"Ecce convivium pingue!" Doctor Evangelicus

Saint Anthony, "Hammer of Heretics," Doctor of the Church, Works and Chant

 "Behold 'the feast of fat things.'"

From Sermon 070, Holy Thursday Sermon, 6,  Saint Anthony of Padua.

6. The Lord of hosts shall make unto all people, in this mountain, a feast of fat things: a feast of wine, of fat things full of marrow, of wine purified from the lees. [Is 25.6] This comes from Isaiah 25; Matthew 26 says of this banquet: Whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread and blessed and broke and gave to his disciples and said: Take ye and eat. This is my body. And, taking the chalice, he gave thanks and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this. This is my blood of the new Testament; [Mt 26.26-28] confirming it. Note that Christ did four things today: he washed the Apostles’ feet, he gave them his body and blood, he spoke a long and precious discourse, and he prayed to the Father for them and for all who would believe in him. Behold the ‘feast of fat things’! Sermons in English

6. --- Faciet Dominus exercituum omnibus populis in monte hoc convivium pinguium, convivium vindemiae, pinguium medullatorum, vindemiae defecatae (Is 25, 6). Haec auctoritas Isaia XXV. De quo convivio dicit Matthaeus XXVI: Cenantibus, inquit, eis, accepit Iesus panem; et benedixit ac fregit, deditque discipulis suis et ait: Accipite et comedite: Hoc est corpus meum. Et accipiens calicem, gratias egit, et dedit illis, dicens: Bibite ex hoc omnes: Hic est sanguis meus novi testamenti (Mt 26, 26-28), subaudi, confirmatio. Nota quod, Christus hodie quattuor fecit: apostolorum pedes lavit, eis corpus et sanguinem suum tradidit, sermonem pretiosum et longum fecit, pro eis et pro omnibus in se credentibus ad Patrem oravit. Ecce convivium pingue. Sermons in Latin

P.S. Pope Benedict XVI General Audience on Saint Anthony of Padua.

N.B., Si quaeris miracula is a traditional hymn to Saint Anthony. The video is excellent, with an explanation of the 13th century origin of the chant.

(LA) « Si quaeris miracula mors, error, calamitas, demon, lepra fugiunt, aegri surgunt sani. Cedunt mare, vincula, membra resque perditas petunt et accipiunt juvenes et cani. Pereunt pericula, cessat et necessitas, narrent hi qui sentiunt, dicant Paduani. Cedunt mare, vincula… Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto… Cedunt mare, vincula… »

(IT) « Se miracoli tu brami, fugge error, calamità, lebbra, morte, spiriti infami e qualunque infermità. Cede il mare e le catene trova ognun ciò che smarrì han conforto nelle pene vecchi e giovani ogni dì. I perigli avrai lontani, la miseria sparirà; ben lo sanno i Padovani, preghi ognun e proverà! Cede il mare e le catene… Gloria al Padre e al Figlio e allo Spirito Santo… Cede il mare e le catene… »

(Responsorio tradizionale)

This rendition by the Milanese professor is my favorite. Mellifluous!