Anthony’s Path

style=width:218px;height:300px;float:right;" >SOME MONTHS ago I wrote that I would have liked to say more about my visit to Camposampiero, which I made as part of my pilgrimage to Padua for the Exposition of the Mortal Remains of Saint Anthony. Camposampiero lies to the north of Padua, only about a twenty to thirty minute journey by car, but a fair day’s walk in the thirteenth century.



When Anthony had preached his great Mission during the Lent of 1231, he was completely exhausted. To recuperate, he went out to the countryside, to the estate of Count Tiso. Tiso, it seems, owned the site in Padua where the friars lived, and was a keen supporter of the Franciscan movement. It has been suggested that he is the same Tiso who conquered the March of Ancona on behalf of the Marchese d’Este in 1215-1216, and governed the area for the same Lord from 1218 to 1223. Saint Francis himself was active in that area at the very same time, so here we should probably find the origins of Tiso’s devotion to the friars.





The walnut-tree





In 1231, Tiso would have been about sixty-five years old, a typical example of the minor nobility who patronised the movement. The English equivalent, in later centuries, would be a ‘Knight of the Shires’, a retired military man who had settled down to country life. He came from much the same class as Anthony’s own family in Portugal.



His estate at Camposampiero would have included farmland, and also a tract of the forest that extended northwards from his home. At the edge of this forest was a great walnut-tree, with spreading branches. When Anthony saw it, he was delighted. The friars had a humble dwelling nearby, but the Saint took a fancy to having a little tree-house made in the branches of the nut-tree, where he could devote himself to prayer and contemplation during the summer months. Tiso was enthusiastic. He personally helped his workmen to construct a solid platform between the branches, giving it walls and a roof of wicker mats. Similar cells were made at ground level for Anthony’s companions. Here Anthony spent his last weeks, “like a busy bee”, says his biographer, in prayer and contemplation. In his little tree-house, he seemed already to be drawing nearer heaven.





The Vision





Nowadays, the appearance of the area has changed dramatically. Little is left of either forest or the nobleman’s house. Instead, the friars today have a substantial church and friary, with a house of spirituality attached. There is also a convent of Poor Clares, and a small chapel on the site of the walnut tree. A tree-lined avenue leads up to the chapel, on the walls of which are frescos illustrating incidents from the life of the Saint.



To me, one of the chief attractions of the site has been added only recently. Alongside the avenue to the chapel there is a pathway flanked by some very fine modern bronzes depicting themes from Saint Anthony’s life and writings. The first is entitled The Vision, and shows the well-known occasion when Anthony received a vision of the Holy Child. Anthony kneels, while Mary holds out to him the Divine Infant. In his sermon for Christmas Day, Anthony reminds us that Jesus was born at Bethlehem, meaning ‘the house of bread’. He goes on, “Mary is the house of bread. The bread of angels has become the milk of little ones, that the little ones may become angels... To you, O blessed Virgin, be praise and glory, for today we are filled with the goodness of your house, that is, of your womb.” The basis of Anthony’s spirituality is the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. This is his vision in more ways than one.





Pardon & Eucharist





The next representation is called Pardon. Jesus is shown receiving penitent sinners, while the penitent Magdalene kneels at his feet. On the first Sunday in Lent, Anthony wrote, “If the music of weeping and bitter compunction resounds in the house of confession, the choir of divine mercy will respond immediately, forgiving the sin... Confession is also called ‘the gate of heaven’. Truly, truly it is the gate of heaven! Truly it is the gate of paradise! Through it, as through a gate, the penitent is led in to kiss the feet of divine mercy!”



Next comes the Eucharist, with a depiction of our Lord washing His disciples’ feet, while Anthony looks on, holding the broken bread. Anthony hymned the wonderful humility of Jesus, in serving His disciples, and in feeding us all with the Bread of Life, which is Himself.





Prayer, Death & Gifts





The fourth representation is of Prayer, and we see Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, closely watched by Anthony. It is from contemplating the example of the Lord that we learn how to speak to our heavenly Father, and to our Lord. “Let us pray then, and with tears beseech the Lord Jesus Christ, that He hide not His face from us, nor go out of the temple of our hearts. May He not accuse us of sin in His judgement, but pour upon us grace to hear His word carefully. May He give us patience when we suffer injury, and free us from eternal death. May He glorify us in His kingdom, that with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob we may see the day of His eternity. May He grant this, to whom be honour and power, dignity and dominion, for ever and ever. Let all the Church say: Amen.”



In the fifth bronze we see the death of Anthony himself, lying on the ground with Christ coming to meet him. His last words, at Arcella, were “I see my Lord!” Indeed, it is the newly-risen Christ who is depicted, with the stone that closed His tomb rolled away beside Him. Anthony reminds us that no-one has seen or even imagined what God has in store for us.



Finally, there is a bronze sculpture representing the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the crown of the Christian life. Walking this path, we truly follow Anthony’s own example, beginning with the vision of Christ, by whose power we are forgiven, by whose Body and Blood we are fed, through whom we pray, in whom we die, and from whom the gifts of God’s Spirit are poured upon us. If you go to Padua, try to go out to Camposampiero as well, and walk in the path of the Saint.