Pope Pius XI liked to exclaim: “The world is full of the miracles obtained through the intercession of Saint Anthony.” Indeed, countless miracles and prodigies are attributed to his intercession with God. Miracles are signs of divine omnipotence and of the saving power of the Son of God; they are also revelations of God’s love for humanity, particularly for those who suffer, are in need, and implore healing, forgiveness, and mercy. Miracles are a free gift from God; only he can perform them. They are signs of the irruption of merciful love into people’s lives, intended to glorify God and to awaken and strengthen our faith in him.

Here is a brief overview of the miracles performed through the intercession of Saint Anthony, beginning with two recounted in the “Little Flowers of Saint Francis.” 

The Sermon to the Fish

The first is the famous episode that inspired so many artists: the sermon to the fish. It is said to have taken place in Rimini, which was then controlled by groups of heretics. When the Saint arrived in the city, they tried to dissuade the faithful who had gathered to hear him. Anthony then went to the bank of the river that flowed a short distance away and spoke to the heretics in such a way that the assembled crowd could hear him: “Since you show yourselves unworthy of the word of God, behold, I turn to the fish, to expose your unbelief more openly.” He then began preaching to the fish about the greatness and magnificence of God. As Anthony spoke, more and more fish came toward the bank to listen to him, raising the upper part of their bodies above the surface of the water and watching attentively, opening their mouths and bowing their heads as a sign of reverence. The villagers rushed over to see the prodigy, and the heretics came with them, kneeling as they listened to Anthony’s words. Once the conversion of the heretics had been achieved, the Saint blessed the fish and let them go.

The Hungry Mule

Even more famous is the miracle of the mule, sculpted by Donatello in a bronze bas-relief, which also took place in Rimini. There was a heretic there, Bonvillo, a fierce opponent who denied Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist. He went so far as to challenge the Saint, asking him to prove it with a miracle. Bonvillo told Anthony that he would keep his mule shut in the stable for several days without feeding it; then he would bring it into the square in front of the people, placing some fodder before it. Anthony, instead, would have to place the Host in front of the mule: if the animal ignored the food and knelt before the Host, he would convert. 
The Saint accepted the challenge; after three days of complete fasting, the mule was brought to the square. From one side the heretic arrived with fodder, and from the other Anthony with a shining monstrance. A large crowd, drawn by curiosity, had gathered and was able to witness the miracle: ignoring the basket of fodder, the animal turned toward the Eucharist and knelt before it in adoration. Seeing what had happened, everyone present, including the heretics and Bonvillo, knelt in worship. 

The Miser’s Heart

While Brother Anthony was preaching in Florence, a very rich man died who had refused to listen to the Saint’s exhortations. The deceased’s relatives wanted the funeral to be splendid and invited Brother Anthony to deliver the eulogy. Their indignation was great when they heard the holy friar comment on the Gospel words: «Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also» (Mt 6:21), saying that the dead man had been a miser and a usurer.
In response to the anger of the relatives and friends, the Saint said: «Go and look in his chest, and you will find the heart there». They went and, greatly astonished, found it beating amid the money and jewels.
They also called a surgeon to open the corpse’s chest. He came, performed the operation, and found it without a heart. Faced with such a miracle, several misers and usurers converted and sought to make amends for the wrong they had done.
The message was clear: do not seek riches that make man a slave and put him in danger of damnation, but virtue, the only thing acceptable to God. For this reason, the townspeople enthusiastically praised God and his Saint. 

The Poisoned Food

The large number of listeners who flocked to Brother Anthony’s sermons and the conversions he achieved filled the heretics of Rimini with ever greater hatred, and they decided to have him killed by poisoning. One day, they pretended they wanted to discuss some points of the catechism with him and invited him to a meal. Our little friar, who did not want to miss an opportunity to do good, accepted the invitation. During the meal, they had a poisoned dish placed before him. Brother Anthony, inspired by God, noticed it and reproached them, saying: «Why have you done this?». «To see,» they replied, «whether the words Jesus spoke to the Apostles are true: “You will drink poison and it will not harm you”».
Brother Anthony withdrew in prayer, made the sign of the cross over the food, and then ate peacefully, suffering no harm whatsoever. Confused and repentant for their evil deed, the heretics asked his forgiveness, promising to convert.

 Miracles are extraordinary signs of the merciful love that the Lord works to bring hearts back to the faith; indeed, there is no greater treasure than faith, as Saint Anthony knew and taught. May such great love always receive the generous response of our gratitude.