnesses of the marvellous power
God has bestowed on His faithful ser
vant. Thousands of pilgrims, from
every part of the world, are constantly
flocking to his shrine, either to thank
him for past blessings or implore his
aid. His altar is so covered with ex
votos that it has been found necessary
to set a room aside to receive
the treasures which his grateful
clients are constantly sending to his
shrine.
136 Miracles Worked After
67. B Gostlg J6x IDotO.
The Franciscan architect, Father
Valentine, a native of Worms, who
built the magnificent church dedicated
to St. Anthony, at Padua, related the
following- incident, which took place
in the year 1871:
A Portuguese prince had long been
wishing for a son to inherit his vast
possessions. At last, after promising
a present of a silver statue of the holy
Child to the above-mentioned church,
a son was born. Filled with gratitude,
he ordered a statue of solid silver to
be cast of the same weight as the infant
prince. Fearing, on account of the
persecution of religious houses in
Italy, it might not fall into the right
hands, he forwarded it to Rome, by a
special escort, where it was delivered
over to Pope Pius IX. His Holi-
the Death of St. Anthony. 13?
ness immediately sent for Father Val
entine, ordering him to place it in the
newly erected church of St. Anthony,
at Padua, where it is still to be seen.
Few among the rich or learned of
this age of incredulity and unbelief, in
the pride of their hearts, place any
faith in miracles. Let us not allow our
selves to be ranked among their num
ber, but rather, like those believers in
the Gospel, thank God He has given
such power to men, and more espe
cially to His faithful servant, St. An
thony.
60. Ube afrancfecan Cburcb of St.
fn
It has been the design of God to
glorify His faithful servant, St. An
thony, by spreading his devotion, not
only in Germany, France, Italy and
138 Miracles Worked After
Spain, but throughout the whole
Catholic world. It is not here my in
tention to mention the names of the
principal places where this great saint
is honored, but simply to give an ac
count of the origin of the pilgrimage
to the Church of St. Anthony at Kat-
tern in the Tyrol.
In 1638, the ruined castle of Rot-
tenburg and grounds adjoining it
were conceded to the Franciscan
Fathers of the Tyrolese reformed
Province, for the purpose of building
a monastery, which, to the great joy
of the inhabitants of the neighboring
country, was completed in 1643. The
picture for the altar dedicated to St.
Anthony of Padua, was destined by
divine Providence, on account of the
many favors, spiritual and temporal,
which the devout clients of the saint
were to receive at this favored spot,
the Death of St. Anthony. 139
to be the means of making the mon
astery known far and wide.
A nobleman, Christopher Ulrich von
Bach, was to be the instrument chosen
by God to procure this miraculous
picture. He had in 1638, thanks to
the protection of the saint, escaped a
most dangerous plot laid by his ene
mies. Filled with gratitude, he deter
mined, at his own cost, to erect in the
church of Kattern an altar dedicated
to St. Anthony. It was found, after
the altar had been set in its proper
place, that a picture of the saint was
wanting. God, desirous of spreading
the devotion to His faithful servant,
sent an unknown painter to Herr von
Bach, who had just gone on a pil
grimage to Padua, to ask permission
to paint a picture for him. The no
bleman, being a stranger in the city,
and a lover of art, gladly consented
140 Miracles Worked After
and, inspired by God, ordered a paint
ing of St. Anthony. A few days af
terwards, the artist returned, bring
ing with him a life-sized picture, rep
resenting the saint with two angels
above his head. In his right hand, he
holds a lily, the symbol of his virginal
purity, and in his left a book, on
which the holy Child is standing. St.
Anthony has a gentle but serious ex
pression on his countenance, and is
clothed in the habit of the reformed
Tyrolese Province. Under his feet
the spire of the church is seen.
The noblernan, finding he had not
enough money in his purse to pay
the painter, left the room to get some
more. To his great astonishment, on
his return, the painter had disap
peared, and, in spite of every inquiry,
was nowhere to be found. This cir
cumstance has led many to believe
the Death of St. Anthony. *4 l
that the picture is the work of an an
gel, and they are probably right in
their conjecture, for it has never been
found possible to make a correct copy
of it. For two hundred years St. An
thony worked so many miracles at the
church at Kattern that it was impossi
ble to inscribe them on the registers,
and the walls of his chapel were so
covered with ex votos from the grate
ful clients of the saint that the old
ones had to make room for the new.
It was a common saying: "If St. An
thony will not hear you at Padua, go
to Kattern; he is sure to hear you
there."
PART III.
PETITIONS GRANTED IN MORE
MODERN TIMES.
69. SaveD from Bternal Damnation.
A MAN had for twenty-four years
concealed in confession a griev
ous mortal sin, so that every time he
received the sacraments he committed
fresh sacrileges. At last a ray of light
pierced through his darkened soul, and
he implored the assistance of St. An
thony. One day whilst saying his pray
ers the saint appeared, and so forcibly
pointed out to him the infinite justice
of God, and the danger of eternal
damnation, that, filled with terror, the
poor sinner hastened to make a good
142
Petitions Granted in Modern Times. 143
confession and to be reconciled with
God.
70. st. Bntbons Converts an Officer.
The wife of an officer was in great
distress about her husband, who whilst
serving in the army, had lost his faith.
One day, when, in order to bring about
his conversion, she was imploring St.
Anthony s intercession, she suddenly
turned to her little daughter, who was
kneeling by her side, and said to her:
"You must earnestly ask St. Anthony
to make your father find what he has
lost."
"What has he lost?" innocently
asked the child.
"That you will know one day,"
replied her mother; "but pray
earnestly and do not say anything to
father about it."
144 Petitions Granted
The child did as she was told. Some
time after, the officer wanting- to
speak to his wife, went to her room,
and to his surprise found his little girl
kneeling before the statue of St. An
thony, entreating him "to give back
what father had lost."
Quite astonished at this, he asked
himself: "What can I have lost?"
Turning to his wife, he asked her the
same question: "Wife, tell me what
does the child want St. Anthony to
find for me; what have I lost that she
is praying for me to recover?"
She made no answer, and he did not
press the matter, but in spite of himself
the thought haunted him. On June
I2th, the eve of the feast of St. An
thony, the officer, finding he could get
no peace, again asked his wife what he
had lost, and insisted on being an
swered this time. Looking sadly at
In More Modern Times. 145
him, she said: "Are you prepared to
leave me forever?"
"I have never thought of such a
thing," was the reply, "but if it were
the case, perhaps you would not miss
me much, as you are constantly pray
ing in church."
"And yet it must be so, dearest hus
band," she replied, with tears stream
ing down her face, "if you do not find
what you have lost."
He anxiously asked her: "I entreat
you to tell me what I have lost."
The poor woman, weeping bitterly,
answered: "What have you lost? Your
faith, your mother s faith, and as I do
not want to be parted from you for
eternity, I implore you to come back
to that faith, otherwise you cannot go
to heaven."
The officer, without saying another
word, silently left her, but the anx-
146 Petitions Granted
ious wife could hear him repeating to
himself: "The faith, my mother s
faith, my wife s faith, my child s
faith." And during the night, whilst
she was praying for him, he paced up
and down his room, saying from time
to time the same words : "The faith,
my mother s faith."
The next day he again went to her
room, and finding her dressed in her
best clothes, inquired if it was a holi
day. "No," was the reply, "but we
are going to keep St. Anthony s
feast." "Oh, that saint?" said he,
pointing to the statue of St. Anthony,
"who finds lost things. Well, thank
St. Anthony!" And as his wife looked
anxiously into his face, he continued:
"Yes, dearest wife, I have found
what I had lost. Let us go at once
and burn a candle before St. An
thony s altar."
in More Modern Times. 14?
They went to the Franciscan mon
astery, asked to see a priest, and the
officer made his confession and was
reconciled to God.
71. Cbe Ibeatben JBaptf3e& on bte
A Jesuit missionary Father, sta
tioned at Madena, in the East Indies,
sends us the following account of the
conversion of a poor heathen who had
often heard the Christians speak of St.
Anthony. Whilst still a pagan, he
had such devotion to St. Anthony that
he used yearly to make a pilgrimage to
his altar, and also give a dinner to
thirty poor persons in his honor. In
spite of this, he did not become a
Christian. At last he fell dangerously
ill, and, whilst on his sick-bed, remem
bered his dear St. Anthony. Anxious,
as he said, to see him in heaven, he
148 Petitions Granted
sent for the Jesuit Father, and asked to
be baptized. The priest, availing him
self of the poor man s good dispo
sitions, instructed him in our holy re
ligion, baptized him, gave him the
scapular, and had the consolation of
seeing him die in the best dispositions.
72. St. BntbotiE assists ipoor IFluns.
Missouri, June i, 1882.
A teaching order of nuns had been
settled for some time in one of the
large towns of Missouri, but, owing to
the expiration of the lease of the house
in which they resided, they were forced
to look for a place where they could
build a convent. Unfortunately money
was scarce with them. In vain they ap
pealed for assistance; none was forth
coming, and being at an utter loss how
to procure funds sufficient to build
in More Modern Times. 149
even a convent of the humblest de
scription, they at last thought of plac
ing the matter in St. Anthony s hands,
promising him if he did really prove a
friend to them, to have it published
in the German paper entitled Sanct
Fmnzisci Glocklein.
Their confidence was not misplaced.
Funds came from a most unexpected
quarter, and they have now not only
a more convenient convent for them
selves, but also the charge of the par
ish schools and a high school for
American young ladies.
73. ibonor Dfn&fcatefc.
December 12, 1883.
