In France devotion to Saint Anthony has spread with a magnificence equal to that in Portugal and Italy. Today devotion to the good saint is more lively than ever. Who is there in France, in America, or in Canada that dues not know the good Saint Anthony of Padua? How many circumstances might be related of the vigilance and the power of him who is invoked with such great faith, especially when there is question of finding some lost object? But the power of the wonder-worker is not limited to this. How many spiritual and temporal graces have been obtained by the invocation of this amiable saint? And what shall we say of the work called the "Bread of Saint Anthony"? This work commenced in a modest oratory of Toulon in France, and in a short time spread throughout all France and then to America and elsewhere.
A young girl of Toulon, named Louise Bouffier, thought of consecrating herself to God under the garb of the Carmelites. She was obliged to put the thought away, however, as she was the sole support of her parents: still she consoled herself by employing all her leisure moments in the work of the foreign missions. A favor obtained through the intercession of Saint Anthony awakened in her heart a profound sentiment of gratitude. The statue of the wonder-worker was on that very day placed in the corner of the work-shop where she was engaged, and thenceforth the good saint looked down upon the labors of the young girl. This was the origin of the countless graces and wonders which awakened public attention. She who had hoped to be a daughter of Saint Theresa thus became the propagatrix of the devotion to Saint Anthony. But we shall let the girl herself tell of the beginning and the rapid progress of this opportune and consoling devotion. She wrote to Father Marie Antoine, a Franciscan, and propagator of the devotion to the saint, whose name he bore, the following:
"My Reverend Father:
"You wish to know how the devotion to Saint Anthony of Padua began in our city of Toulon. Like all the works of our good God, it developed quietly and in obscurity. About four years ago, I knew nothing of the devotion to Saint Anthony of Padua and had only heard it vaguely asserted that lie was the patron of those who wished to recover whatever had been lost.
"One morning, I could not open my store door; as the secret lock was found to be broken. I engaged a locksmith, who brought a large bunch of keys, and worked on it about an hour. Having lost all patience, he said to me: 'I must go for some other tools to force the door; it is impossible to open it otherwise.'
"During his absence, inspired by the good God, I said to myself: 'If you promise some bread to Saint Anthony for the poor, perhaps he would open the door without breaking it.' At that moment the workman came, bringing a companion with him. I said to them: 'Gentlemen, allow me, if you please. I have just promised some bread to Saint Anthony of Padua for his poor; instead of forcing the door, try once more to open it; perhaps the saint will come to our assistance.' They agreed; and when the first key was introduced into the broken lock, it opened without the least difficulty, as if it were the very key of the door. It is useless to attempt to picture the wonder of all present. From that day, all my pious friends pray with me to the good saint, and the smallest of our sorrows is communicated to Saint Anthony with the promise of bread for his poor.
"We cannot but marvel at the graces he obtains for us. One of my intimate friends who witnessed these wonders at once promised a kilogram of bread every day of her life if he would obtain for a member of her family the correction of a certain failing over which she had grieved for twenty-three years. The favor was soon granted, and the failing has never returned. In gratitude she purchased a little statue of Saint Anthony of Padua, which she has given me, and we have placed it in a little room so dark that a lamp is necessary to make it visible. This is my back room. Well, would you believe it, Father, every day this little dark room is filled with people who come to pray with greatest fervor. Not only do they pray, but you would think that each one is paid to make known and spread this devotion.
"At one time a soldier, an officer, or captain of a ship about to start on a long voyage comes to promise to Saint Anthony one dollar a month for bread, if he reaches his destination safely. Again, a mother asks for her child's health or the success of his examinations. Now, a family asks for the conversion of a dear soul near to death who will not receive the sacraments: then, a servant needs a situation, or a workman seeks occupation, and all these requests are accompanied by a promise of bread if they are answered.
