The Miracles of St Anthony

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Celebrating His Legacy

His Images and Statues

Basilica of St Anthony in Padua

Honoring His Legacy

Test your Knowledge : St Anthony Jeopardy

Celebrating His Life

    The Statue of St Anthony with a snake

A local legend explains the story behind this statue. In 1600, the missionaries planned for a new and larger church in another location more central to the Christians of Siolim. As it was difficult for the people to travel right up to the hill of Shirkothe, where the previous church of Mae De Deus was present. So, in order to build a new church they were falling short of funds. At the same time two Portuguese merchants travelling to India via konkan coast, were caught in a severe storm.

They had with them a statue of St. Anthony and vowed that if they made to the port safely they would build a church where they would land. And this so happened, that the ship landed at the Chapora river and docked on the left bank near the village of Marna. Co-incidental, they met the Franciscan missionaries who were looking for funds to build a new church.

As a promise made they soon began constructing the church. The work had begun of building of the church. An unusual snake began to appear and started harassing the workers and began disturbing the rector directing the construction. Every time they built the foundation he would destroy it. The snake was an obstruction due to which they decided to construction the church else where.

But the saint worked a miracle. To their great astonishment, the next morning they saw the cobra hanging to the snare of the cord, in the hand of the saint. There were no sign of the snake any more. The statue was seen with a strangulated snake on to a string in his right hand. Thus making it possible to construct the church. In the church, the statues, paintings, and even the church bell, depicts St. Anthony holding a serpent tied with a cord to commemorate this miracle.

St Anthony, holding a string in his right hand, to which hangs a strangled snake - Church of St Anthony - Siolim - Goa .

                The Miracle of the Mule

This miracle from the life of saint Anthony occurred in the city of Rimini in 1227 and is reported in nearly all the saint’s early biographies. Saint Anthony was preaching about the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist when an Albigensian heretic named Bonovillo challenged him, stating that he would believe in the dogma if a mule he had deprived of food for three days fell to its knees at the sight of a host. On the day of the challenge, which took place in the public square, the saint placed the Blessed Sacrament on top of the animal’s fodder and the mule knelt before Blessed Sacrament. Witnessing the miracle, the heretic was converted.

What we can learn:

The Real Presence of Christ: The mule's action of kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, despite being hungry, is a powerful testament to the belief that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist.

Do you truly revere the Holy Eucharist?
Do you show the respect due when you are in the presence of God’s house?
Each time you receive the living Body of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion, do you approach with awe and reverence, fully aware that the true presence of God is entering your soul?

Boldness in Witnessing: Saint Anthony's willingness to challenge the heretic with a public demonstration of faith shows the importance of standing up for what one believes, even when it requires courage.

Transformation Through Faith: The heretic's conversion after witnessing the miracle illustrates the potential for belief and repentance to change lives.

Humility and Reverence: The mule's act of kneeling before the Eucharist demonstrates reverence and humility before the divine presence.

God's Response to Prayer: The miracle is seen as a response to Saint Anthony's prayers and a way to strengthen the faith of those who witnessed it.

     St Anthony preaching to the fish

When St. Anthony was in the city of Rimini, Italy, many people there had turned away from God and would not listen to his preaching. Frustrated but faithful, St. Anthony walked to the seashore and began to preach — not to the people, but to the fish.

To everyone's amazement, fish from the sea began to gather — small fish, large fish, all types — and they lifted their heads out of the water as if listening to his words. The people were astonished. Seeing this miracle, many of the townspeople repented and returned to the faith.

This event reminds us that all of creation honors God, and that the message of the Gospel is so powerful that even the fish responded when people would not.

What we can learn:

Never Give Up on Sharing the Truth : Even when people refused to listen, St. Anthony didn’t give up. He found another way to proclaim God’s message — and God supported him with a miracle. Lesson: Stay faithful, even when others don’t respond.

All of Creation Honors God : The fish, part of God’s creation, came to listen when people wouldn’t. This reminds us that the whole world is made to glorify God. Lesson: Respect nature and recognize God’s presence in all creation.

Miracles Can Open Hearts : After seeing the fish listen, the people were moved and turned back to God.
Lesson: Sometimes, signs or miracles help people rediscover faith — never stop praying for others’ conversion.

Humility in Preaching : St. Anthony didn’t argue or force anyone to believe. He humbly turned to God and let his actions speak.
Lesson: Let your faith show through actions, not just words.

 Child Saved falling from the window

A little boy was playing near a high window in his home when he accidentally fell out. His mother, seeing him fall, screamed in horror. People ran to help, expecting the worst. But to everyone’s amazement, the child stood up unharmed.

The mother, a devout follower of St. Anthony, had been praying to him daily. She immediately believed that it was St. Anthony’s intercession that saved her son from injury or death. The boy confirmed that he felt like someone caught him gently before he hit the ground.

What We Can Learn:

Faith and Trust in Saints: St. Anthony hears the prayers of the faithful and intercedes for them.

Power of a Mother’s Prayer: A mother’s sincere faith and prayer can lead to great miracles.

God’s Protection Through His Saints: Even in danger, God can send His saints to protect us.

           Reattached severed foot

A young man from Padua named Leonardo once came to St. Anthony to make his confession. Among his many sins, he revealed something shocking: in a moment of anger, he had kicked his own mother, causing her to fall and be injured. St. Anthony, deeply disturbed by this act of disrespect, whispered under his breath: “The foot that strikes a father or mother deserves to be cut off.”

Though Anthony meant it as a spiritual rebuke, Leonardo misunderstood him. Full of guilt and wanting to atone, he returned home, took a hatchet, and cut off his own foot.

News of this tragic misunderstanding quickly reached St. Anthony. Grieved and moved with compassion, he rushed to the young man's home along with Leonardo’s distraught parents.

There, Anthony entered the boy’s room, took the severed foot, and prayed earnestly. Making the sign of the cross, he placed the foot back to the leg — and miraculously, it was instantly healed and reattached.

Leonardo stood up, whole again, praising God and giving thanks to St. Anthony for this incredible healing.

What we can learn:

True repentance moves the heart of God.

God’s mercy is greater than our mistakes.

St. Anthony is a powerful intercessor for those who turn back in sincere sorrow.

Rescues his father from two separate occasions :- 

1) Rescue from false murder accusations.

St. Anthony's father, Don Martino, was wrongly accused of murdering a nobleman whose body was found in his garden. Don Martino was imprisoned, and St. Anthony, then in Padua, learned of his father's plight. St. Anthony miraculously traveled to Lisbon, where the trial was taking place. He appeared in court and asked for the murdered man's body to be brought forth. To everyone's astonishment, the corpse sat up, identified the true murderer, and then died again. St. Anthony's father was immediately freed, and the next day, St. Anthony returned to Padua.

2) Rescue from Debt Dispute:

On another occasion, St. Anthony's father was managing royal finances and paid out large sums of money but failed to obtain receipts. His subordinates denied receiving the money, and St. Anthony, while in Padua, was made aware of the situation. He miraculously appeared at the scene, described the transaction in detail, and demanded the officials produce the receipt. The officials, unable to deny the truth, were forced to produce the receipt, clearing St. Anthony's father.

What we can learn:

God defends the innocent, even beyond the limits of natural law.

The truth cannot be buried—even by death.

The saints intercede not just spiritually but miraculously when justice and faith are aligned.

St. Anthony is a patron not only of lost things, but also of justice and protection in times of trial.