Whilst staying at a house at ,
which I used frequently to visit, a
considerable sum of money was
suddenly missed from a room in
150 Petitions Granted
which no one else had been but
myself. I could clearly see, though
not openly accused of the theft, that
every one thought I was the guilty
party. Naturally enough, I felt my
position most keenly. To leave my
friend s house would only have con
firmed his suspicions, and yet what
was to be done? Nothing was left
but for me to implore assistance from
above, and I determined to make a
novena to St. Anthony, begging of
him to vindicate my honor. On the
third day of the novena the owner of
the lost money suddenly remembered
he had removed it from the place from
which it had been missed, and locked
it up elsewhere. He at once went to
fetch it, and to my great joy found it
perfectly safe. In this way was my
honor vindicated, thanks to that dear
saint.
in More Modern Times. 151
74 St. Bntbong assists all tbose
Hdbo Unvofce 1bfm,
Rothsburg, November 18, 1879.
Our present chaplain was taken dan
gerously ill, and consequently we were
without any spiritual assistance. In
this emergency we resolved to ask
St. Anthony to obtain the cure of our
respected pastor, promising at the
same time to make a novena of the
nine Tuesdays in his honor. We be
gan it on July i5th and on the feast of
the Assumption our good priest was
well enough to preach to us.
75. Saved from Browning.
An Italian priest from Carlovago on
the Adriatic sea, writing 1 to the Sanct
Francisci Glbcklein, begs, out of grat
itude, for the following paragraph to
be inserted: "On June 24, 1881, I
i5 2 Petitions Granted
had to hire a boat to take me to my
parish in order to say Mass. Suddenly
a storm arose and the north wind be
gan to blow with such violence that
the boat began to fill with water.
Death, humanly speaking, was in
evitable. Bearing, as I do, St. An
thony s name, and having great con
fidence in his protection, I at once
called upon him to come to our rescue,
and thanks to his powerful assistance
we were saved."
76. preserved from Jffre.
The following incident took place
in the Tyrol in 1881: A young girl
in the month of March dreamed that
her neighbor s house was on fire, and in
her terror rushed to the window, where
she saw a young Franciscan monk in
the street, who, blessing her house,
said to her father, who was standing
in More Modern Times. 153
on the doorstep: "Do not be afraid,
the fire will not touch you."
This dream made a deep impression
on her, and when, the following June,
her neighbor s house, just opposite,
was struck by lightning during a ter
rible thunder-storm and burnt to the
ground, she at once remembered her
dream and St. Anthony s promise.
All the time the fire lasted she con
tinually called upon St. Anthony to
bless her family and save their house,
which he did, for although the roof
was thatched and there was a high
wind blowing, the fire did not touch it.
Truly it can be said: "If you want a
miracle go to St. Anthony."
77. St. BntbotiE s protection.
The following account, showing the
care Our Lady and St. Anthony tae
of all who call upon them, is from an
154 Petitions Granted
extract of a letter written in thanks
giving by M. S., who lived in the
little town of Pecham, in Austria,
and published in the Sanct Franzisci
Glocklein, dated September 15, 1885:
On May 3ist a fire broke out at mid
night, completely destroying forty
houses. About one o clock of the same
night the brother of M. S., who kept
a shop, had the roof of his house burnt,
and all the goods placed in the yard
destroyed. Fearing they would lose
everything, M. S., her brother, and
the other members of the family, im
prudently rushed back to their sitting-
room^ in the hopes of being able to
save a few articles. Owing to the ra
pidity of the fire and the dense smoke,
they had hardly reached the room be
fore all possibility of exit or rescue
was cut off, and there they were ob
liged to remain for three hours, ex-
in More Modern Times. T 55
pecting every moment to perish in the
flames. M. S. had often read in the
Sanct Franzisci Glocklcin of the mir
acles worked by St. Anthony. Full of
confidence, she and all those with her
fell on their knees, imploring" Our
Lady of Seven Dolors and St. An
thony to protect them. They were not
mistaken, for although the cellar was
rilled with casks of petroleum and
other dangerous combustibles, al
though all the window sashes were
destroyed by the fire, and red hot
cinders not only fell into the cellar, but
even under the beds, yet not even a
single article in the house, except a
few sacks of potatoes, were destroyed.
78. SaveD from Sbfpwrecfc anD tbec
2>ffficulties.
In the autumn, of 1880 a merchant
went with his family to America.
156 Petitions Granted
During the voyage they encountered
such stormy weather that even the
oldest sailors on board feared they
were lost. The merchant s wife, a de
vout client of St. Anthony, promised
if they reached land, not only to make
a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. An
thony, but also that her little girl,
who was being educated in a convent
in Europe, should wear the Franciscan
habit for three months in his honor.
Her prayer was heard, and on her re
turn home she not only visited the
shrine of the saint, but also had a
habit of St. Francis made, which the
child wore for the first time on his
feast, June i3th.
About the end of May, 1881, four
Franciscan monks sailed from New
York for Glasgow, intending to pass
through Edinburgh on their way to
Hull, where they were to take the first
in More Modern Times. 157
steamer sailing for Rotterdam. To
save expense they had, on reaching
Glasgow, sent their luggage on to
Hull, where, on arriving, to their great
dismay, it was nowhere to be found at
the luggage office. Two of them,
greatly annoyed and quite out of
temper, determined to go and pay a
visit to the Catholic church at some
distance from the port. Their de
votions finished, they left the church,
intending to rejoin their fellow
travellers, but found it quite impos
sible to remember their way back
to the place where they had left
them. In this dilemma they had
recourse to St. Anthony, and not in
vain.
A young man, seeing they were in
trouble and strangers, accosted them,
and after inquiring what was the mat
ter, not only acted as their guide and
158 Petitions Granted
brought them back to their compan
ions, but also found the lost luggage,
and never left them till they were safe
on board their vessel.
79. St. Bntbons ff tn&s ILost people.
Saalem, September 24, 1883.
Some time in September, 1883, a
blind, imbecile,, and self-willed old
woman left her home under the pre
text of going to see some relatives
close by. Finding she did not return
home that night the people of the
house where she lived naturally
concluded she had stayed with her
friends. However, early on the
second day, hearing she had not
been to their house, but had been seen
wandering through some fields, they
became alarmed and people were sent,
but to no purpose, in search of her.
in More Modern Times. i^*
On the third day her relatives had a
Mass said in honor of the Sacred
Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and St. An
thony, with the promise of publishing
it in the Sanct Fransisci Glocklein were
she found, but in spite of inquiries be
ing made in every direction and in the
surrounding villages, they met with no
better success than on the preceding
day. Finally, long after one o clock
in the afternoon one of the searchers
noticed a lonely path leading into
the woods, where the poor creature,
more dead ;than alive, was found
sitting under a tree, but so ex
hausted for want of food, which she
had not tasted for more than two days,
that it was with great difficulty she was
carried home. She is now, thank God,
in perfect health.
Petitions Granted
80.-B flMetafce in TRecfconfng Bfs=
covered,
Cologne, 1884.
A bookkeeper, in balancing his
books, found a considerable deficit in
them, which he, morally speaking,
thought he was in duty bound to
make up.
In his difficulty he had recourse to
St. Anthony, promising to offer up in
the saint s name all the Masses and
communions of the month for the in
tentions of the Church. He once
more began carefully to re-examine
his books and accounts. After use
lessly spending three days in this
work, he again called on St. Anthony
to assist him, and in a few minutes
afterward discovered his mistake.
in More Modern Times. 161
81. Cbe Xost TRallwas ttfcfcet.
Holland, 1885.
A bishop belonging to the Third
Order of St. Francis, and a devout
client of St. Anthony, had to
go on a long journey, and, one day
whilst waiting for the train to start,
lost his ticket. After searching in vain
everywhere for it, he asked St. An
thony to help him, and was just on the
point of going to the ticket-office for
another when a porter came up to him
and said: "Sir, have you lost your
ticket? If so, go to the guard, for he
has found one, and if it is yours will
return it."
82. abe Xost Document.
About forty years ago a convent of
nuns in Lower Austria received most
extraordinary assistance from St. An-
162 Petitions Granted
thony. They were threatened with a
lawsuit, and if on the day of the trial
a certain document was not produced
it would entail the loss of 30,000 flor
ins. The Father Superior, who took
great interest in the Sisters, asked the
Rev. Mother a short time before the
trial began to give him the above-men
tioned necessary document, but to her
great dismay she could not find it. At
last she sent for some Sisters to help
her. Every cupboard, shelf and nook
where there was a chance of finding it
were most carefully searched, but to
no purpose. The Father, seeing the
great distress of the Sisters, and
knowing how important it was for
the papers to be found, said to
the Rev. Mother and the few
Sisters who were in the secret;
"There is nothing else to be done but
to ask St. Anthony to help you." The
in More Modern Times. 163
Rev. Mother at once went with the Sis
ters to the chapel and, kneeling before
the statue of the saint, entreated him
to help them. Just as they were leav
ing the chapel and about to resume
their weary task, they met a lay Sister
coming down-stairs with a large basket
in her arms which she put on the
ground near the chapel door, while
she rested a moment.
"What have you got there?" said
the superioress to the Sister.
"You told me yesterday to clean the
attics, Rev. Mother, and as I could not
finish them yesterday I have done so
to-day."
"What have you in the basket?"
"Broken slates, waste paper and a
lot of rubbish."
Whilst this conversation was going
on one of the Sisters began examining
the waste paper, and all of a sudden
1 64 Petitions Granted
cried out: "Mother, mother, we are
saved; here are the papers," taking
up one of the pieces and handing it
to the superioress. The latter was at
first quite overcome, but, soon re
covering herself, said:
"Let us go at once to the chapel
and thank God and St. Anthony;"
then, turning to the lay Sister, "And
you, Sister, go to Father - and
tell him the papers are found."
