In Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad), he enjoins us to embark on our Christian journey of holiness by embracing the ordinariness of everyday. Throughout his exhortation, Pope Francis calls out more than 40 saints who can assist us on our mission of Christian faith, and to teach us how to rejoice and be glad in all of life’s challenges, mysteries, and joys.
During the 34 weeks of Ordinary Time, we will introduce you to some of the saints mentioned in Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation. #OrdinarySaints for #OrdinaryTime #HolyOrdinary
St. Anthony of Padua
He wrote to St. Anthony of Padua: “I am pleased that you teach sacred theology to the brothers, provided that… you do not extinguish the spirit of prayer and devotion during study of this kind.” Francis recognized the temptation to turn the Christian experience into a set of intellectual exercises that distance us from the freshness of the Gospel.
St. Anthony is possibly one of the most recognizable saints in the Catholic Church. “Dear St. Anthony please come around something is lost and it cannot be found.”
Born and raised by a wealthy family in Portugal, St. Anthony become a Catholic priest and a friar in the Franciscan Order. Throughout his life, he was noted for his powerful preaching, expert knowledge of scripture, and sincere devotion to the poor and sick.
Less than one year after his death, St. Anthony was beatified and canonized on the same day on May 30, 1232. He was declared a Doctor of the Church on January 16, 1946.
By why patron of lost things? The story goes that a novice carried off St. Anthony’s psalter which was filled with notes. Anthony prayed very hard for the psalter to be found. After seeing an alarming apparition of St. Anthony, the novice returned the psalter. We celebrate St. Anthony’s feast day on June 13.
