St. Anthony may help us find keys or or wallets when we lose them, but have you ever prayed to this great saint to help you find healing, wholeness, wellness, or peace? It’s the intangibles that matter most, and he’s ready to assist in finding them too. Anthony’s mission was to bring people into closer union with God: through Scripture, through prayer, through community.
Enjoy these reflections on Portugal’s favorite saint!
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Peace
St. Anthony was attacked by those who disagreed with him, often called heretics. Anthony chose his responses with love and presence. Some of the hagiographic stories of Anthony’s life show us how he demonstrated faith to others. Read more…
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Stability
I do not live for thrills. I will never jump out of an airplane or squeeze my way through an intricate cave system or climb a large rock. I do not come alive in these moments. Adrenaline, for me, should not be triggered: I like my feet firmly on the ground. I’ve always been this way. Read more…
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Community
One of my favorite stories of St. Anthony is the one about how, during the final years of his life, the friars built Anthony a treehouse in a large walnut tree not far from the friary. Anthony would climb up into it and stay there for days, weeks, or months. Read more…
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Well-Being
Life can often feel like, in St. Anthony’s words, “choppy water,” and we can indeed lose our sense of bearing when things get chaotic or even hostile. To continue with his words as inspiration, what does it look like for you to “let your soul be at peace”? Read more…
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Beauty
Between the 12th and 14th centuries, the Christian heresy of Catharism gained momentum in northern Italy and southern France. Like the heresy of gnosticism in the first few centuries, Cathars were dualists who believed reality consisted of two opposing cosmic forces. Read more…
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