The feelings of the Sisters can be
easily imagined at this marked proof
of the providence of God watching
over them. Had they left the chapel
a minute earlier or later they would
not have met the Sister, and the papers
with the other rubbish would certainly
have been thrown in the dust hole, and
who would have thought of finding
them there? It has never been discov
ered who put the papers in the attic,
in More Modern Times. 165
but one thing is certain, that God sent
the Sister down-stairs just at the nick
of time, thanks to the intercession of
St. Anthony.
83.
In the year 1841 Dr. Joh. Ness
Ringseis, the well-known author and
physician of Munich, was invited by
the Rev. Father Valentine Riedl, rec
tor of the seminary at Freising, and
afterwards bishop of Regensburgh, to
go and spend some time with him in
this beautiful part of Bavaria, in order
to recuperate his health after a danger
ous attack of inflammation of the
lungs. He availed himself of this
enforced rest to complete some valu
able manuscripts. On his leaving the
seminary, he found he had not suffi
cient room in his trunk for them, and
1 66 Petitions Granted
asked his friend the sculptor, Conrad
Everard, also on a visit to Freising,
to take them back to his wife
on his return to Munich. This
good lady, anxious to spare her hus
band, the doctor, all the discomforts of
changing houses, during his ab
sence removed to a larger and more
commodious residence. On his return
home his first thoughts were for his
manuscripts, but although his wife
remembered seeing them, she quite
forgot where they had been put.
Greatly annoyed at this, both husband
and wife began searching all over the
house for the missing papers, but
without success. Ringseis, thinking
that perhaps, after all, his friend had
not sent them to Munich, wrote to the
rector at Freising to inquire if by
chance they were there, but Father
Riedl replied, saying that no such pa-
in More Modern Times. 167
pers had been seen. On this, the doc
tor, quite beside himself, rushed to his
wife s room without waiting even to
finish his letter, to inform her of the
bad new r s. On leaving her he resumed
the perusal of his letter, which his
friend, knowing he was a sincere
Christian, concluded in this way : "Go
and ask St. Anthony to help you."
Greatly struck by these words, h im
mediately knelt down, begging the
saint s assistance. On returning to
his library to continue his search, the
first thing that met his eyes was the
lost manuscript. Perfectly bewildered
with joy, it was some time before he
could recover his scattered senses, and
then to his surprise found himself sit
ting on the floor, his loved manuscripts
in his lap, large books and folios of the
Museum Florentinum strewn round
about him. These, he remembered,
1 68 Petitions Granted
owing to their size, had been placed
on the lowest shelf of the library, and
as they reached the next one it was
impossible to see any papers had they
been put behind them. The only con
clusion to which he could come was
that the moment he had entered the
room St. Anthony had obtained for
him the gift of clear sight, that is, see
ing through opaque objects, which had
enabled him to find his manuscripts.
Some years later Dr. Ringseis became
a tertiary of St. Francis, and was re
nowned throughout the south of Ger
many not only for his great learning,
but for his sincere piety.
84. ffounD Hgaftu
A parish priest living at K
had paid seventy-seven florins for
a chasuble he had bought in
Holy Week. At the commence-
in More Modern Times. 169
ment of the following year he
received a summons demanding pay
ment for the above-mentioned vest
ment. Naturally enough, he went to
look for the receipt he had received
on sending the post-office order. It
was nowhere to be found. He
searched all over the presbytery, emp
tied the chest where he kept his books
and papers, examined them sheet by
sheet, leaf by leaf, but to no purpose.
He then went to the post-office, but the
money had not been entered in the
register. The loss of seventy-seven
florins is a serious loss at any
time to a priest, and more es
pecially in our days; but great as the
loss was it was nothing to be
compared with the grief he felt at the
thought of his good name being at
stake, for to all appearances he had
not paid the money, but kept it for
i?o Petitions Granted
himself. In his distress he mentioned
it to some of his intimate friends, who
tried to console him as best they could,
urging him to pray to St. Anthony,
who would be sure to find it. Com
forted a little, he asked them to join
with him in saying the well-known
antiphon, Si quaeris miracula, to
which they gladly consented. Greatly
encouraged, the priest returned to his
chest, and calling on St. Anthony to
help him, as he had helped so many
others, took off the lid in order to
empty it more easily. On opening the
box, which was uppermost, the first
thing he found was the missing re
ceipt. He was so overcome that he
began to cry, and then ran to call his
curate, saying: "Pray read this; what
is it?"
"What!" replied the curate, "I con
gratulate you; it is nothing else but
in More Modern Times. i? 1
the paper you have been so long
searching for."
"Oh!" exclaimed the poor priest;
"if I had only prayed to St. An
thony he would have spared me many
sleepless nights."
85. Seven 1bunDre> 3f rancs IRecovereO.
The sum of 1200 francs had been
stolen from a merchant, Nicholas
Raulling von Esh. The police, sus
pecting a man whom they had noticed
had been spending a great deal of
money, arrested him, and in spite of his
denying the theft he was committed to
prison. Many persons, however, be
lieved him innocent, and declared that
the man who had been robbed had not
so much money in his house. Hear
ing this, the merchant had recourse to
St. Anthony, whose protection he had
172 Petitions Granted
many times previously experienced,
imploring him to return him his
money, and, what was still more
precious, preserve his good name. A
few days afterwards the prisoner sent
for his lawyer, acknowledged his guilt,
and informed him that he would find
the greater part of the money buried
in a field. This proved to be perfectly
true, and seven hundred francs were
returned to their rightful owner.
86. dfcones IReturnefc.
Between the night of August 20 and
21, 1884, the sacristy of the church at
Neukirchen was broken in, and a safe
containing 23,030 marks in paper and
one hundred and thirty-two in silver
were stolen. Immediately the rector of
the church began a novena to the Sa
cred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and to
in More Modern Times. 173
St. Anthony, in order to obtain the re
covery of the lost money. The first
day of the novena was not finished be
fore a man from the neighborhood was
seen coming to the presbytery carry
ing the stolen safe, in which the lost
money was found untouched. Let those
who are in difficulties or affliction have
recourse to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus
and Mary and to St. Anthony; they
will be sure to find help.
87,-Cbe Valuable Sfcetcb.
Innsbruck, January 16, 1884.
A friend of mine had a sketch of
Our Lady drawn by an unknown
artist, and intended to have a copy of
it made on glass. The sketch in itself
was very beautiful, and a connoisseur
declared it was long time since he had
seen anything to equal it. All of a
174 Petitions Granted
sudden it was missed. The house was
searched from top to bottom, every
cupboard, chest of drawers, desk, were
emptied, but to no purpose. Inquiries
were even made to discover whether it
had slipped into a collection of draw
ings which had been sent away. Useless
trouble. One day my friend happened
to speak to me about his loss, and
promised he would have it made into
a picture for an altar in my church if
it were ever found. I was now an in
terested party, and I begged of him, to
gether with another priest, to join with
me in making a novena to St. An
thony of Padua. That dear saint has
on many occasions proved himself a
good friend to me, and I felt certain
he would be so again. The novena
was finished. A week, a month passed,
but still no picture. I have just received
a letter to-day from my friend. The
in More Modern Times. 175
sketch is found. One day one of the
maid servants, finding it lying about,
thought it was of no value, and had
coolly taken it and nailed it to the wall
in her room.
88. jfrom Gatfraria.
Under the burning sun of South
Africa, even as in the old country, this
dear saint is ever quite as ready to
help his clients to recover lost ar
ticles.
Five Sisters of the Holy Cross from
Messingen, Switzerland, had been
sent to teach the Christians and
heathens in Umtata, a small town in
Caffraria. A farm provided them with
the bare necessaries of life. In spite
of this, their life was one of continual
self-sacrifice.
One morning not less than six
oxen, a cow and her calf were missing.
176 Petitions Granted
Impossible to find them. A great
cross certainly for our poor mission
aries. St. Anthony was stormed; he
was in duty bound to advise and assist
the Sisters, and, of course, he did so.
The head steward of the farm remem
bered he had been obliged to dis
charge a Caffre servant for his laziness
and unpunctuality. The characteristic
feature of the Caffre is revenge, and
no doubt the one just dismissed had
driven the cattle away during the
night. His track was discovered, but
all private search proved useless. At
last the matter was placed in the
hands of a magistrate, and at the end
of ten days the police found the ani
mals, half-starved, in the possession
of the Caffre, who was condemned not
only to restore the stolen property, but
also to give one of his own cows and
her calf as a compensation to the
in More Modern Times. IT 7
rightful owners. From this time not
only did the devotion to St. Anthony
become dearer to the Sisters, but it
has spread all over this part of the
country.
89. Gbe Stolen THUatcb.
June 10, 1884.
During a short absence from my
room my watch was stolen. On my
giving information of it to the po
lice, it was discovered that just at
that time an ex-convict had been seen
loafing about the street near my house.
He was arrested, but declared he
had not taken it, and as my watch was
not found on his person, set free. Hu
man means having failed, I had re
course to St. Anthony, promising to
have his antiphon said at the Mass in
his honor. A few days afterwards,
just before the church was going to be
178 Petitions Granted
locked up for the night, a woman who
was praying unnoticed near one of the
chapels saw the same man go straight
to the altar, put something on it, and
then leave the church. The sacristan,
on being told what had happened, at
once went to the altar, and, on open
ing the parcel and finding it was my
watch, immediately came and brought
it back to me. Heartfelt thanks to the
great thaumaturgus.
