Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

and accommodated In the hospice adjoining
the convent. Recovering somewhat, he is
said to have made his confession and re-
ceived absolution and 1t is said that in
clear voice he sang his favorite hymn to
the Blessed Virgin. and after the lapse of
half an hour breathed his last amid the
supplicating prayers OF the frlars. Inc
marvels which he is said to have accom-
plished were made manifest at his death
for scarce had he breathed his last than
children, it is related, ran through the
streets of the town crying The saint is
dead, st. Anthony Is deadi' His remains
were eagerly sought on all sides, but as
he was eminently a peacemaker. his re-
mains were not permitted to become
cause of strife. and he was buried with all.
the pomp and ceremony possible in that
day.
The Center Of Pilgrimages.
Scarcely had the tomb been closed than
it became a center of pilgrimage, and was
said to have been the scene of such Won
derful manifestations that the bishop of
Padua petitioned the holy see to confer on
the wonder worker the honor of canoniza-
ton. Gregory TX ordered the preliminary
judicial inquiries to be made without delay.
The inquiry lasted about six months, and
by an exception, perhaps unique In history,
less than a year after Anthonys death,
May 30 1892, the sovereign pontif solemn
ly pronounced the decree of canonization.
With such scrutiny is the canonization OF
a saint usually carried on that 1T takes
years to prove the worthiness of such a
person to distinction in the church.
ST. Anthony enjoys wide and, 1t would
seem, everlasting popularity in the prayers
of the penitents of the Roman CathoIic
Church He Is daily prayed to for assist
ance in the fulfillment of all manner OF
desires, and the day scarce. passes that
contrite prayers do not well to the lips or
Washington Catholics supplicating his and
His principal virtue, it would seem, lies in
the direction of finding lost articles and as
sisting his penttents to prosperity. ST. An
thony himself did much good work among
the poor, and those who practice devotion
in his name state that in order to find the
highest fulfillment of want the suppllant
should promise to perform some stated act
of charity in his name. Thus are the wants
of the poor supplied in measure through
an ennobling devotion. There is scarce
Roman Catholic church in Washington that
has not it's statue of st. Anthony and
box where money for the poor may be de-
posited In his name. Catholic orphanages
are aided in like manner, since IL IS the
custom of a great many to SEND thelr 81.
Anthony offering direct to them Many IN
stances of such a character might DE clIeo.
The amounts are not a rule large, put
in themselves are eloquent OF 1alth anu
devotion quite remarkable.
At local orphanage the sisters III ina 81
often receive sums Of money through
the mail with the simple Enclosure tnal
This is from ST. Anthony. etc Rehcs
of the saint are highly priced, and there
several small ones III tllis N.Y.
The Treasure House.
There is treasure house of the saint at
Padua which was built in 1890, and is
rooted over by a richly decorated dome
The sliding doors are of copper, covered
with plates of gold and bearing on them,
in silver relief scenes from the saints life
For these and for the two large lamps at
the entrance of the chapel 3, 433 ounces OF
fine silver are used. When the principal
doors are opened there is said to be re-
vealed a dazzling array of precious metals
and priceless art treasures, reliquaries
brilliant with diamonds. golden vessels,
jeweied chalices and other offerings said
to be of fabulous worth. The principal
relic is said to be the undecayed tongue
Of St Anthony. The tongue itself Is quite
perfect, though of course, 1t has not all
the appearance Of a living organ. When
first discovered by st. Bonaventure, In 1863,
thirty-two years after the saints death, |
it was said that when the body OF ST. An
thony was exposed to view the hesh had
fallen into dust, but the tongue was found
perfectly preserved, and was as rudy ana |
as fresh as If St. Anthony had just dled. |
Now after the lapse of all these centuries, |
it is brown and dry and as shriveled up as |
the tongue of mummy Another import |
ant relic is the lower jaw of the saint, |
which is incased in a rich reliquary of sill |
yer gilt shaped like head surrounded by |
a halo, the face being indicated by large |
and valuable crystal In a fine gold casket |
is preserved some hair of the saint, and |
another holds his hair-shirt. There are also |
his likeness carved from the wood OF the
nut tree under which he spent his last
DAYS; the stone that served him for pill |
low and book bound in silk containing |
some Of his addresses and various papal |
diplomas.
The votive offerings are many and varied, |
principal of which is the silver model of a |
baby weighing twenty-seven pounds-the !
thank offering of a Portuguese prince VINO |
had made a pilgrimage to the shrine for the |
birth of male heir after twelve years of |
marriage. At night the sanctuary is guard |
ed by two mastiffs, called the dogs of st. |
Anthony who are kept chained during the |
day.
st. Anthony has a proud place in art, |
MANY of the most renowned painters ana |
sculptors taking him as the model for their |
rarest works some of which occupy places |
in old world churches and shrlneS' ana
there are enough associations and guilds |
hearing his name and penitents praying be- |
fore his altar to keep him in the devotion |
of the faithful for ages to come.