Dearest Confreres, During this month of June, a series of solemn celebrations are being held in our Basilica Sanctuary of St. Anthony in Messina to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Statue of St. Anthony, up to now venerated in the Sanctuary, with the first procession in honor of the Saint organized by Fr. Hannibal (1907 - 13 June – 2007).
The precious relique of St. Anthony, the one moving around the world, is sent to the Basilica for the occasion. The different celebrations and all the organized programs, are having extraordinary participation from the part of the laity.
The centennial recurrence, which the confreres of Messina willed to be solemnized for its historical relevance to the Sanctuary of Messina and for the many devotees of St. Anthony from Sicily and Calabria, has also a special value for the history of the Congregation because it marks the particular moment of the beginnings and the development of the devotion to St. Anthony, characteristic of our Work.
As we know, the beginning of the cult to Saint of Padua is associated with the “bread of St. Anthony”. It is an authentic “miraculous secret” of the Providence for the orphans of the young Institute.
Fr. Hannibal lived in faith and in gratitude of the gracious presence of Providence through the intercession of St. Anthony. He was aware therefore, of the need to externally witness his love for the Saint and thought of procuring for himself his own beautiful statue that will substitute the simple framed picture in front of which the orphans are addressing their supplications.
To involve the faithful, and in particular the benefactors, he solicited contributions telling: “Two motives for this reason. First, the great obligations of gratitude that we have for our excellent Protector; and second, the incessant requests of prayers coming from everywhere arriving to us through moving letters, from the part of the faithful waiting for urgent and important graces! For this, we thought of providing a beautiful and expressive “Statue” of the the glorious St. Anthony of Padua, so that the orphans and those being assisted, who up to this time are using a simple framed image, may elevate their daily prayers, with greater fervor and faith, for those who expect graces and could, with joy, raise hymns of thanksgiving, for those who have already received graces”.
The generosity of the benefactors arrived soon. Nevertheless, the donations were not necessary because, as Fr. Tusino wrote, “a pious and noble woman from Rome, Caterina Manghi Spada, sent an artistic statue of the Saint, done by sculptors of Foli. I was of normal size and stupendously beautiful and expressive. It arrived in Messina towards the middle of May 1907, but for some circumstances, was opened only after some days”.
The days of waiting for the customs requirements and its transfer, which took place on 13 June, became moments of utmost importance so that Fr. Hannibal could better prepare, as it usually happens, the organization of the event of the solemn procession which should be a great tribute of faith, gratitude and love for the miracle worker of Padua, St. Anthony.
It was the first anthonian day of the pious and feastful people who came even from nearby towns. Without doubt, it remained in the mind and in the heart of the Padre and the many devotees who participated in it and who, during the succeeding years, had returned to re-live this experience of faith.The atmosphere of the event was portrayed well in the chronicles made by the newspaper of Messina “La Scintilla”.
The same Fr. Tusino comments, “With the inauguration of the statue of St. Anthony, the Padre saw the confirmation of St. Anthony as the protector of his Works; thus, a new era has been opened for the Works, and the need to profit from the occasion to implore graces and mercy. It was the style of the Padre”. Always concerning the procession, he notes, “It was the first procession of the Saint, interrupted for several years because of the earthquake, that has been made again with the same enthusiasm by the fold, and even today, it is one of the most felt and devout sacred processions of Messina, held with a great number of persons, both from the City and outside, coming to venerate the Saint”.
On the following 15 August, Fr. Hannibal made a grateful memorial of the momentous day through the printing of the unique number of the “St. Anthony of Padua – Dio e il Prossimo”, in which he informed the benefactors, with the rich particulars, of the wonderful graces made by the Lord through St. Anthony. He did this to also start the periodical entitled Dio e il Prossimo to maintain the rapport of faith and dialogue with the same benefactors. This took place the following year. Then, we know the notable development that this publication had and the same anthonian benefactors office.
For this, we unite our heart to the Community of the Mother House and the devotees of our Sanctuary of Messina to celebrate this Centennary. It is a providential occasion to thank the Lord for the wonderful works made to many benefactors and to our Works through the intercession of the Taumaturge.
Fr. Hannibal affirms, “… we owe to St. Anthony our existence, the happy solutions to the intricate positions which this Work undergo as in a labirynth, of which no way out could be seen! It is the great Saint who made us come out to the open, who obtained for us both the spiritual and temporal growth”
Illumined by the faith of our Saint Founder and edified by his zeal and witnessing, we see the Divine Providence assisting and accompanying our Pious Works through the intercession of St. Anthony whom the Founder willed to solemnly venerate. With Fr. Hannibal, let as address our gratitude as Sons to the Lord.
At the same time, with Fr. Hannibal, let us renew our recognition to our principal Patron, St. Anthony of Padua, and let us ask from him the grace to faithfully administer the “bread” for the poor and the children which we receive from many benefactors through his intercession.
Again with St. Hannibal, let us look at St. Anthony as a model of good worker of the harvest for his unlimited love to the Lord and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, for the attraction to the Sacred Scriptures, for the innocence and pureness of life, the missionary zeal and the charity towards the leasts.
Thus, let us do memorial of a luminous page of our history and let us invoke again the blessing of the Lord for an ulterior journey assisted by the Providence and comforted by the protection of St. Anthony of Padua.
With this auspices, which I entrust to the intercession of the Most Holy Virgin, I greet all of you in the Lord.
Rome 25th June 2007
Fr. Giorgio Nalin, RCJ
Superior General