90. Sec t tbe TKHatcb is afounfc!"
One Sunday morning after High
Mass, in spite of the repeated remon
strances of my confessor about my
working on Sundays, I finished mend
ing a valuable watch which was to be
called for that afternoon, and then left
it lying on the table, with several
others, in my workshop. It may have
in More Modern Times. 179
been mere accident or a punishment
from God, but on my coming back
some time later to my shop the
watch had disappeared. I looked
everywhere for it; impossible to find
it. I went to the police. The children
who had been playing in the house
with mine were searched; the thief
could not be found. I even offered to
give a person whom I had every rea
son to suspect, but dared not openly
accuse of theft, a new watch or money
if he would only give the other one
back to me. This he refused, saying
he had never seen the watch. What
my feelings were can be easily imag
ined. Had the watch been my own
the loss would have been bad enough ;
but, being the property of another, my
reputation for honesty was at stake,
which made matters ten thousand
times worse.
i8o Petitions Granted
Some kind friends, hearing of my
misfortune, came to see me and ad
vised me to have recourse to St. An
thony, for said they: "This good
saint is certain to find the watch for
you, even if he has to make the thief
return it." I at once acquiesced to
their proposal, and we immediately be
gan to say three Our Fathers in his
honor three times a day. This was
continued for a week, my trust in the
powerful intercession of St. Anthony
daily increasing. On Sunday during
High Mass I felt sure the watch would
be found, although there seemed to be
no signs of it. On Monday afternoon I
went to help the man who was work
ing in my field, taking my wife and
children with me, so that no one was
left at home. At two o clock my wife
went back to the house, and, on going
to the place close to the window where
in More Modern Times. 181
the latch-key was hidden, noticed
something wrapped up in paper.
What was her surprise on undoing the
paper to find the lost watch. She ran
breathless back to me, crying out: "St.
Anthony has helped us; the watch is
found."
91. St. Bntbons 10 JEver IRea&s to
assist.
Wonderful are God s workings in
His saints, but more especially in the
manner He makes use of St. Anthony
to relieve and assist those who in their
difficulties or trials have recourse to
the intercession of His faithful servant.
It is in order to encourage others to
place their trust in this universal fa
vorite that I am going to relate one or
two things which happened to myself.
During the French war in 1870 I
was sent with other Brothers to nurse
1 82 Petitions Granted
the sick and wounded in France. On
Christmas eve we reached the little
town of Corbeille, on the Seine, where,
for want of better accommodation, we
had, together with members of other
orders, to take up our sleeping quar
ters in the Hoterde Ville. I cannot
wish for a better picture of the stable
at Bethlehem. A few bundles of
straw on a stone floor served us for
beds. Owing to most of the windows
being broken, there were draughts on
every side. Impossible to light a fire
in the stove for want of fuel. It was
a consolation for us to think that on
that Christmas night we shared the
sufferings and discomforts of the holy
Child at Bethlehem. We rose early
next morning in order to say Mass at
a convent at some distance. Our
Brothers were soon ready to start, ex
cept one, whom I noticed was anx-
in More Modern Times. 183
iously searching for something in the
straw. I asked him what was the mat
ter. On being told he had lost the key
of our valise, I at once said a "Hail
Mary" in honor of St. Anthony. It
was not finished before I felt myself
as if pushed down on the ground. I
put my hand in the straw in which our
brother had been searching for the key
and at once found it. Glory be to God
in the highest, and honor to St. An
thony, to whom God has given such
power.
Another time, again on Christmas
eve, 1884, I wanted to read over a
manuscript I had just finished. For
more than half an hour I searched
every sheet of paper lying on my table
one by one; impossible to find the
paper I wanted. Meeting one of our
Brothers, I told him my loss. "Have
you prayed to St. Anthony?" he asked.
184 Petitions Granted
I had quite forgotten to do so, and, on
being thus reminded, immediately
went to the chapel and said a prayer
to the dear saint. Returning to my
cell, I ait once resumed my search,
and was about giving it up as useless
when I heard an interior voice dis
tinctly say to me I would find the lost
manuscript under the other papers,
which proved to be the case. I am
now convinced that God permitted my
having so much trouble in finding the
manuscript in order for me to honor
and have greater confidence in dear St.
Anthony.
92. Striking Combination of Circum*
stances.
I was engaged as geometrician to
take the measurement of a small fish
pond which was to be let on lease. Not
suspecting there was another close by,
in More Modern Times. 185
I naturally went to the first one which
came in my sight. Whilst taking the
necessary instruments for my work I
missed a small and valuable one called
a geometric pen. For more than an
hour my two assistants, myself and
three boys searched all over the grass
near the pond in the hopes of finding
it. At last we said a rosary for the
souls in purgatory, and after praying
to St. Anthony I promised to have a
Mass said in his honor. I then re
sumed my work and on finishing it,
seeing a man coming from the other
side of the pond, near which there was
a nursery of young trees, entered into
conversation with him. I soon dis
covered there was a pond in the mid
dle of the trees and that this was the
one to be let. Of course, I went to
fetch my instruments, but hardly had I
taken two steps before I saw the iden-
1 86 Petitions Granted
tical lost pen lying on the ground. I
could not help thinking to myself how
extraordinary the ways of God are, for
had I not met the man, not only would
I have measured the wrong pond, but
also not found the lost pen.
93. pilgrimage to St* BntbonE
Gburcb at beracbern.
About 1765 the inhabitants of Ober-
achern, in the Grand Duchy of Baden,
and the inhabitants of the neighboring
villages built a magnificent church in
the place of the old wooden chapel,
erected on the very spot where some
pigs had discovered and dug up the
miraculous statue of St. Anthony. In
1770 a picture commemorating this
extraordinary event was laid on the
tomb of St. Anthony at Padua, and
after remaining there three days was
in More Modern Times. 187
blessed and sent back to the church
at Oberachern. To inquiries which
had been made respecting the pilgrim
age to Oberachern, the following an
swer was given: "This spot is un
doubtedly a favored one, for Masses
are constantly asked to be said here,
either for the pilgrims themselves, or
for others anxious to be restored to
health or obtain other graces through
the intercession of St. Anthony. The
Church is now covered with ex votos,
and fresh miracles are constantly tak
ing place." We shall only speak about
one which took place in 1880. That
year Madame von Urloffen, a lady
well known in the Duchy of Baden,
wrote and asked the rector of the
Church of St. Anthony to have a Mass
said in honor of the saint for her in
tention.
Her son, a boy of twelve, was acci-
188 Petitions Granted
dentally shot in. the eye, and it was so
seriously injured that, acting on the
advice of the physicians of their own
town, he was taken to the eye in
firmary at Freiburg- and placed under
the care of the celebrated oculist, Pro
fessor Manz, who, after a careful ex
amination of the diseased eye, declared
it was beyond medical skill to cure it,
and strongly advised it to be cut out.
To this Madame von Urloffen was
greatly averse, and entreated the doc
tor, unless her son s life was in im
mediate danger, to postpone the oper
ation for a fortnight. On his con
senting to it, mother and son began
earnestly to implore the assistance of
St. Anthony, since human science was
of no avail. The saint heard their
petition. In a few days the eye was
decidedly improved, and when at the
end of a fortnight the boy was taken
in More Modern Times. 189
to the infirmary the doctor, on seeing
him, exclaimed: "This is a miracle;
there is no longer any necessity for an
operation." The child has now per
fectly recovered his eyesight, and has
since made a pilgrimage in thanksgiv
ing to the church at Oberachern, ac
companied by his mother.
94. Sfcfcness I2felo0 to tbe
sfon ot St. Bntbons of jpaCma.
Although I have had the happiness
of being a tertiary of the Third Order
of St. Francis of Assisi for some years,
I knew very little about the life of St.
Anthony of Padua till a friend of
mine brought me the life and ac
count of the miracles of this great
saint, by Father Philibert Seebock.
Since reading it I have always felt so
great devotion and confidence in St.
19 Petitions Granted
Anthony that I have never missed say
ing- the antiphons in his honor, and,
oh, how promptly and generously has
he rewarded me! Not long ago my
dear mother, already advanced in
years, fell dangerously ill, and seeing
her sufferings increase, I at once had
recourse to the intercession of this
good saint, entreating him to obtain
from the Sacred Heart the cure of
that beloved parent. I also promised
to begin a novena of nine holy com
munions, say the litany and antiphon
in his honor, and have an account
of her cure published in the Sanct
Franczisci Glocklein. I had scarcely
finished my prayers before my mother
called out to me, saying, "God be
praised, I feel better. The pain is not
so acute. I think I shall get well."
She is now perfectly recovered from
her illness, although, of course, a little
in More Modern Times. i9 T
weak. A thousand thanks to the Sa
cred Heart, who has granted me this
blessing through the intercession of
His great miracle worker.
95 incontestable flMracle.
The following wonderful cure of
a Sister of Charity, which took
place June 13, 1886, is extracted
from an account sent to the
Osservatore Catolico. Her sisters, af
ter doing all in their power to save the
life of their dear invalid, determined to
have recourse to St. Anthony, and
every one began, in order to prepare
herself for his feast, by making a tri-
dicini, or thirteen days prayer, in his
honor, for this intention. On the
morning of his feast Sister Olive was
perfectly cured.
The following is an account of her
192 Petitions Granted
illness, written by Dr. Chemin, the
director of the hospital at Bassano, to
the very Reverend Mother General
of the Order.
VERY REV. MOTHER GENERAL :
It is my duty to inform you of a
most extraordinary and consoling
event which has just taken place here
at Bassano. I mean the sudden cure
of Sister Olive, who was literally at
death s door. Late in the evening
of Saturday, June I2th, I visited her
professionally, and found her suffering
greatly, being unable to get her
breath, owing to dropsy, which had
increased so greatly that it was im
possible to perceive the upheavings of
the chest. I considered death so im
minent that I wrote to my friend,
the director of the hospital at Rovigno,
about the kind of grave which was
to be prepared for a Sister of Charity.
in More Modern Times. 197
At four o clock on Sunday morn
ing, June i3th, Sister Olive got out of
bed, a thing she had not done for two
months, went to the room of the Sister
Superior and awoke her, saying "I am
cured." The good Sister, thinking she
was delirious, sent her back to bed.
