The Things I Do for Love: April 2016

Sunday, April 24, 2016

The Relics of St. Anthony

St. Anthony of Padua is one of the saints that I always ask for help. I knew him from a friend who told us to buy a little book with a prayer to him. She told us that she is a forgetful type of person and she prays to St. Anthony of lost things for help. True enough, the things she looks for just shows up.

That is how I used to address the saint... St. Anthony of lost things. I can attest that he is effective. Lost things, even money, return. So, because I was very indebted to him, I wanted to know who he was.

One time, I was listening to one of the family conversations about the saint who was very passionate on preaching the Word of God. He preached here and there, whether there are people or none at all. And if the people won't listen, he would turn to the animals and they would miraculously look up, as if listen to him. When he died, his body decomposed except for one part: his tongue. He was St. Anthony of Padua. I did my research and found out that he was the one I was looking for. The Patron Saint of Lost Things, St. Anthony of Padua.

How happy I was when I found out that his Holy Relics would come here in Manila! Unfortunately, I had work on my chosen schedule, April 21, 2016 Thursday, and I was afraid I wouldn't make it. When I got to San Agustin Friary, it was just in time for veneration and I happily entered the church.

Flyers and the Handkerchief that I bought at the church

With regards to the handkerchief, it has been said that if you wipe a cloth (or anything for that matter) to a first class relic, it will become a secondary relic. So without a doubt, I wiped my handkerchief/souvenir to the relic of St. Anthony's rib after I kissed it.

The relic of St. Anthony's rib

There were actually two queues, the other for the relic of St. Anthony's cheek. However, the line was longer in that end. Fortunately, a Franciscan brother helped us. He offered to wipe our handkerchiefs to the relic. Yay!

At the center of that statue is St. Anthony's relic from his cheek

It was a short but meaningful time spent with the Saint. Actually, it felt to me as if was he was physically present. I felt peace and happy as I went home, taking simple but profound gifts from a time we were near him.