mangalore today

Feast of Relic of Saint Anthony at Milagres in city


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Feb 13, 2019: The feast in honour of the Relic of St Anthony will be celebrated on February 15.  “The nine days are dedicated to different groups of people – including youth, children, married people, sick, elderly, religious and leaders.


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The main festive Holy Mass will be celebrated by Most Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop Emeritus of Mangalore Diocese on February 15. The Mass will be conducted at 6 pm at the Milagres Church ground, he said. A Holy Mass in Malayalam will be celebrated by Rev Dr Joy Putheveettil from Alleppey Diocese at 4.30 pm at the Milagres Church. “For the sake of the sick and the elderly citizens, a Holy Mass will be offered by Rev Fr Maxim D’Souza, professor at the St Joseph Seminary, Jeppu, for special invitees,” he explained.

On February 14, the eve of the feast, a one-hour 2D play ‘Santh Anthoni, Potr Potik Pavoi’ (Saint Anthony, kindly reach my letter to my husband) will be staged after the Holy Mass at the open ground. It is a play based on the miracle that happened in the 17th century. After this miracle took place, people started writing SAG (St Anthony Guide) on the letter, asking St Anthony to reach the letter safely to the person addressed. The play is written by Clarence Pinto Padil and directed by Vincent Fernandes of ‘Mogachi Lahra’ fame.

Programme Feast Day - February 15, Friday :

At 8.15 am - Holy Mass will be offered by Rev Fr Maxim D’Souza, Professor St Joseph Seminary Jeppu at Milagres Church.  

At 11 am : Rt Rev. Msgr Maxim Noronha the Vicar General of the Diocese will offer Holy Mass at St Anthony’s Ashram Jeppu for special invitees.

At 4.30 pm - A Holy Mass in Malayalam will be celebrated by Rev Dr Joy Putheveettil from Allepy Diocese at Milagres Church. For the  sick and elderly

At 6 pm - The main festive Holy Mass will be celebrated by Most Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza the Bishop Emeritus of Mangalore on at 6 pm at Milagres Church ground.  


The History  : This is the most important feast celebrating St Anthony after the June 13 feast, and marks the discovery of his uncorrupt tongue over 750 years ago, more than 30 years after his death. This scientifically inexplicable phenomenon is what faith calls a miracle, seeing that the relic of the tongue, the instruments used by St Anthony for preaching, is still visible and uncorrupt after many centuries. The relic may be venerated in the Chapel of the Treasury in the Basilica, which is visited each year by millions of pilgrims.

It was 8 April 1263 when the Superior General of the Franciscans, Saint Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, while inspecting the Saint’s mortal remains before their translation in the new funerary chapel, found, to the amazement of all those present, the tongue of our beloved Anthony, Doctor of the Church, perfectly preserved.

Anthony was born into a wealthy family in 1195. He joined the Augustiniancanons in 1210 and took training for the priesthood. In 1220 he joined the Franciscan order, hoping to preach to the Saracens (Muslims) and be martyred. On his way to Morocco, he became seriously ill and was forced to return home. However, his ship back to Portugal was blown off course and eventually landed in Sicily. Because of his continuing poor health, he was not allowed to pursue his missionary work among the Saracens. Instead, he taught theology at Bologna, Italy, and at Montpellier, Toulouse, and Puy-en-Velay in southern France, winning great admiration as a preacher. He died en route to Padua, Italy, where he is buried.