At eight o clock I returned to the hos
pital to make my usual visits, and what
was my surprise, on entering the part
assigned to the Sisters of Charity, to
see my patient up and dressed. As
soon as I recovered from my astonish
ment, I carefully examined her, but
could find no trace of disease. This
incontestable cure cannot be scien
tifically accounted for, it is so far be
yond the reach of the natural order
of things. Not only had I given up
every hope of curing her, but the
two physicians who attended her con
jointly with myself were of the same
194 Petitions Granted
opinion, and such being the case, it is
sufficient matter for the reflection of
the materialists. Sister Olive con
tinues so well that yesterday she was
able to receive holy communion in
the church. In one word, it could
be nothing else but a miracle.
I remain, very Rev. Mother Gen
eral, yours, etc.,
DR. F. CHEMIN.
Bassano, June 16, 1869.
96. praise be to <5oD aito I)i0 bol
servant antbong,
Innsbruck, June 20, 1885.
"For three years I suffered greatly
from general debility, which rendered
me perfectly incapable of any exertion.
During the last six months of my
illness my circumstances were so
changed that it became imperative for
in More Modern Times. 195
me to earn my livelihood, and a
situation was found for me. As every
earthly means of curing me had failed,
I had recourse to the assistance of
One who is ever ready to help those
who implore His intercession. I prom
ised to enter the Third Order of St.
Francis of Assisi, and began a novena
for this intention. On the second day
of the novena I already found myself
better, and before it was ended was
perfectly cured. I have now an ex
cellent appetite, sleep well, which was
never the case before, have entered my
situation, and can endure any amount
of fatigue."
97. prompt Assistance.
Innsbruck, February 2, 1882.
"We shall be grateful to the editor
of the Sanct Franczisci Glocklein, if he
iq6 Petitions Granted
will kindly insert in his valuable paper.
the enclosed, among the long list of
favors St. Anthony bestows on those
who ask his intercession.
"The father of a respectable family,
in the prime of life, had suffered for
some months from general debility,
w r hich made one suspect the existence
of an internal complaint. The phy
sician who sounded him thought the
seat of the disease lay in the lungs,
which was confirmed by the continual
pain he had near that region. His
poor wife, seeing him daily wasting
away, did nothing but weep. At
last a friend, touched by the intensity
of her grief, advised her to make a
novena to St. Anthony, which she at
once began, and promised to make
the novena of the nine Tuesdays
should her dear husband be restored to
health. Scarcely was the first novena
in More Modern Times. 197
ended before a marked improvement
was noticed in the patient, his appe
tite returned, he slept well, and before
the second novena was finished he had
perfectly recovered."
98. paralysis Cured.
Claudia Bartolini, a young woman
of nineteen, residing with her parents
at 6 Via delle Penzochere, Florence,
had, owing to a severe attack of gout,
become perfectly paralyzed on the left
side, and could only crawl about on
crutches. Every possible remedy had
been tried in vain. At last a rich and
pious lady took her in hand, and
placed her under the care of the good
Passionist nuns, who encouraged her
to have recourse to St. Anthony.
This year the good nuns had her
carried to the large and beautiful
198 Petitions Granted
Church of Santa Croce, where the
saint s feast was to be celebrated
with great pomp and solemnity. Here
she must have prayed with great de
votion, for in the middle of the Mass,
in presence of an immense congre
gation, she suddenly stood up, threw
away her crutches and exclaimed :
" I am cured." The authenticity of
this miracle has been officially signed
by the episcopal authorities of Flor
ence.
99. a IReeMe Swallowed.
The Rev. Capuchin Father P. W.,
residing in A , guarantees the
veracity of the following incident,
which happened to one of his parish
ioners, Mrs. F. H.
On the 1 4th of November, 1893, she
swallowed a needle, which was con-
in More Modern Times. IQ9
cealed in some food. She never sus
pected what it was, but thought it
might be a sharp bit of bone which
pricked her so much. From that time
on she suffered great pain, especially
when drinking, and this, during an
attack of influenza, owing to the great
thirst she experienced, increased
greatly. The doctors tried in vain to
pull the supposed bone out of her
throat, but only drove the needle in
further. The poor sufferer constant
ly implored St. Anthony to relieve
her. It was not in vain, for on the
2$th of November, while clearing her
throat, she felt something move up,
and, putting at once her two fingers
in h^r mouth, pulled up, to her great
astonishment, a large needle.
2oo Petitions Granted
100. St. BntbottE JBestows tbe (3itt of
penetration.
November i, 1880.
As parish priest I have not only
myself frequently experienced the as
sistance of St. Anthony in serious
cases, but have constantly urged my
parishioners to invoke him in every
emergency. To-day I shall confine
myself to speak about a case which
recently happened, and which proves
how ready he is to help those who in
voke his intercession. At the com
mencement of this month I was called
to visit a sick man, suffering from
acute pains in the bowels. Danger of
death seemed imminent, and I ad
ministered the last sacraments to him,
encouraging him at the same time to
place great confidence in the inter
cession of St. Anthony. I told him I
in More Modern Times. 201
would copy out the antiphons of the
saint for him, and bring them with
me on my next visit. This I did. On
my return to the sick man, he declared
the pain had become so unbearable
that the doctors feared inflammation
had set in. After listening to all he
had to say to me, I read the antiphons
to hkn, and made him promise not
only that he would say them every
day, but if he recovered he would join
the Third Order of St. Francis of
Assisi.
When I was once more in my study
I mechanically took up a medical
book which was lying on my table,
and in distraction began turning over
the pages. Suddenly my eye caught
the passage speaking about the treat
ment of persons suffering from
worms. I read the^ page carefully
over, and the thought at once struck
202 Petitions Granted
me that my poor parishioner might be
suffering from them. I immediately
went to see him, and, after carefully
questioning him, felt convinced I was
not mistaken in my surmises. I made
him take some worm powders, which
effectually destroyed the enemy. He
is now perfectly cured and has joined
the Third Order, as promised.
Knowing the interest you take in
everything tending to promote the
devotion to St. Anthony, I am certain
you will publish the above-mentioned
cure in the Sanct Franzisci Glocklein,
as it may be an encouragement for
others to apply to this dear saint in an
emergency.
101. Swelling of tbc tlbroat CureD.
Dear Mr. Editor: I think it is my
duty to inform you of the miraculous
in More Modern Times. 203
manner in which St. Anthony has just
cured me of a bad swelling in my
throat, which was rapidly increasing
medical assistance being of no avail.
1 am not only a subscriber of the Sanct
Franzisci Glocklein, but also a mem
ber of the Third Order of St. Francis
of Assisi. The perusal of the many
favors obtained through the inter
cession of St. Anthony, which are
published monthly, encouraged me to
make a novena to St. Anthony and to
ask you to insert it in the Sanct Fran
zisci Glocklein, so that my brothers and
sisters of the Third Order might be
induced to have recourse to this dear
Father. On the second day of the
novena, I noticed that the swelling in
my throat had considerably decreased,
and before the novena was half over
it had completely disappeared. (Ex
tract taken from a letter written to the
204 Petitions Granted
editor of the Sanct Franzisci Glocklein,
November 30, 1881.)
102 ibow St. 2lntbon listens to
Ibis Clients.
A nun had already received the last
.acraments and lay in the agonies of
death. Her father, well aware of the
tender-heartedness of Father Colnago,
S.J., implored him to go and visit his
sick daughter. On reaching the
convent, the reverend Father at
once went to the grille, and
said to one of the nuns : " Do
you want your invalid cured ? "
" Certainly, Father, " replied the re
ligious, hardly able to conceal a smile.
"Well, then," said the Jesuit, "we
will cure her; we have only to ask St.
Anthony." Then raising his eyes
up to heaven, he made the sign of the
cross three times over a rosary,
in More Modern Times. 205
and ordered the nun to take it to
her dying sister, Johanna Tedeschi.
Hardly had the sick nun touched the
rosary before she was completely
cured.
103. Cbe Signet
One day a patient of Dr. M., no
ticing he was not in his usual spirits,
but quite out of temper, wanted to
know what was the matter. " What
is the matter? " replied the doctor,
curtly. "Why, I have just lost a
valuable ring; and, after hunting all
over the house for it, cannot find it."
"Have you prayed to St. Anthony?"
asked the invalid.
"Prayed to whom? To St. An
thony?" said the doctor, scarcely able
to suppress a smile of contempt.
"Well, then," answered the lady,
206 Petitions Granted
"since you have no confidence in our
good St. Anthony, I suppose I must
myself ask him to give you back your
ring; he is sure to do so." The next
day, when he came to pay his usual
visit to his patient, her door was hard
ly open before he laughingly stretched
out his hand, with the lost ring on
his finger, no longer a disbeliever. He
related how the ring had been found
in a place he would never have
dreamt of searching for it. It appears
that morning he had been to see his
horse in the stable, and, after staying
there some minutes, went away. One
of his servants, shortly after he had
left, went for something in the stable,
and what did she see lying on a heap
of manure but the lost ring!
"And now do you believe in my
good saint?" asked the fervent client
of St. Anthony.
in More Modern Times. 207
"Well, I suppose I must believe in
him this time," laughingly replied the
doctor.
104. Gbe WeDDing IRfng.
The wife of a baker had lost her
wedding ring shortly after her mar
riage. This greatly vexed her, as it
was considered an ill-omen. She ear
nestly prayed to St. Anthony in the
hopes of finding it, but he seemed to
have turned a deaf ear to all her en
treaties. After searching everywhere
for it, she came to the conclusion that
she must have lost it while bathing in
the Rhine at Breesach, and, therefore,
gave up every hope of rinding it again.
A year had just passed, when the bak
er s little nephew came to pay them a
visit, and one day while bathing in
the Rhine, he began poking about
2o8 Petitions Granted
the stones in the river, when suddenly
something bright attracted his atten
tion. It was the lost ring.
