Saint Anthony of Padua was a gifted speaker
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
I was reading/praying the Second Reading* (Liturgy of the Hours) on the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua, and found an interesting sentence. “Happy the man whose words issue from the Holy Spirit and not from himself!” St. Anthony is known for his preaching. He lived from 1195 to 1231. “The blessings of St. Anthony's preaching were not confined to Italy. St. Francis sent him to France, where for about three years (1225-1227) he labored with blessed results in the convents of his order as well as in the pulpit. In all his labors he never forgot the admonition of his spiritual Father, that the spirit of prayer must not be extinguished. If he spent the day in teaching, and heard the confessions of sinners till late in the evening, then many hours of the night were spent in intimate union with God.” (See June 13, in https://www.dmfofs2.com/saints-june ).
“St. Anthony is titled the Evangelical Doctor, Wonder-Worker and Hammer of Heretics; but more importantly he is renowned for his personal holiness. His sanctity and wisdom flowed from his profound, penetrating love for the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Heroically he followed the Poverello of Assisi, St. Francis, whose tender love for the poor, humble Virgin was comparable only to that of Christ Himself. As a true friar minor St. Anthony praised and glorified the Queen of the Angels from the pulpit, where with simple yet lofty doctrine he moved multitudes to savor the sweet name of Mary. Furthermore, he imitated Her with such perfection that he became, as it were, an extension of the Virgin Mother on earth”. Source: Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, see also:
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/marian-devotion-of-st-anthony-of-padua-5194
Secular Franciscans should maintain a strong prayer life; a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and spread the Word of God (From Gospel to Life).
Saint Anthony, pray for us. (June 13)
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Endnote: (*) Secular Franciscans who use the Liturgy of the Hours for their daily prayer, generally pray Morning and Evening Prayer. I often read the Second Reading from the “Office of Readings” particularly when it is written by the saint of the day.