António dos Santos
On the 13th of June of each year, the Universal Church commemorates St Anthony of Lisbon, also known as St Anthony of Padua, where he preached and from where he journeyed to eternity. In Macau, as in other years, the thirteen-day “novena” recalling the date of Saint Anthony’s death and celebration, was made, which began on the 31st of May. The Feast Day Mass in the territory (in Portuguese and Chinese), took place in the Parish of St Anthony and was presided by the Bishop of Macau, D. Stephen Lee. The church, which was attended by the “Irmandade de Santo António,” was full and the Eucharistic celebration was enhanced by beautiful chants.
From cradle to sanctity – St Anthony was born in Lisbon into a noble family, around 1195, and was baptized with the name of Fernando Martins de Bulhões. Over the course of eight hundred years, he became one of the most popular saints in the Catholic Church. As a child, he was of a calm and contemplative disposition. It is said that from an early age he began to perform wonders. As a teenager, he asked for authorization to join the Order of St Augustine. He began at the monastery of St Vincent, in Lisbon, and later at the monastery of the Holy Cross, in Coimbra. He devoted himself with interest and solicitude to the study of the Bible and the Fathers of the Church, acquiring that theological science that made him fruitful in his teaching and preaching activities.
In Coimbra, something happened that marked a decisive change in his life. In 1220, the relics of the first five Franciscan missionaries who had gone to Morocco, where they were martyred, were exposed. This event gave rise to the young Fernando the desire to imitate them and to advance on the path of Christian perfection: he then asked to leave the Augustinian Order and become a Franciscan friar. His request was accepted and, taking the name of Anthony, he too left for Morocco, but divine Providence set him on another course.
Due to an illness, he was forced to return to Italy and, in 1221, he attended the famous “Chapter of Mats” in Assisi, where he also met St Francis.
He was also among the first professors of theology of the Friars Minor and was appointed Provincial Superior of the Friars Minor of Northern Italy. Having completed his term as provincial, he retired to near Padua, where he had already been before. After just one year, he died close to the city (Padua), in Arcella, on June 13, 1231, on a Friday. Padua received Anthony’s body and buried him in the church of “Santa Maria Mater Domini.” The following year, the city decided to build a Basilica in his honour, and the small church where the saint’s body is located was integrated into the building.
Pope Gregory IX himself – who, after having heard him preach, defined him as the “Ark of the Testament” – canonized him in 1232, also based on the miracles that occurred through his intercession; it was not yet a year after his death. A unique case in the history of the Catholic Church, since not even St Francis of Assisi had such a privilege.
St Anthony already radiated holiness in life and crowds followed him and came to hear him – both in church and in public places where he preached.
Today, the images and statues of St Anthony’s dear to the faithful, represent him with the lily, a symbol of his purity, or with the Child Jesus in his arms, recalling a miraculous apparition mentioned by some literary sources. St Anthony lives in the hearts of the faithful and from his heavenly abode he continues to intercede for those who invoke him.
St Anthony, pray for us!
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