The joy and gratitude of its owner
can be easily imagined.
105. Gbe Cbreafc fn tbe mater.
August 6, 1880.
A poor woman, a tertiary of St. Fran -
cis, was dragging a small cask laden
with thread up a steep hill, when it ac
cidentally upset, and the whole of its
contents rolled into the Agerflusse, a
stream in upper Austria. As the thread
was her sole means of earning a living,
she naturally felt greatly distressed, and
at once promised to make a novena to
St. Anthony, being certain he would as
sist her. The following week, as she was
passing by the same spot, a workman
who was hauling some logs of wood
in More Modern Times. 209
out of the water caught hold of the
sack of thread. On the sack being
opened, the thread was found none the
worse for having been a week in the
water.
106. Gbree ^Examples of Xost
On June 3, 1879, tne poster of a
hotel in Montabaur (Massau), whilst
going to Hadamar for a load of
fruit, lost a pocketbook containing
sixty marks (about twenty dollars),
which got him into a great deal of
trouble. He at once applied to St.
Anthony, promising, if help was forth
coming, to have it published in two
newspapers, and also to say two Ros
aries in thanksgiving. On his way
back from Hadamar the lost pocket-
book was handed over to him.
210 Petitions Granted
R. Having read in the Noth-
burga how St. Anthony had as
sisted a porter in recovering lost
money, I determined to try the
saint s power, and, thanks to him, I
have found the one hundred and fifty
francs I had lost.
M. D. I had lost something of no
intrinsic value, but which I greatly
prized. After searching everywhere I
said to myself, "Suppose I say three
Our Fathers in honor of St. An
thony; he is sure to find it for me,"
and I was not mistaken.
107. Crust and 1bope.
Zweibrikken, November 9, 1880.
A farmer, not very well off in
the goods of this world, lost a sum of
money, the want of which was greatly
felt by his family. He at once asked
in More Modern Times. 211
the assistance of St. Anthony, feeling
certain that he would help him, and
he was not deceived, for a few days af
terwards the money was found, and in
a place no one would have thought of
looking for it. The good man, out of
gratitude to God for hearing the
prayer of His saint, intends giving,
by installments, the same amount
of money to erect an altar of the
Sacred Heart in the church of that
place.
108. St. BntbotiE s Bssfstance.
On July 26, 1879, I noticed, on re
turning home from a walk, that I had
lost a gold locket which I prized very
much, not only on account of it hav
ing been blessed, but also for its con
tents. The loss of it did not affect me
very much, as St. Anthony never
failed helping me in similar circum-
212 Petitions Granted
stances. After saying three Our Fa
thers, and promising to have it pub
lished in the Nothburga, I retired
to rest as soon as I had fin
ished my prayers. Of course I did not
leave the work of finding the locket to
St. Anthony without taking the
trouble to try and find it myself; but
the next morning I began to visit the
different places to which I had been
the evening before. I was interrupted
in my search by the bell ringing for
Mass. At first I hesitated about going
to church, but finally I made up my
mind to go, for is not one Mass worth
more than all the lockets in the
world? Besides, was there any cer
tainty of my finding the locket even if
I stayed away? When Mass was over
I continued my walk, but to no pur
pose. Fearing the trinket might have
fallen into the hands of some one who
in More Modern Times. 213
would only have cared for its intrinsic
value, and perhaps laughed at its con
tents, I asked Our Lady not to permit
such a thing to happen, and for this
intention invoked our saintly Father,
Pope Pius IX., St. Anne, St. Joa
chim, and especially St. Anthony, in
whose honor I said another Our Fa
ther.
I suppose my persistency must have
touched our good St. Anthony, for
very shortly afterwards a stranger, no
ticing I was searching for something,
accosted me, asking if I had lost any
thing. On my replying in the affirm
ative, and giving him a description of
my locket, he returned it to me, say
ing he had found it near St. Mary s
Church.
Many thanks to our dear Lady and
good St. Anthony and my other holy
friends.
214 Petitions Granted
109. be Xost TKHasbfng 3Fount>.
From Silesia: There is a farm
house at F , where devotion to
St. Anthony is quite a matter of course.
He is a member of the family, and
naturally his feast is a day of rejoicing.
Master and mistress, children and
servants, all go to make their devo
tions in his church and hear Mass in
his honor. St. Anthony is quite at
home here, and is constantly showing
his lovine care for each member of
o
the house.
One morning the milkmaid rose
very early to take the milk to town,
and as she had the clothes to wash at
the public wash house, she put a large
bundle of dirty linen in her cart, in
order not to have to return home
before she had finished her work.
A thief, availing himself of the
in More Modern Times. 215
darkness of the morning, stole
the bundle out of the cart while
she was serving . the milk to
her customers. The terror of the
poor girl, on discovering her loss, can
be easily imagined. Her first care was
to give information to the police; her
next, to go and have a Mass said in
honor of St. Anthony, at the Fran
ciscan church. Of course, she natur
ally expected a good scolding on her
return home, but, to her great aston
ishment, her mistress, who had al
ready heard of the loss, uttered no
word of reproach and only mingled
her tears with her maid s. When the
farmer came hom,e he gently asked
the women if it was about the lost
linen they were crying. Upon their
answering it was, he said very simply:
"Why do ycu cry about it? Did not
God give it to us? and if He has al-
216 Petitions Granted
lowed it to be taken from us, He can
let us have it back again, and besides,
there is St. Anthony to help us."
Here let us pause for a moment to
consider how much holy trust elevates
a soul. This confidence did not re
main unrewarded. The very same day
a poor widow came to the farm, and
said the master and servant girl were
to go to the police station, for the
linen was found.
This is how it all happened. That
very morning the widow had given all
her earnings to her children to buy
potatoes; it was very little, only
four kreuzers (about seven cents).
Little as it was, she was very happy.
Often she had not so much, and then
all she could do was to pray to God to
help her. If she only had two kreuzers
more, the children might have had a
little salt, which would have been a
in More Modern Times. 217
real treat; but God was watching over
her, and help was at hand. "Mother,"
said her eldest boy, "I will go and
pick up the bits of broken glass in the
canal, and perhaps I shall be able to
get a little salt in exchange." He
went and saw something lying under
the water close to the edge of the ca
nal. Not knowing what to do, he ran
home to his mother, who immediately
returned with him, and pulled out the
bundle of linen. Thinking it might have
been stolen, the good widow at once
took the bundle to the police station.
The police, after examining it, finding
it corresponded to the description
given by the servant girl, returned it
to its rightful owners. As for the
poor woman, she was rewarded by the
farmer, and is now employed in the
house.
One word in conclusion. On com-
2i8 Petitions Granted
paring the time in which the linen was
found, it was discovered it must have
been during the elevation of the Mass
said in honor of St. Anthony. Honor,
praise and glory to God and to his
dear St. Anthony.
It may not be out of place to re
mind you, dear reader, that much as
St. Anthony loves to help you in your
temporal concerns, he has your spir
itual welfare still more at heart. Re
member, it was owing to his thirst af
ter the greater glory of God and sal
vation for souls that he became the in
strument chosen by divine Providence
to work out the salvation of thousands
of poor sinners, to make thousands of
heretics renounce their errors and to
open the gates of heaven to thousands
of the timid and afflicted. It was this
great love that induced him to leave
Lisbon and then Coimbra, to the as-
in More Modern Times. 219
tonishment of all, and enter the order
of the Friars Minor. He had hoped
to go and preach the Gospel to the
poor heathen; but God had ordained
otherwise, and the vessel on which he
sailed for Africa was driven to the
coast of Messina. Here he heard St.
Francis was holding a General Chap
ter at Assisi, and thither he hastened
to throw himself at the feet of his be
loved founder. St. Francis soon dis
covered the priceless treasure God had
sent him in the person of the young
and humble monk, who was soon to
become one of the greatest champions
of the Church. On leaving Assisi St.
Anthony preached at Rome, where
Pope Gregory IX. surnamed him the
"Ark of the Covenant," and the
"Hammer of the Heretic," on account
of his success with sinners and her
etics, as we have already seen.
22o Petitions Granted in Modern Times.
The children in Padua, on hearing
of his death, June 13, 1231, filled the
streets with the noise of their lamen
tations, crying out, " The saint is
dead; the saint is dead." More than
six hundred years have elapsed since
he left this world to receive his reward
in heaven, but he still loves souls as
dearly as when he lived on earth. Let
us, therefore, never fail, in all our diffi
culties, to invoke one whose life can
be summed up in these few words:
"Love of God; zeal for His honor;
care for the salvation of souls; obedi
ence, humility and patience."
PART IV.
DEVOTIONS AND PRAYERS TO
ST. ANTHONY.
1 10. Gbe Bntfpbons of St. BntbonE in
tbe tf orm of prater.
ALMIGHTY and all powerful God!
I, the most wretched and un
worthy of Thy creatures, prostrate be
fore the throne of Thy infinite mercy,
return Thee my most humble thanks
for all the graces and power it hath
pleased Thee to bestow on Thy saints,
but more especially for those lavished
on Thy servant Anthony, my dear pa
tron, at whose voice the sick are re
stored to health, the blind see; the
maimed recover their lost limbs; the
prisoner his liberty; those in danger
222 Devotions and
at sea are saved from shipwreck; lost
friends and things are found; the
wretched are consoled; misery of
every description relieved ; heresy
overcome, and even death and hell
obey his commands. And this not
only in his own city of Padua,
but throughout the whole Catholic
world.
I, therefore, oh, Almighty God,
Father, Son and Holy Ghost! desire
to thank Thee for all Thy mercies and
goodness and to beseech of Thee to
hear and grant my petition in this, my
present and all my other necessities,
through the intercession and merits
of Thy servant, Anthony.
Dear St. Anthony, obtain this fa
vor for me by thy most powerful
prayers. Amen.