"Some time ago, I was sent for by an aged lady who was in great suffering. 'Mademoiselle,' she said to me, 'for two years I have prayed fervently to the great Saint Anthony to relieve me from the misery in which I live, helpless from rheumatism, not able to remain alone, and not having means enough to keep a servant. I have only a small annuity and many necessities. Each day I have conjured the saint to remove ray obligations, and have promised him, in thanksgiving, forty dollars for his poor. He has heard my petition, not according to my wishes, but very much beyond my expectations. I have just inherited nine thousand dollars most unexpectedly. This is why I have sent for you.' As she spoke, the tears were in her eyes. Her heart overflowed with gratitude, her hand was generous, and our orphans are happy.
"A certain gentleman in the neighborhood of Toulon owned a place worth at least seven thousand dollars which he wished to sell. He made the greatest efforts to find a purchaser, but no one seemed to want the property. Some one told him of my little oratory. He came there, and while kneeling at the feet of Saint Anthony, promised fifty francs for bread. Three days after, the property was sold, and on conditions as advantageous as they were unexpected.
"Towards the end of the bathing season, one of my lady friends, who was a very skillful swimmer, while in the water lost a gold ring set with brilliants. Her sorrow was very great when she realized her loss. The bathers, always numerous on our seashore, hearing of the mishap plunged into the water in search of the precious jewel. One after another they plunged into the depths of the Mediterranean, but returned unsuccessful. The lady on entering her house remembered the power of Saint Anthony, and made him a promise of bread. Early on the following day she returned to the beach, accompanied by a young man, who at the first plunge found and brought back the prized ring. As the lady is well known in the city, the event produced a great impression.
"Saint Anthony blesses those who keep their promises, but allow me to say that he rigorously punishes those who neglect their obligations. Here is an example. A lady of Toulon had promised one hundred kilograms of bread to obtain a special favor for one dearly loved. The favor was granted, and she hastened to tell us with great demonstrations of joy. But the debt of gratitude was not discharged. Two months passed. We feared some punishment would follow. Very soon we learned that the dearly loved one had died, and almost suddenly.
"A book would not suffice to contain the miracles which are daily witnessed here through the intercession of our saintly wonder-worker."
That little box placed at the feet of Saint Anthony, in Mademoiselle Bouffier's rear work-room, if it were possible, could recount many a secret and the reason for many anonymous offerings.
In the beginning, the weekly receipts were from fifteen to thirty francs. In Lafayette Street, it is recalled that the receipts for one day reached the unusual sum of one hundred francs. It is scarcely credible, but now, when the box does not yield more than three hundred francs, it is considered a very small amount. The total amount for the year 1894 was 108,506 francs.
Nothing, perhaps, is so calculated to touch or move the witnesses of these wonders as a visit to this modest box, which, although emptied every evening, is filled again the next day by offerings, the secret of which God alone knows. On seeing the marvellous contents of that inexhaustible box spread out, every one exclaims, "Are not these several days' receipts?" No, that is the amount deposited in one day.
Oftentimes there are four or five hundred francs in bank-notes, in gold pieces, in crowns, or in copper coins, and all these gifts are anonymous. By whom this piece of gold has been deposited, or these small coins, or the bank-note for one hundred francs, none but God knows.
"But that which especially causes our joy," wrote Mademoiselle Bouffier to some friends, "is the humility which envelops this dear little work, and, as you know, is the true character of God's work. It is the humility with which each one places his or her offering in the box, without caring if I know them or not. And when evening comes, on opening Saint Anthony's box to register the receipts, I find the penny of the poor mingled with the bank-notes or gold pieces of the rich. The bread kneaded by the charity of each one bears only one name and can bear no other, the name my dear orphans give it, 'the bread of Saint Anthony.'"
It is not a rare thing to find some jewels among the pieces of money. We can easily believe that these golden rings represent perhaps a severer sacrifice, for those who part with them to pay a sacred debt, than the gift of a piece of money. But whether in bank-notes or coppers, all the offerings are made with the same generosity and simplicity; and there is no more ceremony in depositing one thousand francs than in depositing a single penny.
But all have promised bread for the poor, they have prayed and their prayers have been answered. The work has been successful, the difficulty has been overcome, the lost object has been recovered, health has been restored, and some long-time prodigal has at last returned to his father's house. Thanks to Saint Anthony!
- taken from Saint Anthony, The Saint of the Whole World by Father Thomas F Ward