Saint Anthony of Padua (1195 to 1231 AD) , whose feast is June 13, is a Doctor of the Church. He was a Franciscan priest who lived and ministered in France and northern Italy. He combated the Carthari heresy, a form of dualism that professed two equally-powerful gods, one good and one evil. Saint Anthony’s preaching was and remains famous such that two of his most popular relics are his tongue and his vocal cords, the latter being enshrined at the Shrine of Saint Anthony in southern Maryland. Among numerous stories and legends of Saint Anthony is his Eucharistic Miracle. In the town of Padua, where he died, he encountered a very wealthy atheist who made a bet with him. The rich man would starve his mule for three days, then bring the mule to the town courtyard, where the rich man would offer it fresh hay and the Saint would unveil the Blessed Sacrament. The bet was to see where the mule would go. On that third day, the starving mule was brought forth, and the rich man offered hay while the Saint presented the Blessed Sacrament. Not only did the mule reject the hay and move toward the Blessed Sacrament, but it even lowered itself onto the knees of its forelegs in a posture of genuflection. May Saint Anthony of Padua inspire us, as well, to embrace a deeper faith in the Eucharist, the Source and Summit of our Catholic faith.