13 June 2014
Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church
“The lost get found.” Today we remember the feast day of St. Antony of Padua (1195-1231), for many, this is the patron saint of the lost and found. Originally an Augustinian monk, he became a Franciscan after he being moved by the example of five Franciscans who were martyred for sharing their faith in Morocco. Anthony’s preaching eventually brought him to Padua and he was known for being a gentle speaker and excellent preacher, but knew when to attack those who followed the vices of luxury, avarice, and tyranny. After his death in 1231, he was declared a saint a year later, due to the numerous miracles attributed to his name. He was recognized as a doctor of the Catholic Church in 1946.
The first reading from 1 Kings 19:9,11-16 is certainly one of my favorite Old Testament passages because it serves as a reminder that while we may want God to be blatant with giving us guidance and signs, we often receive the message better when we are quiet. Jesuits, and many other religious orders, are asked each year to take time for an eight day silent retreat. Through these times of quiet reflections, we have a chance to reconnect ourselves back to God, to step away from the noise and destruction in the world to see how God has been working in each of our lives and the lives of those around us. Given today’s reading, try to take some time to slip away, even if it is for five minutes, to ask God to show you how God has been working in your life.