Miracles of Saint Anthony
(Documented: 1231-32)
Miracle (During Lifetime)
One miracle that is attributed to Saint Anthony during his lifetime
was described as follows:
A certain inhabitant of Padua, called Peter, had a daughter whose
name was Padovana. Although she was four years old, she was absolutely
incapable of using her feet and moved like a reptile, crawling with
the help of her hands. Furthermore, it was said that, since she suffered
from epilepsy, she would often fall and roll around. When Saint Anthony
was still alive, her father, as he carried her in his arms while walking
through the city one day, met the saint and began to beg him to make the
sign of the cross over his daughter. The saintly father, admiring the
man's faith, blessed her and sent her away. When the girl's father returned
home, he made his daughter stand up on her feet. Supported by a footstool,
she immediately began to walk about. Then, having taken away the footstool,
her father gave her a cane. Indeed, walking about in the house, the girl
always improved. At last, through the merits of most blessed Anthony, she
healed completely and did not need any prop whatsoever. And, from that moment when
she was blessed, she no longer suffered any illness or even
the least falling sickness.
Miracles (After Death)
The following miracles are just a few of the many that occurred after Saint Anthony's death,
and were read, along with the one above, before Pope Gregory IX:
Prosdocima of Noventa, the widow of Mainerio, had a left hand and both feet that were
contracted. She was carried to blessed Anthony's sepulchre in a wooden tub. When she was
raised above the ark, her feet were immediately straightened out and restored to their
original use through the merits of blessed Anthony. Her hand, to be sure, opened a little,
trembling at first, and then stretched out so that, while everyone looked on, she closed
and opened it. Taken down from the ark, she at once jumped to her feet and, having regained
the health she desired, she departed full of joy.
In the city of Padua, there was a certain boy, called John, whose chin for four years
adhered to his chest so much that he could not raise his head in any way but walked about
stooped forward, with his head at an angle. One day, when his mother brought him to blessed
Anthony's tomb, there and then, the boy himself raised his head and, cured, went back with
his mother. But a cavity appeared in his chest, in the very spot where his chin had stuck.
A certain woman, whose name was Bilia, for three years suffering tremors in her whole body,
came shakingly, straitened as she was, to the ark of the saintly father Anthony. While she
persisted in prayer before the sepulchre, the tremor became stronger and she felt her
temperature rise greatly. Men and women cried, moved to compassion by her trembling and
perspiration. But, when she was taken outside the door of the church so that she might breathe
a little, her temperature came down, and having been cured, she left the place.
A certain German woman, whose name was Caroline, was brought to the sepulchre of the most
saintly father because for seven years she had been deprived of sight in both eyes. When she
stayed there for a short time in prayer, she regained her sight through heavenly aid and
happily returned home, praising God.
When a certain man, whose name was Guidotto, was once suffering from a serious illness, his
kidneys were impaired and he developed a hump. He couldn't walk without the support of crutches
and his head would droop almost to the ground. When his mother had him led to blessed Anthony's
sepulchre so that he might regain his health, he suddenly began to feel such great pains throughout
his whole body that he perspired violently because of his anguish. As the pain subsided, the man could
distend his kidneys and immediately, through the saint's merits, the hump disappeared.
In the book, "Life of St. Anthony: Assidua," by A Contemporary Franciscan, the author
lists fifty-three miracles that were read before Pope Gregory IX. It seems unbelievable that there could have been fifty-three miracles,
but according to the author, who was also a franciscan friar and personally knew Saint Anthony, there were many more. The following is the
author's "Conclusion To The Book Of Miracles:"
Indeed, the Lord of majesty deigned to work through his servant Anthony many other signs which are not written in
this book. Here we have gathered a few from among many, choosing from the better known those that are most certain,
in order to give an opportunity to others, who may wish to do so, to add to these praises. And, not assenting to what
is uncertain, while we intend to praise the saint, may we guard our tongues from the vice of lying. Truly, if his
miraculous signs, some of which are great, and his marvels, which are extraordinary, were described one by one, I am afraid
that just as their number might cause discomfort to the reader so also the unusual greatness of the works might give rise
to the danger of disbelief in the minds of the weak.
All italicized text is from "Life of St. Anthony: Assidua" by A Contemporary Franciscan
Copyright © 1984 Prov. Pad. F.M.C. Editrice GraficheMessaggero di S. Antonio.