Prayers to St. Anthony. 223
ill. praters for Bvers 2>a of tbe
in Ibonor of St.
LITTLE OFFICE OF ST. ANTHONY.
At Matins.
I will praise Thee, O God, in St.
Anthony, whose tongue never ceased
to praise Thee and to incite others to
praise and exalt Thee.
V. O Lord, open my lips.
R. And my mouth shall announce
Thy praise.
V. O God, incline unto my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
224 Devotions and
Hymn.
Hail, St. Anthony! each creature
Hails thee holy, knows thee great.
In thy childhood, God, thy teacher,
Drew thy heart to consecrate
All to Him the life then dawning ;
Heavenward set thy little feet ;
Worldly pleasures, saint-like scorn
ing;
Giving Him thy heart complete.
And sweet Mary, pure and tender,
Jesus Mother was thine too;
She became thy strong defender;
Hers the aid that kept thee true.
Antiphon. In Anthony was from
youth up all grace of the way and of
the truth, all hope of life and of vir
tue. (Ecclus. xxiv.)
V. The just shall flourish like the
lily.
Prayers to St. Anthony. 225
R. And shall grow up before the
Lord.
Prayer.
Grant me, O Lord Jesus Christ,
through the delight which Thou hadst
together with Thy blessed Virgin
Mother, in the innocent life of St.
Anthony, to have contrition for the
sins of my youth, and vouchsafe me
the grace of a true conversion. Who
livest and reignest world without end.
Amen.
At Lauds.
I will praise Thee, O God, in St.
Anthony, whose tongue never ceased
<to praise Thee and to incite others to
praise and exalt Thee.
V. O God, incline unto my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
226 Devotions and
Hymn.
Let all Christian tongues uniting,
Greet the hero, brave and calm,
For the faith, undaunted, righting,
Meriting the martyr s palm.
See him now, true son of Francis,
With his spirit all aflame,
Moslem ears his voice entrances,
Glad to die a crown to claim.
Yet when God forbade this glory,
Willingly resigned his crown,
Telling Christian ears the story,
Error shrinking at his frown.
Antiphon. Who will give me wings
like a dove, that I fly and follow the
footsteps of Jesus Christ Who suffered
for us, leaving us an example. (Ps.
liv.; I Pet. ii.)
V. This is Anthony, whom Jesus
loved.
Prayers to St. Anthony. 227
R. So I will have him remain till I
come. (John xxi.)
Prayer.
Regard, O God, St. Anthony s great
zeal, inflamed with which he desired
to shed his blood for love of Thee.
Excite in me, too, the desire of prov
ing myself grateful for Thy sacred
Passion by a truly Christian life pleas
ing to Thee. Who livest and reignest
world without end. Amen.
At Prime.
I will praise Thee, O God, in St.
Anthony, whose tongue never ceased
to praise Thee and to incite others to
praise and exalt Thee.
V. O God, incline unto my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
228 Devotions and
Hymn.
Who, ah, who, shall not aspire
Thee to praise, St. Anthony?
Highest wisdom still grew higher,
Richer for enriching thee.
Deep humility grew deeper,
Virtue s blossoms brighter hued,
That thy soul was made their keeper,
In thy silent solitude,
Till the cross of Christ that claimed
thee
Taught thee what no man e er saw;
"High priest of the Ark" they named
thee,
Covenant of Christ s new law.
Antiphon. Behold I have given My
words in thy mouth : lo, I have set thee
this day over the nations, and over
kingdoms, to root up and to pull down,
to build and to plant. (Jer. i.)
Prayers to St. Anthony. 229
V. I have exalted one chosen out of
My people.
R. And My hand shall help him.
(Ps. Ixxxviii.)
Prayer.
Almighty and eternal God, Who dost
regard and graciously hear in heaven
the humble of heart: grant us to ex
tirpate the spirit of pride and to please
Thy divine sight with true humility of
heart. Who livest and reignest world
without end. Amen.
At Tierce.
I will praise Thee, O God, in St.
Anthony, whose tongue never ceased
to praise Thee and to incite others to
praise and exalt Thee.
V. O God, incline unto my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
2 3o Devotions and
Hymn.
Hail to thee in times unnumbered,
Spotless lily, white as snow:
In thy soul s fair chalice slumbered
Balm for healing human woe.
For, sweet Anthony, thy pleading,
Like an unction, souls to win,
Melted hearts too long unheeding,
Made the hardest weep for sin.
Speak to us, thy mercy claiming;
Speak one little word to me;
That the love of God, inflaming,
Warm our hearts eternally.
V. We have heard him speak.
R. In our own tongues the wonder
ful works of God. (Acts ii.)
Prayer.
O God, Who didst in a special man
ner sanctify and enlighten with the
grace of the Holy Ghost the heart of
.St. Anthony: grant us in the same
Prayers to St. Anthony. 231
Spirit to do all things that are right,
and always to rejoice in His divine
consolation. Through Jesus Christ
Our Lord. Amen.
At Sext.
I will praise Thee, O God, in St.
Anthony, whose tongue never ceased
to praise Thee and to incite others to
praise and exalt Thee.
V. O God, incline unto my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Faither, etc.
Hymn.
Be thou praised with heart and voices,
Saint, so worthy of our task !
Surest wisdom, that rejoices,
Thou dost bring to those that ask.
What is lost, what gone and vanished,
What the dark has hid away,
By thy help, when hope is banished,
God will bring to light of day.
2 32 Devotions and
Thou canst, by thy interceding,
Bind the evil one, and death;
Sickness, danger, doubt misleading,
All must fly before thy breath.
Antiphon. Come let us go to him
who seeth the things that are hidden;
for this is truly the finger of God, and
his name is wonderful. (Exod. viii.)
V. God has made His holy one won
derful.
R. The Lord will hear me when I
shall cry unto Him. (Ps. iv.)
Prayer.
O God, Who showest Thyself most
wonderful in St. Anthony, and hast
made him illustrious by the continual
splendor of miracles: graciously
vouchsafe thai we may receive through
his intercession whatsoever we confid
ingly implore through his merits. Who
Prayers to St. Anthony. 233
livest and reignest world without end.
Amen.
At None.
I will praise Thee, O God, in St.
Anthony, whose tongue never ceased
to praise Thee and to incite others to
praise and exalt Thee.
V. O God, incline unto my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Hymn.
All my heart to thee is bended,
Christ s beloved ; great thy part !
God-made Child thou kissed, and
tended,
Held so warm against thy heart.
Oh, how tenderly, how sweetly,
Smiled that little Child on thee!
Bringing gifts He showered metely,
Great thy worth, and given free.
234 Devotions and
Gave thee saintly will and power,
Strength to work for heaven s bliss ;
He, the Lord, was then thy dower,
More He could not give than this.
Antiphon. My beloved to me and I
to him, who feedeth among the lilies.
His left hand is under my head, and
his right hand shall embrace me.
(Cant, ii.)
V. I will not let thee go.
R. Except thou bless me. (Gen.
xxxii.)
Prayer.
Reminding thee of thy joy at the
apparition of the Infant Jesus, I im
plore thee, St. Anthony, to obtain for
me of our divine Saviour the remission
of my sins, true amendment of life,
consolation and help in distress, and
finally the everlasting joys of heaven.
Amen.
Prayers to St. Anthony. 235
At Vespers.
I will praise Thee, O God, in St.
Anthony, whose tongue never ceased
to praise Thee and to incite others to
praise and exalt Thee.
V. O God, incline unto my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Hymn.
Now our hymn is consecrated
To the power of thy word,
Which with marv lous strength was
freighted,
Till the very beasts had heard,
Falling down, had praised their
Maker;
Fishes swimming close to shore;
All the earth thus made partaker
In thy rare celestial lore.
Who is there can tell the story
Of the wonders of his life?
236 Devotions and
Sent by God to spread His glory,
And to help us in the strife.
Antiphon. Anthony had dominion
over the fishes of the sea and the beasts
of the earth. He increased in grace
and wisdom, and defeated the heretics.
V. May God have mercy on us
through thy intercession, St. Anthony.
R. May He cause the light of His
countenance to shine upon us. (Ps.
Ixvi.)
Prayer.
O merciful God, Thou true Light of
the erring, Who didst vouchsafe to
lead, through the wisdom of St. An
thony, so many thousands of souls
from the darkness of sin: enlighten our
hearts that they may come to the
knowledge of Thy divine will and per
severe in the way of Thy command-
Prayers to St. Anthony. 237
ments. Who livest and reignest world
without end. Amen.
At Compline.
I will praise Thee, O God, in St.
Anthony, whose tongue never ceased
to praise Thee and to incite others to
praise and exalt Thee.
V. Convert us, O God, Our Sa
viour.
R. And turn off Thy anger from us.
V. O God, incline unto my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Hymn.
Darkness falls: dear saint, we hail thee,
Who in dying saw the Lord.
Though twas dark, light did not fail
thee :
Mary led thee up to God.
Softly death crept in and found thee,
Stilled ithe longing of thy soul,
238 Devotions and
Gently loosed the cord that bound
thee,
Led thee forward to thy goal.
Wailing, through the orphaned city
Rose the cry: The saint is dead!"
Thou didst comfort them: in pity
Pray for us, to-day, instead.
Antiphon. Thou art My servant. I
have chosen thee and not cast thee
away. (Is. xli.)
V . The Lord loved him and gave
him renown.
R. He clothed him with the garment
of His glory.
Prayer.
O most merciful Jesus, Who on a
Friday didst die upon the wood of the
cross, and on a Friday, too, didst re
ceive the pure soul of Thy faithful ser
vant Anthony in reward of the sincere
compassion with which he contem-
Prayers to St. Anthony. 239
plated Thy sacred Passion: graciously
grant us also to meditate truly on Thy
sufferings. Through them, and
through the intercession of St. An
thony, lead us to eternal bliss in
heaven. Where Thou livest and reign-
est world without end. Amen.
