By Christina Hermoso
Faithful devotees of miraculous healer Saint Anthony de Padua were invited to visit and pray before his sacred relic at the San Antonio de Padua Parish in Parañaque City.
San Antonio de Padua Parish in Parañaque City (PHOTO FROM DIOCESE OF PARAÑAQUE / MANILA BULLETIN)
“We are inviting everyone most especially the sick who seek the unfailing intercession of St. Anthiny de Padua, the miracle worker of Padova,” said Fr. Agalito Tarog, San Antonio de Padua parish priest.
A Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines News post said friars from the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy have sent the parish a first class relic of the revered saint. The relic arrived in the parish last January. It will be displayed for public veneration for the first time on Tuesday, June 4. A Holy Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m., to be followed by the veneration of the relic.
The first class relic consists of a small fragment of the saint’s body tissue, known as “ex massa corporis” (from the body mass).
In preparation for the special event, the parish has organized a series of catechesis since May 19. Today, June 1, a talk on holy relics will be given by Bro. Leandro Tesoreroso, head of the Work of the Saints Movement-Philippines.
Born in Lisbon, Portugal in the year 1195, St. Anthony first joined the Augustinian Order before joining the Franciscan Order in 1221. He gave up his wealth to be a servant of God.
Many miracles were reported during his time including the apparition of the Infant Jesus. He died in 1231 in Padua, Italy and was canonized by Pope Gregory IX in 1232.
He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1946. To this day, St. Anthony is often invoked for the recovery of lost things. His image is portrayed carrying the Infant Jesus in memory of the apparition.