Matthew 5:20-26 Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua

St. Anthony Preaching to the Fishes, Painted by Francisco de Herrera the Elder (1576-1656), Painted circa 1630, Oil on canvas © Detroit Institute of Arts

Gospel Reading

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. ‘You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire. So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.’

Reflection on the painting

aint Anthony of Padua, born Fernando Martins de Bulhões in 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal, was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. He was canonised by Pope Gregory IX in 1232, less than a year after his death. In 1946, he was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII. In 1220, he joined the Franciscan order, driven by the desire to preach to the Saracens (Muslims) and achieve martyrdom. On his journey to Morocco, he fell seriously ill and was forced to return home. However, his ship was blown off course and eventually landed in Sicily. Due to his continuing poor health, he was unable to pursue his missionary work among the Saracens. Instead, he taught theology at Bologna, Italy, and at Montpellier, Toulouse, and Puy-en-Velay in southern France. He gained great admiration as a preacher, known for his simple yet profound teachings of the Catholic faith. He died en route to Padua, where he is now buried. One of the most famous stories associated with Saint Anthony is the account of him preaching to the fishes, which underscores his dedication and the miraculous nature of his ministry. It occurred in the town of Rimini, Italy, where the local people were resistant to his preaching. Frustrated by the lack of response from the townspeople, Anthony went to the seashore and began preaching to the fish. Miraculously, a large number of fish gathered, poking their heads above the water as if listening intently to his sermon. Anthony addressed the fish, praising God for their creation and marvelling at their obedience and attentiveness, in contrast to the stubbornness of the human audience. Witnessing this miracle, the townspeople were moved, leading to many conversions and renewed faith among them. Our painting, made for the Convent of San Antonio de Padua in Seville, has been historically attributed to Francisco Herrera the Elder, new scholarship indicates it could be by Alonso Cano, who trained with Diego Velázquez in Seville. The painting depicts Saint Anthony Preaching to the fishes. They hold their heads out of the water to better hear his sermon. Here, the saint is shown kneeling and opening his arms to the fish, while a fellow Franciscan gestures in surprise at the miracle. The size, scale, and loose painting technique suggest that the work was meant to be seen from a distance.

by Father Patrick van der Vorst