Human Rights Hero

RECONSTRUCTING the content of Anthony’s homilies during the Lenten season of 1231 is no simple task, apart from the overarching theme of ‘turning back to God’. Yet, this call to repentance was not limited to encouraging individual spirituality or inner happiness. On the contrary, Anthony’s sermons aimed to address the pressing social and political challenges of Padua, possibly with the hope of inspiring legislative reform.

Although Anthony himself lacked the authority to introduce laws, the compelling power of his preaching deeply moved the town council, along with the citizens attending his sermons during Lent. This influence ultimately led the council to adopt a transformative law: “At the request of the venerable brother, the most holy Anthony, the Father Confessor of the Order of Friars Minor, no debtor nor citizen will in the future be deprived of their freedom if they become insolvent. In such a situation, their property will be seized, but not their person nor their freedom.”

This law serves as rare evidence of a legislative change brought about solely by the moral authority and personal influence of an individual, without the support of any political lobbying. Anthony’s intervention in Padua’s legislative process remains a remarkable example of how faith-inspired action can shape political and social reform.

A world of injustice

The social conditions preceding the law reveal a shockingly inhumane system. In Padua, as in many towns within Italy’s economic heartland (though Italy as a unified nation did not yet exist), debtors were held accountable for their financial obligations with their freedom and bodily integrity. To put it plainly, those who failed to pay their debts faced imprisonment, often for life.

This harsh reality primarily affected small homeowners and those living on the margins of society. These individuals, struggling to make ends meet, could lose everything in the face of unforeseen hardships, such as an illness. When the primary breadwinner of a family fell ill, income would dry up, and debts would mount, inevitably leading to imprisonment. Debt imprisonment marked a descent into utter misery, creating an entrenched underclass in urban centers – a burgeoning urban proletariat stripped of opportunities and rife with potential for social unrest. The growing chasm between the maiores (wealthy elites) and the minores (the underprivileged) exacerbated this volatile dynamic.

St. Francis of Assisi’s choice to name his community fratres minores, or “lesser brothers,” symbolized his solidarity with the oppressed. Anthony’s commitment to this tradition is evident in his fervent Lenten preaching and the tangible results of his efforts to alleviate social inequities.

Moneylenders

One of the most pressing issues in Anthony’s time was the predatory practices of moneylenders and newly established banks. As Lothar Hardick describes, “Businessmen saw their opportunities in the growing demand for money and opened banks that lent money at extortionate rates of interest, driving more and more people into debt and hopeless misery. Those unable to repay their loans, along with the high interest, or those liable for insolvency, often fell victim to the power of magnates, much like the servant in Jesus’ Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Mt. 18:23-35).”

Anthony courageously denounced these practices in his sermons, offering a moral critique that resonated deeply with his listeners. His homilies struck a chord, yet the resulting legislative action was not merely a natural outcome of his words. It was a remarkable achievement, one that can be seen as nothing less than a miracle of moral persuasion leading to meaningful reform.

Lasting impact

Some may argue that the religious themes of repentance and charity, central to Anthony’s Lenten preaching, had little direct connection to the law’s passage. The unknown author of the Assidua, a contemporary eyewitness, highlights the transformative moral impact of his sermons: “I cannot pass over in silence how large a number of people, both men and women, he induced to confess their sins so that neither friars nor other priests... were sufficient to hear their confessions.”

However, beyond this spiritual renewal, Anthony’s work carried tangible social implications, for the Assidua further describes the fruits of Anthony’s ministry: “He called back to brotherly peace those who disagreed with each other, and gave freedom to those who had been imprisoned. He required that whatever had been taken in usury or through violence be restituted. It reached the point that many, having mortgaged houses and fields, placed the money at his feet and, with his counsel, gave back to those who had been defrauded whatever had been gained by extortion and bribery. He freed prostitutes from sinful and disgraceful activities, and restrained thieves, notorious for their misdeeds, from coming into illegal contact with what belonged to others. In this manner, having reached the end of the forty days of Lent, he gathered through his zeal a harvest that was pleasing to the Lord.”

Anthony was no detached mystic, removed from the trials of daily life. He was an engaged reformer, striving to address the structural injustices that burdened the most vulnerable in society. Had he lived longer, there is little doubt that the Saint of Padua would have sought to address further inequities, for he believed passionately in the transformative power of justice and the unwavering support of a God who champions the downtrodden.

A Saint of action

Anthony’s legacy is a testament to the power of faith in action. His profound commitment to justice, expressed through his preaching and the reforms it inspired, remains a powerful example of how spiritual conviction can bring about tangible social change. By challenging the oppressive norms of his time, Anthony left an enduring impact, affirming that faith and justice are inseparable in the pursuit of a more humane world.

Moreover, Anthony’s example highlights the essential role of moral courage in confronting systemic injustice. His willingness to speak out against powerful moneylenders and entrenched inequalities, despite the risks, shows the transformative potential of a voice guided by conscience and compassion. His efforts remind us that true reform requires not only a vision for justice, but also the determination to act, even in the face of resistance or apathy.

Anthony’s life continues to inspire, demonstrating that change is possible when individuals align their actions with their deepest values. His story serves as a call to those who seek justice in their own communities, encouraging them to embrace their role as catalysts for transformation, no matter how insurmountable the challenges may seem.