Monday, June 15, 2009

Miraculous Sign


Dear Saint Anthony, something is lost and cannot be found. If you were raised Roman Catholic, you prayed to Saint Anthony du Padua for lost objects. He was actually born in Portugal and only died in Padua, Italy. Saint Anthony, the Jersey City church (the interior is uniquely ornate and worth checking out), located on Monmouth & 6th Street, celebrates its 120th anniversary this year. The church is called Jersey City’s ‘oldest Polish Parish’. I guess there’s nothing more cross-cultural than miracles and Saint Anthony is considered the patron saint of miracles. Soon it will be summer street festival season in Jersey City but right now is summer street festival banner season. The festival is July 10-12, but the banner was tied pole to pole on June 13th, also the Feast Day of Saint Anthony. The symmetry of ordinary time is always worth noting and who doesn’t ‘heart’ St. Anthony’s Festival? He is considered the greatest thaumaturgist (something Monmouth Street could use now) of his time. Known for many miracles, my favorite is the Padua Podiatry one: the miracle of the amputated foot. A young man, in Padua, named Leonardo got angry and kicked his own mother. Repentant, he confessed his fault to St. Anthony who said to him: "The foot of him who kicks his mother deserves to be cut off." Leonardo ran home and cut off his foot. Learning of this, St. Anthony took the amputated member of the unfortunate youth and miraculously rejoined it. Do not try this at the festival, kids!

No comments:

Post a Comment