From 6 in the morning till 9 at night, an endless line of people reverently passed by the crystal case containing the holy relics. At peak hours, the line of those patiently and prayerfully waiting for their turn stretched from one end of the large Basilica to the other, overflowing into the square and the street in front of it.
Nothing like this had been seen in Padua since February 1981, when, for the 750th anniversary of the Saint’s death, Anthony’s mortal remains were found to be in exceptionally good condition, and presented to the faithful for public veneration.
Deeply moved by so much faith, one afternoon I approached a few pilgrims to ask them why they were so determined to endure up to five or six hours in line for just a few minutes of veneration before the Saint’s remains.
A student from Turin expressed himself rather movingly, “Saint Anthony reminds me of the Gospel message. In his sermons he spoke of peace and goodness, both of which are hard to find in our world and even in our homes”.
“I am from the south of Italy,” said an elderly man. “Saint Anthony is much loved by our people. I’ve been praying to him ever since I can remember. I am here to thank him for having helped my son find a good job. The financial crisis is making life hard for all of us. But the Saint, as always, is close to us, poor people.”
An American tourist in Venice made a special effort to come to Padua when he got word about the Exposition. “I am very religious, and I came to pray for peace in the world. My personal intention was to ask for his help in bringing unity to my marriage”.
“As soon as my wife and I heard that Saint Anthony’s body was on display, we decided to come to Padua with our children,” explained a man from Sri Lanka who lives in Milan.
“The event has historical as well as religious meaning for us. In Sri Lanka the Saint has many devotees, and several churches have been erected in his honour. I was delighted to know from one of my relatives that an important relic of the Paduan saint will be brought to Sri Lanka on March 7 in view of the 175th Jubilee of Saint Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade near Colombo”.
A Swiss woman confessed that she was overcome with emotion: “The Saint’s bones made me realise that we often lead shallow lives. He dedicated all his life to higher things”.
“I prayed for those who suffer,” said a priest who works with drug addicts. “I asked Saint Anthony to help my young people overcome their problem”.
Leaning on a cane, an elderly Irish woman explained that this was her first visit to Padua. “Saint Anthony has much to teach us about patience. I wish that he would restore my health. This trip has tired me quite a lot, but my life would be much harder without faith”.
All those lined up were waiting in devout silence for the brief but intense encounter with their dear heavenly friend. During the long wait they had plenty of time to thank God for graces received, to think about any wrongs they may have done, and ask for forgiveness. They had all the time in the world to think about what evils they should be delivered from, and about what good things to ask for themselves and their loved ones. In this act of devotion everyone knew they had to give their best. It made no sense to ask for forgiveness without repentance and a promise to have recourse to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Likewise, it also made no sense to ask for healing without a commitment to use the recovered strength to good purpose. And who would be fool enough to ask for a good job without the promise to share the benefits with the poor and needy or to ask for eternal salvation without remembering that it is the reward for living in accordance with God’s will?
It is said that a good experience is the one that makes you a better person; in this sense the Exposition of Saint Anthony’s mortal remains was certainly an extraordinary experience because it elevated thousands of hearts and minds to the Almighty.
I would like to conclude this editorial by wishing all of you, dear readers, a blessed and holy Easter.
Updated on October 06 2016