Conclusion.
Dearest saint, in praise unending,
Let me thank thee for thy care.
At thy feet, thy love befriending,
Dare I hope the Lord will spare
For the Christ-child, who once sought
thee,
In thy loving arms who lay,
So much of His Heart has taught thee,
That He cannot say thee nay.
Ah, while earth is still my dwelling,
Every day be thou my friend;
Fill my soul with peace, foretelling
Perfect bliss that hath no end.
240 Devotions Mid
LITANY OF ST. ANTHONY.
For Private Devotion.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven,
w
God the Son, Redeemer of the g
8 *
world, \ * 3
^
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Holy Mary, conceived without
si",
St. Anthony of Padua,
St. Anthony, glory of the
Brothers Minor,
St. Anthony, lily of virginity,
St. Anthony, gem of poverty,
Prayers to St. Anthony. 241
St. Anthony, example of obedi
ence,
St. Anthony, mirror of absti
nence,
St. Anthony, vessel of purity,
St. Anthony, star of sanctity,
St. Anthony, model of conduct,
St. Anthony, beauty of para
dise,
St. Anthony, ark of the testa
ment,
St. Anthony, keeper of the Scrip
tures,
St. Anthony, teacher of truth,
St. Anthony, preacher of grace,
St. Anthony, exterminator of
vices,
St. Anthony, planter of virtues,
St. Anthony, conqueror of here
tics,
St. Anthony, terror of the infi
dels,
242
Devotions and
St. Anthony, consoler of the 1
afflicted,
St. Anthony, searcher of con
sciences,
St. Anthony, martyr in desire,
St. Anthony, terror of the devils,
St. Anthony, horror of hell,
St. Anthony, performer of mir
acles,
St. Anthony, finder of lost things,
St. Anthony, helper of all who in
voke thee, j
Be merciful, spare us, Lord.
Be merciful, hear us, Lord.
From all evil,
From all sin,
From the snares of the devil,
From pestilence, famine, and war,
From eternal death,
Through the merits of St. An
thony,
Through his ardent charity,
Prayers to St. Anthony. 243
Through his zealous preaching,
Through his desire of martyrdom,
Through his strict observance of
obedience, poverty, and chas
tity,
On the day of judgment,
We sinners, beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou vouchsafe to lead us 1
to true penitence,
That Thou vouchsafe to inflame
us with divine love,
That Thou vouchsafe to let us
ever enjoy the protection of St.
Anthony,
That Thou vouchsafe to give us,
by the merits of St. Anthony,
the gift of true contrition, hu
mility, and contemplation,
That Thou vouchsafe us the
grace, through the intercession
of St. Anthony, to overcome
2 44 Devotions and
the world, the flesh, and the
devil,
That Thou vouchsafe the assist
ance of St. Anthony to all who
invoke him in their necessities,
That Thou vouchsafe graciously
to hear us,
Son of God,
Lamb of God, Who takest away the
sins of the world, spare us, Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the
sins of the world, hear us, Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the
sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
V. Pray for us, O blessed Anthony.
R. That we may be made worthy of
the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray.
Almighty and eternal God, Who
Prayers to St. Anthony. 245
didst glorify Thy faithful confessor
Anthony with the perpetual gift of
working- miracles, graciously grant
that what we confidently seek through
his merits we may surely receive
through his intercession. Through
Christ Our Lord. Amen.
THE RESPONSORY TO ST. ANTHONY.
If miracles thou fain wouldst see:
Lo, error, death, calamity,
The leprous stain, the demon flies,
From beds of pain the sick arise.
The hungry seas forego their prey,
The prisoner s cruel chains give way;
While palsied limbs and chattels lost,
Both young and old recovered boast.
And perils perish ; plenty s hoard
Is heaped on hunger s famished board,
Let those relate, who know it well,
Let Padua of her patron tell.
246 Devotions and
The hungry seas, etc.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
The hungry seas, etc.
V. Pray for us, blessed Anthony.
R. That we may be made worthy of
the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray.
O God! Let the votive commemo
ration of blessed Anthony, Thy con
fessor, be a source of joy to Thy
Church, that she may always be forti
fied with spiritual assistance, and may
deserve to possess eternal joy.
Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
An Indulgence of one hundred days each time.
A plenary indulgence once a month.
o GLORIOSA DOMINA!
Hymn to the Blessed Virgin Mary, that St. An
thony was wont to repeat.
O glorious Virgin, ever blessed,
All daughters of mankind above,
Prayers to St. Anthony. 247
Who gavest nurture from thy breast
To God with pure maternal love.
What we have lost through sinful Eve,
The blossom sprung from thee re
stores,
And granting bliss to souls that
grieve,
Unbars the everlasting doors.
O gate through which hath passed the
King!
O hall whence light shone through
the gloom!
The ransomed nations praise and sing
The Offspring of thy virgin womb !
Praise from mankind and heaven s
host,
To Jesus of a virgin sprung,
To Father and to Holy Ghost,
Be equal g^ory ever sung. Amen.
248 Devotions and
o LINGUA BENEDICTA!
When St. Bonaventure had the grave opened in
which the remains of St. Anthony had reposed for
thirty-two years, the tongue of the saint was found
well preserved and red as In the days when he
preached the word of God.
O blessed tongue! that always
blessed the Lord, and made others
bless and praise Him; it is now mani
fest whait great merits thou dost pos
sess in the sight of God.
V. Pray for us.
R. That we may be made worthy,
etc.
Let us Pray.
O almighty God, Who alone dost
perform miracles, grant, we beseech
Thee, that, as Thou didst preserve the
tongue of Thy holy confessor, St. An
thony, incorrupt after death, we,
through his intercession and after his
example, may be worthy of praising
and blessing Thee forever.
Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Prayers to St. Anthonv. 249
ST. ANTHONY S BLESSING AGAINST
THE ASSAULTS OF THE POWERS OF
HELL.
Behold the cross of the Lord! fly,
ye powers of darkness; the Lion of
the tribe of Juda, the root of David,
has conquered. Alleluia!
One hundred days indulgence once a day. Leo
XIII., May zist, 1892.
THREE PRAYERS TO BE SAID KNEELING
BEFORE A PICTURE OF ST. ANTHONY
IN AFFLICTION OR ANXIETY OF ANY
KIND.
O loving Jesus, source of grace and
mercy, I cast myself at Thy feet, and I
implore Thee, through the love which
St. Anthony bore Thee, and through
the compassionate Heart with which
in Thy bitter agony Thou didst look
down upon Thy Mother from the cross
and commend her to the care of St.
250 Devotions and
John, to look upon me, a poor sinner,
with the eyes of Thy boundless mercy.
Come as my loving Father and God
to my assistance in my great need and
anxiety. In Thee do I trust, in Thee
do I hope. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
O good Jesus, loving Redeemer and
Sanctifier! I cast myself at Thy feet,
and I implore Thee through the love
which St. Anthony bore Thee, and
through Thy precious blood shed for
us, to turn Thy compassionate and
fatherly eyes upon me, a poor sinner
whom Thou didst free on the cross
from the chains of the enemy. Com
fort me in my anxiety and afflic
tion, for in Thee alone do I place
all my confidence and my hope.
Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
O loving Jesus, sure and sole refuge
Prayers to St. Anthony. 251
of my needy soul! I cast myself at Thy
feet, and I implore Thee through the
love which St. Anthony bore Thee,
and through Thy love for him which
induced Thee to come to him in the
form of a little child, and to comfort
and caress him, I implore Thee to
come to me in my great need and
affliction, that I may know how pre
cious is Thy presence in a soul that
hopes in Thee.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
Prayer.
O truest and most loving patron St.
Anthony ! I implore thee in union with
the most loving Heart of Jesus, which
He suffered to be opened for sinners
after His death, show me how great is
thy power before the throne of God,
and let me be comforted in my afflic-
252 Devotions and
tion with the hope that, like all who
call upon thee in their need, I may be
able to say with a joyful heart, God
truly lives and reigns in His servant
St. Anthony. Amen.
Concluding Prayer.
St. Anthony, I love thee !
St. Anthony, I praise thee!
St. Anthony, I implore thee!
St. Anthony, I hope in thee!
St. Anthony, protect me!
St. Anthony, enlighten me!
St. Anthony, strengthen me!
St. Anthony, I give myself to thee!
Forsake me not at the hour of death!
Protect me against the wicked enemy!
Defend me before the judgment seat!
Accompany me to eternal joy!
And I will praise thee forever. Amen.
Prayers to St. Anthony. 253
PRAYER AT THE END OF THE NINE
TUESDAYS.
God be praised, through Whose
grace I have carried out this devotion.
Nine times, O St. Anthony, have I
visited thy image with confidence to
lay before thee my necessities, often
have I poured forth prayers and sighs
to thee, and I have striven, as far as
possible, to offer thee true and faith
ful service in order to promote thy
honor to the best of my power and
manifest my sincere love for thee. If
I have truly done my duty thou wilt
do thine, and give me a practical proof
that my devotion is pleasing to thee,
and that thou art a saint rich in con
solations. But do thou, O good St.
Anthony, supply for what is lacking in
my devotion! I will no longer be
anxious or troubled ; I will trust all to
483064
254 Devotions to St. Anthony.
God s mercy and thy advocacy. My
only care shall be to keep Jesus, Mary,
and thee for my friends. It is enough
that Jesus knows my suffering, for He
never forsakes one who loves Him.
Amen.
PRINTED BY BHNZIGER BROTHERS, NI
BX 4700 .A6K45 1899
SMC
Keller, Joseph Anton,
1840-1916.
Saint Anthony :
ancedotes proving the
AJZ-4223 (mcsk)
