THE CHILD JESUS, THE BOOK AND THE LILY

Editorial Staff

Many statues and images depict saint Anthony as tall and thin, with a sweet face and light complexion: more probably he was of medium height, with a sturdy build and dark hair. They all have in common some clear symbols; let us discover together their meaning. In the most usual representations we see him wearing the Franciscan habit (he joined the followers of Francis in 1220), the cord with three knots (symbol of the vows of consecration: obedience, poverty, chastity), the Child Jesus in his arms, holding a lily in his hand. In others he holds a book, a flame or bread in his hand. The presence of the lily means the purity of the Saint, but also his thaumaturgical power (working miracles!). The Child refers to a vision, one of the most famous episodes in the life of the Saint. The Liber miraculorum tells us that while preaching in a city (in Camposampiero, according to tradition), Antony is hosted by a local nobleman (Count Tiso). While the Saint is secluded in prayer, from a window the nobleman sees him with a smiling child in his arms, embraced by a light. “That child was the Lord Jesus... After the long…