A 50 Euro Note

DEAR READERS, what makes Advent so dear to us Christians is its blessed atmosphere of expectation and hope. In this period we feel great anticipation for the One who became a man for our sakes; at the same time, we cherish the hope of making the world into a better place through God’s help.

Here in Padua, Saint Anthony’s Basilica is full to overflowing with tourists and devotees who come to prepare their souls for what St. Francis called “the feast of feasts”.

For our part, we friars do our best to assist all those who come to the Basilica by offering them the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist, by blessing them and their children and, of course, by remembering their troubles and sufferings in our daily prayers.

Of the many stories from the Saint’s devotees that have reached my ears in these last few days, there is a lovely episode which has a surprising Christmas flavour to it, and I would like to share it with you. It is the story of Julia, a young single mother.



A few years ago, when her child was but a few months old, Julia was homeless and unemployed. Her parents were living in Kosovo, but she did not want to seek help at home because she was afraid that she would become the butt of criticism from her own friends and relatives for being ‘a loser’.

So Julia chose to remain in Padua, living on the edge. She survived by stealing from supermarkets and shops, by begging along the streets, and by seeking shelter from other vagrants like herself.

For some time Julia’s baby had not been well. The young child was anaemic and in urgent need of warmth and nourishing food. The doctor told her, “The only thing your son needs is some nutritious baby food with plenty of proteins and vitamins… and from the looks of you, Julia, you’re in need of a proper meal yourself!”



Easier said than done, for Julia was penniless. With all this going on in her life, how on earth was she to provide for her dear baby?

After roaming aimlessly around the streets of Padua for a long time, Julia finally ended up in the Saint’s Basilica, where at least she could warm her bones from the freezing temperature outside. It was 2 o’clock in the afternoon, a time when the Shrine was relatively empty. She sat down at a pew next to Saint Anthony’s Tomb and started praying for his help. However, she felt so unworthy, so out of place in such a holy environment, that she ran out of the Basilica to avert an emotional breakdown.



It was a few days before Christmas, and an icy wind was sweeping the few withered leaves along on the ground and ruffling her baby’s hair. She kept on walking, holding the baby tightly in her arms, all the while pleading with the Saint to help her in her desperate situation, when suddenly she saw something rolling along the pavement. Was it a shrunken leaf whirling in the wind? Or was it a yellowish strip of paper, perhaps someone’s shopping list? She moved closer, knelt, and picked up the item.

Julia couldn’t believe her eyes: it was a 50 euro note, neatly folded into a square. With that amount of money she would be able to buy nourishing food for her son and herself many times over, and also a little present for him: they would have a nice Christmas too. The moment of desperation had passed and now only hope filled her heart. Her baby would surely be healed and, after their holiday, somehow she would find a job. In that unexpected gift from Above there was much more than a discreet sum of money to cover her immediate necessities, there was the chance of a new start in life!



I am pleased to tell you that Julia is now married to a good, reliable and affectionate man; she works part-time and her child is now a healthy boy. Needless to say, she often comes to the Basilica to visit her dear friend Saint Anthony in his home here in Padua.

Dear readers, what a wonderful story of hope this is! May Hope be your gift this Christmas, and may Faith, Love and Joy be your treasures in the New Year.