Saint Anthony of Padua and the mule
Saint Anthony of Padua preached in Rimini (Italy). There the Patarian heretics had disfigured the dogma of the royal presence, reducing the Eucharist to a simple commemorative dinner.
Antonio, in his preaching, fully illustrated the reality of the presence of Jesus in the Holy Host. But the leaders of the heresy did not accept the Saint’s reasons and tried to refute his arguments. Among them, Bonvillo, who was the main one and played the wise guy, told him:
-Less words; If you want me to believe in that mystery, you have to perform the following miracle: I have a mule; I will have her without eating for three continuous days, after which we will present ourselves together before her: I with the feed, and you with your sacrament. If the mule, without taking care of the feed, kneels down and worships that your Bread, then I will worship it too.
The Saint accepted the test and withdrew to implore God’s help with prayers, fasting and penance.
For three days the heretic deprived his mule of all food and then took it out into the public square. At the same time, from the opposite side of the square, Saint Anthony entered it, carrying in his hands a Custody with the Body of Christ; all this before a multitude of people anxious to know the result of that extraordinary commitment contracted by the Franciscan saint.
San Antonio addressed the hungry animal, and, speaking with him, said:
-In the name of that Lord whom I, though unworthy, hold in my hands, I command you to come and reverence your Creator, so that the malice of heretics may be confused and everyone may understand the truth of this highest sacrament, which we priests treat at the altar, and that all creatures are subject to their Creator.
While the Saint was saying these words, the heretic was throwing barley on the mule for it to eat; but the mule, without paying attention to the food, advanced slowly, as if it had had the use of reason, and, respectfully bending its knees before the Saint who kept the Sacred Host raised, remained in this position until Saint Anthony granted him permission to will stand up. Bonvillo fulfilled his promise and converted wholeheartedly to the Catholic faith; the heretics retracted their errors, and Saint Anthony, after giving the blessing with the Blessed Sacrament amid a storm of cheers and applause, led the Host in a procession and triumphantly to the church, where they gave thanks to God for the stupendous portent and conversion of so many heretics.
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