We should speak, then, as the Holy Spirit gives us the gift of speech. Our humble and sincere request to the Spirit for ourselves should be that we may bring the day of Pentecost to fulfillment, insofar as he infuses us with his grace, by using our bodily senses in a perfect manner and by keeping the commandments. Likewise we should request that we may be filled with a keen sense of sorrow and with fiery tongues for confessing the faith, so that our deserved reward may be to stand in the blazing splendor of the saints and to look upon the triune God.
Anthony of Padua (AD 1195-1231), Sermon I, 226
These different languages are different ways of witnessing to Christ, such as humility, poverty, patience and obedience; we speak in those languages when we reveal in ourselves these virtues to others.
This quote by itself might suffice to demonstrate that Anthony of Padua was a Franciscan. If you didn't already know, St. Francis of Assisi (AD 1193-1253), the founder of the Franciscan order, made that immortal statement: "Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words."
We are full of words but empty of actions, and therefore are cursed by the Lord, since he himself cursed the fig tree when he found not fruit but only leaves.
O, God, how true it is. I am covered like Adam and Eve by leaves of false piety. How fruitless my life is! Miserere meum, O Dominus! Miserere nostre!
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