EWTN News reports on the feast of St. Anthony of Padua, highlighting his “universal” appeal and the “neighborly” spirit attributed to him by Father Oliviero Svanera, rector of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua. The article presents a sanitized, modernist interpretation of the saint, stripping him of his doctrinal rigor and reducing his sanctity to a model of vague humanitarianism and interreligious dialogue, perfectly aligned with the post-conciliar agenda of the “Church of the New Advent.”
The Saint of All, the Truth of None: A Modernist Hagiography
The article’s portrayal of St. Anthony of Padua is a textbook example of how the conciliar sect distorts the lives of true Catholic saints to fit its narrative of universal brotherhood detached from the necessity of the Catholic Faith for salvation. Father Svanera’s assertion that St. Anthony was a “neighbor to all… beyond nationality, culture, and even religions, given that St. Anthony is respected even by those who do not profess the Catholic faith” is a direct echo of the condemned error of indifferentism. This statement, whether intentionally or through ignorance, implies that sanctity and respect can exist outside the one true Church, or that the Catholic Faith is not the sole path to God and salvation. This stands in stark contrast to the infallible teaching of the Church, as articulated by Pope Eugene IV in the Council of Cantate Domino (1441): “The Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes, and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life everlasting; but that they will go into the ‘everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels’ (Matt. 25:41), unless before the end of their lives they are joined with it.” To suggest that St. Anthony’s universality extends to those who “do not profess the Catholic faith” is to deny the very reason for his existence as a saint: his unwavering fidelity to Christ and His Church, and his tireless efforts to bring souls into that Church through conversion, not mere “respect.”
The “Gospel” of Powerlessness and Worldliness
Father Svanera’s description of St. Anthony’s preaching as one that “conquers the temptation of power, the temptation of pride, the temptation… of worldliness” is a subtle but dangerous inversion of Catholic doctrine. While pride and worldly temptations are indeed sins, the modernist interpretation often uses these terms to demonize the Church’s legitimate authority, its hierarchical structure, and its supernatural mission. The true “power” of the Church lies in her divine mandate to teach, govern, and sanctify, a power derived from Christ the King, not from worldly dominion. To frame the Church’s mission as merely “stooping for the other” and “taking care of him” without the explicit and primary aim of converting souls to the Catholic Faith and leading them to eternal salvation is to reduce the Church to a mere humanitarian NGO. This is the very essence of the “cult of man” condemned by Pope Pius X in Pascendi Dominici Gregis (1907), where he denounced the Modernist tendency to “reduce everything to the exaltation of human values” and to “subordinate the supernatural to the natural.” The article’s emphasis on “refugee, migrant, unemployed, alone, sick, imprisoned, marginalized, poor” without the crucial context of their spiritual needs and the necessity of conversion is a clear manifestation of this naturalistic humanism.
The “Bread of St. Anthony” and the Corruption of Charity
The tradition of the “Bread of St. Anthony,” while rooted in a miracle, is presented in the article as a model for “charity” that aligns with the post-conciliar emphasis on social justice detached from doctrinal purity. The article mentions “Caritas Sant’Antonio, which supports many development projects in dozens of countries around the world.” This global reach, while seemingly benevolent, must be viewed through the lens of the conciliar sect’s ecumenical and interreligious agenda. True Catholic charity, as practiced by saints like Anthony, always had as its ultimate end the salvation of souls and the glory of God, often involving the explicit preaching of the Gospel and the call to conversion. The modernist “charity” often prioritizes temporal aid and “development” without the indispensable spiritual dimension, thereby fostering a false sense of fraternity that ignores the eternal destiny of souls. This is a perversion of the Church’s mission, which is primarily supernatural, not merely social.
The “Tredicina” and the Superficiality of Devotion
The “Tredicina,” a 13-day period of meditation and spiritual preparation, is described as a time when “the basilica becomes the goal of pilgrims… and our sanctuary becomes truly universal.” While devotion to saints is commendable, the article’s focus on the sheer number of pilgrims and the “universal” nature of the sanctuary, without emphasizing the doctrinal content of the prayers or the necessity of true conversion, suggests a superficiality that can easily devolve into mere sentimentality or even superstition. Authentic Catholic devotion always leads to a deeper understanding and practice of the Faith, a strengthening of one’s resolve to live according to God’s commandments, and a fervent desire for the conversion of sinners. The modernist approach often reduces such devotions to cultural events or opportunities for vague spiritual experiences, devoid of doctrinal substance.
St. Anthony: A True Franciscan, Not a Modernist Social Worker
St. Anthony of Padua, a true son of St. Francis, was a zealous preacher of the Gospel, a defender of Catholic doctrine, and a powerful instrument of God for the conversion of sinners and heretics. His life was a testament to the poverty, humility, and obedience that flow from a deep love for Christ and His Church, not a prototype for the modernist “Church which goes forth” to embrace the world on its own terms. The article’s attempt to mold him into a patron of universal brotherhood and interreligious dialogue is a disservice to his true legacy and a clear indication of the pervasive influence of Modernism within the conciliar structures. As Pope St. Pius X warned in Lamentabili Sane Exitu (1907), the Modernists “aim at such a development of dogmas as appears to be their corruption.” This article, by distorting the image of a saint to fit a modernist agenda, exemplifies this very corruption. True devotion to St. Anthony means emulating his unwavering faith, his doctrinal clarity, and his burning zeal for the salvation of souls through the one true Church of Christ, not through the false ecumenism and humanitarianism of the “Church of the New Advent.”
Source:
St. Anthony of Padua considered ‘all the world as his home’ (ewtnnews.com)
Date: 13.06.2026