June 13 ~ St. Anthony of Padua

Holding God up to the world

Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.  ~ Philippians 2:6-8

In San Antonio, Texas, there is a large and lovely statue of St. Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of the city.  The statue was a gift of Portugal (Anthony’s birthplace) to San Antonio.  It stands in a public park along the San Antonio River in the heart of the city.  The Christ child in Anthony’s arms stands on the Bible and his arms are extended in the shape of the cross as if embracing the whole world – as if Anthony is saying: “I hold up to all, as Savior of the world, this humble God of self-emptying love!”
The image of Anthony holding the divine infant is a symbol and model for each of us.  The image inspires us to go through life clinging to the wonderful mystery of the humble, self-emptying Christ, who accompanies us as a servant of our humanity and of the world’s healing.  ~ J.M. Guerin

How can we, as Knights, go through life carrying an imaginary God-child in our arms – and holding Him up to the world?

The divine self-giving revealed in Jesus’ Incarnation is comparable to God’s supreme act of love embodied in Jesus’ self-giving on the cross.  ~ Father Raymond Brown