The Institute Daughters of Divine Zeal of Altamura is ready to celebrate, with devotion, the Solemnity of Saint Anthony of Padua which occurs today, Thursday 13 June 2023.
The triduum of prayer in honor of the Saint will be followed on this day of celebration by the Holy Masses at the following times:
- 6:00 am
- 07.30 am
- 09:00 am
- 10.30 am
- 12:00
- 5.30pm
- 6.30pm
At 8.15pm will start there Solemn Procession through the streets of the city of Altamura: exit from the church of Sant’Antonio from the door at the intersection between Via Annibale di Francia and via Macchiavelli, and then follow via Macchiavelli, via Buonarroti, Via Manzoni, Piazza De Napoli, via Ugo Foscolo, Piazza Aldo Moro, via Carpentino, via Monza, viale dei Martiri del 1799, via Monte Calvario, Piazza San Lorenzo, Corso Umberto I, via Milano, viale dei Martiri del 1799, via Manzoni, via Buonarroti, via Macchiavelli up to the entrance of the main door of the Church of Sant’Antonio.
The inhabitants of the neighborhood are invited to participate in the celebration by decorating the balconies along the procession route with candles, lights, ribbons, flags and drapes.
SANT’ANTONIO DI PADOVA: his story
Saint Anthony was born in Lisbon in 1195 to parents favored by God with spiritual riches and a certain well-being. After the initial education he received in his father’s house from a canon uncle, he continued his education in the bishop’s school annexed to the Curia. With his age his humility also grew, combined with contempt for worldly glories; virtues that will always distinguish him. Feeling led to solitude, the Saint soon thought of retiring to a convent and chose the Canons Regular of St. Augustine. Here he gave himself up to an industrious silence, so much so that he became a mirror for his brothers. The Saint, however, desired to receive martyrdom and for this purpose, having abandoned the convent of S. Croce, he retired among the Friars Minor to whom the Missions were permitted. Antonio, as soon as he arrives in Mission land, is attacked by an illness that forces him to stay in bed, so much so that he is forced to return. He then embarks to return to Portugal, but the ship is attacked by a violent storm and lands against the coast of Sicily. Rescued by some fishermen, he is transported to the nearest convent. Antonio adores the will of God, and as soon as he is able to walk he goes to Assisi: right here he had the grace of seeing his dear father Saint Francis, and of attending the chapter of the mats. But on this occasion our Saint did not speak, nor was he noticed. Shortly afterwards he became famous and went to Montpellier, Toulouse, Bologna, Rimini and Padua. In the Lent he held in the latter city: he reconciled enemies, reduced the dissolute to a better life, persuaded usurers to restitution. His word was like a dart that pierced hearts and inflamed them with love for virtue and the Lord confirmed the saint’s sanctity with numerous miracles. Knowing by revelation that his father was unjustly accused of the death of a nobleman, he prayed to God and miraculously found himself in Lisbon next to his father, calling back to life the murdered man who indicated the murderer and his father was saved. Feeling close to the end of his life, he obtained permission to retire to the Camposampiero hermitage; here he spent his last days in contemplation and in the ever purer exercise of the love of God. He died in Arcella, near Padua, on 13 June 1231 at the age of 36. After his death, the children of Padua and the surrounding areas were shouting: “The Saint is dead, the Saint is dead.”
Saint Anthony of Padua has still left indelible traces of every virtue today.
Thursday 13 June 2024
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