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St. Anthony of Padua (d. 1231) There was a man named Bononillo who did not believe that the Eucharist is Jesus. He mocked of people who believed that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. One day, St. Anthony challenged the man, saying, "If the mule you often ride were to adore the true Body of Christ under the appearance of bread, would you believe in the truth of the Lord's Sacrament?" Bononillo said "Yes". So, they made a bet. In a few days they would place both the Blessed Sacrament and a pile of hay in front of the mule, to see what he would do.
Bononillo told everyone about the event. Because
he wanted to make sure to prove that he was right and St. Anthony was
wrong, he didn't give the donkey any food for two days before the test. On the day of the test Bononillo led the donkey toward where St. Anthony was standing with the Blessed Sacrament, in front of a great crowd. When they were a few steps away from the Holy Eucharist, Bononillo placed a bag of hay under the mule's nose, but the mule turned his head. The mule walked over to St. Anthony, and when he was close, bent his front legs as if to kneel in Adoration! Even Bononillo saw that the Sacred Host is really Jesus--Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity--and believed in Him. St. Anthony loved Jesus in the Holy Eucharist very much, so he told everyone he met about His Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. St.
Anthony of Padua: Doctor of the Church, Patron of the Poor-Feast June 13 St.
Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church, Italy (1195-1231)—June 13
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