The story of Anthony "preaching to the fish,“ originated in
Rimini, where he had gone to preach. When
heretics there treated him with contempt, Anthony was said to have gone to the shoreline, where he began to preach at the water’s edge until a great crowd of fish was seen gathered before him. The people of the town flocked to see this marvel, after which Anthony charged them with the fact that the fish were more receptive to his message than the heretics of the church, at which point the people were moved to listen to his message.
[9]
In another oft-told story, which took place in
Toulouse, Anthony was challenged by a heretic to prove the reality of the
Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The man, who sought to mock Anthony by show, brought out a half-starved
mule and showed it fresh
fodder on one hand, and the
sacramental host on the other. The mule was said to have ignored the fodder and instead of eating either, bowed before the sacrament.
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Another account tells of an occasion in Italy when Anthony was dining with heretics. He realized the food they put before him was poisoned, and he confronted them. The men admitted to attempting to kill him, but then challenged him to eat if he truly believed the words spoken in Mark 16:18 about the apostles of Christ: "...and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them." Anthony is said to have blessed the food, eaten it, and suffered no harm, much to the amazement of his hosts.
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