SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA :
A GIFT TO US
By Awilda Ramos Mooney
 El cardenalito: y por eso es rojo...
Historia de la devoción a la Patrona Nacional
de Puerto Rico
Mensaje del Arzobispo a los boricuas en Luisiana
Rafael Cordero Molina: Teacher of Great Men,
Servant Of God
Origen histórico del Kyrie Eleison
|
|
In Puerto Rico, Saint
Anthony (early 13th
century) is taken
to be the patron
of lost
objects and of things
that are hoped for.
The color of his
habit may vary from
light
blue, to dark blue,
green, brown, or
black.
Historian Arturo
Dávila explains that
the
Franciscans who came
to the island in
the
17th century wore
blue habits in honor
of
the Immaculate Mother,
but later adopted
brown habits. Saint
Anthony is the patron
saint of the towns
of Ceiba, Dorado,
Guayama,
and Isabela.
Source: Museo de
Arte,
Ponce, P.R.
|
 rriving on a Saturday afternoon at the Luis
Muñoz Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is
like running a major obstacle course. Thousands
and thousands of tourists hurtle their way
to ground transportation that will take them
to the cruise ships anchored at the port.
My husband Joseph and I
made our way off
the plain to the pickup
curb to be greeted
by my daughter Awi. She arrived almost an hour later. Once
she got there we place our luggage in the
car. Off we went to our home in Dorado, a
small quaint town in the northern side of
the Island.
The forty five minute ride was exhausting
through heavy traffic from the airport and
finally exiting the city. Once we arrived
at El Dorado Club, our final destination and home for a month,
Joseph realized that all the luggage was
out of the car and that his personal briefcase
was missing. We all look franticly and came
to the sad conclusion that the briefcase
was left behind at the pickup curb. It was
not the moment for a discussion. I immediately
said: “We have to go back and look for it”.
And we did, just after calling the Port Authority
and the Airport Police Station with out any
success.
We made the 45 minute drive
back. Just before
Joseph dropped me off,
close enough to the
pickup curb we had been
before, I closed
my eyes and prayed:
Saint Anthony, I know you are miraculous,
and find lost things
for people I invoke
your
name… please have
the briefcase at
the curb. |
I jumped out of the car, approached the pickup
curb, and the briefcase was not there. I
did not get mad with St. Anthony, of course,
on the contrary I said to Him: “St. Anthony,
I know you are miraculous, I put my faith
in you”.
So I went along and made
a report at the
Airport Police Station.
Women Officer Pérez
took the report. As I started
doing the list
of the contents in the
briefcase she had
a polite smile:
- “One zip lock bag with
prescribed medications
bottles, personal papers,
two USA passports,
two checkbooks...".
Officer Pérez’ smile had long gone, her expression
was of disbelief. I continued: “two airplane
tickets, an agenda, and $700.00 in cash”.
By then, Officer Pérez just plainly told
me that I should kiss the briefcase goodbye.
Buy that time I had also gone to the baggage
security desk and given my report to the
lost and found desk. I received looks of
sympathy and no encouragement at all.
It was time to meet with
Joseph who was not
so patiently driving around
the airport expecting
news on his brand new briefcase
that his
son had given to him this
past Christmas.
|
We made our way to Dorado again, this time
in total silence. I told Joseph we should
do some damage control and make a list of
things to do and people to notify of the
loss. As I prepared the list I saw clearly
in my mind the passports being sold in Dominican
Republic, identities being snatched. I had
to put a stop to these thoughts. We finally
arrived at Dorado. As soon as we entered
the house, Joseph went to the bedroom and
came out to tell me that there were messages
in Spanish on the answering machine and to
clear them. Awi and I went to the bedroom
and played the messages through the speakerphone,
my head was about to explode, when a message
came up.
|
|
Anthony of Padua:
Saint Of The People
|
- “This is Raymond, I am trying to contact
Mr. Joseph Mooney and let him know I have
his passport”.
Awi and I stared crying.
I called Mr. Raymond
immediately to a cell number
he left.
- “Mr. Raymond, this is
Mrs. Mooney, did
you find an other passport,
mine is also
missing”.
- “Oh, Mrs. Mooney tell
your husband that
I have all the things that
were left in the
briefcase at the airport”.
We made an appointment to meet in Dorado,
Raymond suggested meeting in front of the
Catholic Church of the Town.
| We arrived at the assigned hour, met with
Mr. Raymond Bispal, an honest taxi driver,
resident of Dorado who had picked up the
briefcase at the curb as he droped off a
passenger at the airport seconds after we
left. We exchanged greetings and rewarded
him handsomely. After all the excitement
and reviewing the content of the briefcase
I looked up at the church and felt goose
bumps all over my body. I was looking at
the statute in front of the church. The statue
was that of Saint Anthony of Padua, patron
saint of the Town of Dorado!. |
|
Photos by Awilda Ramos Mooney: Statue of
Saint Anthony of Padua - San Antonio de Padua. |
The next morning, Sunday, after we prayed
and gave thanks to Saint Anthony we deposited
a donation during the collection at the Church’s
English speaking mass for the favor granted.
Photo to the right: San Antonio de Padua
Church in Dorado, Puerto Rico.
Awilda and Joseph T. Mooney Jr. are winter
residents of Sanibel Island, FL and parishioners
of St. Isabel Catholic Church. |
|
 |
PRAYER TO SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA
Saint Anthony, you that fell in love
with the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi
-which was the spirit of Christ-.
You that have been known as the wonder-worker.
Never did you, Anthony, work a miracle for
yourself.
But when others had need of food,
and you had no food to give, you Anthony,
asked the Lord,
and a miracle was made for the poor who trusted
you.
If articles were lost, an appeal to you located
them.
Those too sick and poor to afford a physician
asked you to be their Doctor, and you were,
with the power of the Divine Physician.
To you Anthony, God’s wonder-worker
who does miracles now as you did then
we say: ______make your petition_________.
Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son,
who lives and reign in the unity of the Holy
Spirit,
God, world without end.
AMEN |
|
