gaspersWorld: What St. Anthony Means to Goans

What St. Anthony Means to Goans

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𝘉𝘺 𝘎𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰

Losing something that is close to your heart, especially a precious item, can be quite upsetting. And the search equally frustrating if the item remains elusive despite a frantic rummage through drawers, shelves, nooks and corners.

But a true follower of St. Anthony will probably tell you that instead of a futile hunt, a small prayer to the saint can do miracles.

Such is the faith of devotees in Goa, that it is not unusual to find a little statue or an image of the ‘miraculous saint’ in every Catholic home. Or for that matter, to have a relative or a friend named after the saint.

Even institutes, business firms, housing colonies, vehicles, caterers, and strangely enough – even bars too bear testimony to his admiration.

So why the extensive admiration?

Apart from being popular as a restorer of lost or stolen items, St. Anthony is also known as a matchmaker for those seeking life partners, and a doctor of doctors to the sick, and childless couples.

𝗦𝗧. 𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗬'𝗦 𝗕𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗛 & 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

St. Anthony, a Portuguese Catholic priest, was born Fernando Martins de Bulhoes on 15 August 1195 and died on a Tuesday - 13 June 1231 at the age of 35 years.

St. Anthony was born and raised in a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal, and died in Padua, Italy.

Noted for his strong preaching, expert knowledge of scripture, and undying love and devotion to the poor and the sick, he was one of the most quickly canonized saints in the church history.

A saint who has performed powerful miracles, he was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by the Vatican, and a patron saint of lost things.

𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗭𝗘𝗡 𝗡𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗔 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗧. 𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗬

A Trezen or Tredicina is a 13-day Novena prayer said over thirteen days. It is more common to say a novena prayer over 9 days to the Saints and to the Virgin Mary.

But in the devotion to St Anthony of Padua, the number 13 has a particular significance because it relates to the date of his death: June 13th, 1231.

Traditionally, the Trezen is said on the thirteen days preceding the death anniversary of St Anthony. The 13-day novena is thus begun on June 1st.

𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗧. 𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗬

The feast of St. Anthony is on the 13th of June and is celebrated with grand fervor on the Sunday following the 13th attended by large number of devotees.

Novenas to St. Anthony are very popular at St. Anthony’s Church, Siolim (North Goa), and St. Anthony Chapel, Deussua-Chinchinim (South Goa).

There is also a Colva-based chapel dedicated to St. Anthony.

𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗤𝗨𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗘

The statue of St. Anthony at the Siolim Church is the only one to depict the saint holding a silver cross and a rope from which a serpent dangles.

It is said, in 1600, when the Siolim church was being constructed, a serpent kept disrupting the work. A statue of St. Anthony was placed at the site and prayers were offered. Next day, the dead serpent was found wrapped around the feet of the statue.

Hundreds of thousands of devotees throng to the feet of the saint every Tuesday throughout the year (and particularly on the 13th of every month) for miraculous healing and seek favors from the saint.

𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝘁. 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵.