St. Anthony

And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.


—Mark 16:17-18


Amen, amen I say to you, he that believeth in me, the works that I do, he also shall do; and greater than these shall he do.


—John 14:12


Lest the present biography of St. Anthony appear precious or quaint or even fabulous to the sophisticated twentieth century reader, he should ponder first these words of Christ, used in commissioning His Apostles. These qualities were to be the hallmark of his devoted followers. Yet we today are prone to regard the miraculous as a phenomenon of the past, or even a superstition of “less enlightened days.”


But the words of Our Lord Himself gainsay this line of thought on our part. If we cannot believe in the miracles of His followers, perhaps it is because we no longer believe in Him, for to dispense of the miracles of His followers is to dispense of His words, and to dispense of His words is to dispense of the Lord Himself.


Not that the present volume really needs vindication, but the singularity of this life should either turn us toward Christ, for a deeper understanding of His mysteries, or it should turn us away from Christ—as a Person, as a Faith, as a Way of life that is incredible. This life of Saint Anthony of Padua should not leave us indifferent. It is of course our intent in reprinting this book that it lead others to a deeper probing of their Faith. It is hoped people will see in this great saint the lofty pinnacle to which sanctity can carry a mortal man. We ourselves are all called to be saints, and if we muddle through a hum-drum spiritual life, it is because we are content with spiritual mediocrity. But we know from our Lord’s harsh words in Apocalypse 3:16 how He regards the lukewarm. May this little book inspire in its readers a lasting devotion to St. Anthony—a most powerful intercessor—but may it also work on them as leaven, to transform their lives in Christ.