To A.
Christ Wanting to show the great sanctity of His servant San Antonio and prove his preaching and holy doctrine which was listened to with devotion, is served at one time of irrational animals, such as fish, to rebuke the folly of faithless heretics the same way as in the Old Testament had rebuked the ignorance of Balaam.
occasion was in San Antonio was in Rimini, where a large crowd of heretics [Cathar]. For many days he had tried to lead them to the light of true faith and way of truth, preaching and disputing with them about faith in Jesus Christ and Holy Scripture. But they not only did not accept his reasoning saints, but, hardened and obstinate, they would not even listen, so that one day San Antonio, by divine inspiration, he went to the mouth of the river by the sea and standing in border between the sea and the river began to tell the fish as a predicate:
"Hear the word of God, fish of the sea and river, as these infidels heretics refuse to listen.
No sooner had said this, went immediately to him, on the shore, such a multitude of big fish, small and medium as never been seen in such numbers around that sea or river. And all with their heads above water, were attentive looking into the face of San Antonio with great calmness, gentleness and order: first, near the shore, the tiniest, behind those of medium size, and deeper, where the depth was greater, the larger fish. When all fish they had placed in that order and in that point, San Antonio began to preach solemnly, saying: "Fish
my brethren, you are very obliged to give thanks, according to your ability, your Creator, who has given you so noble element to your room, because you have to your pleasure the fresh and salt water has given many shelters to avoid the storm. He has given you also the clear and transparent element, and food that sustain yourselves. And God, your Creator polite and gracious, when I created, I got the mandate to grow and multiply and I gave her blessing. Then, when the flood occur, all other animals died, only you it remained undamaged. In addition, I have given wings to go wherever you like. Was entrusted to you, for God's provision, to salvage the prophet Jonah, throwing him to the ground after three days safely. You offered the census of our Lord Jesus Christ when, poor as it was, did not come to pay. Then serve as food for eternal King Jesus, by a singular mystery, before and after the resurrection. Therefore you are very obliged to praise and bless God, who has been the subject of much benefit, rather than other creatures.
These and similar words and teachings San Antonio, fish began to open his mouth and tilt his head, praising God with these and other gestures of reverence. Then, San Antonio, in view of the fish as much reverence toward God, his creator, joyful spirit, said in a loud voice:
"Blessed be the eternal God, because the fish from the waters rather than honor him the heretics, and hear his word dumb animals better than men infidels.
And the more he preached San Antonio, the crowd grew more fish, but none to leave the place it had occupied. Faced with such a miracle
began attending the people of the city and came also those heretics, seeing them a miracle so wonderful and manifest, fell to his knees at the foot of San Antonio with a contrite heart, willing to hear the preaching. Then St. Anthony began to preach the Catholic faith, and did so with such nobility, that made all those heretics and brought them back to the true faith of Jesus Christ and the faithful were comforted and strengthened in the faith. This done, San Antonio licensed to fish with the blessing of God and all left with wonderful demonstrations of joy, so did the people.
then San Antonio was arrested in Rimini many days, preaching and spiritual fruit in souls. In
praise of Christ. Amen.
Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi Chapter XL.
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