Saint Anthony and the Christ Child Book Analysis Essay

The book Saint Anthony and the Christ Child by Helen Walker Homan is the story of Saint Anthony’s calling from God to become a priest and friar, to touch others’ hearts to do good. Fernando, as he was called before he joined the Franciscan order, at first wanted to be a soldier in a crusade for Christ, but eventually was drawn to God in a different way. This book tells the story of his decision to become a Franciscan friar, and what St. Anthony did once he was a friar. This story exemplifies how Saint Anthony is obedient to God and others around him, humble, and reverent to God.

This book gives many examples that show St. Anthony is obedient. When Fernando was young, he listened to his mother when she told him to eat his food and to take a rest every day, even though it was hard for him to sit still. Later, Saint Anthony’s only desire was to die as a martyr for Christ, preaching to convert others. After several transparent messages from God, he realized that God wasn’t calling him to that way of life, and he reluctantly accepted it wholly out of obedience. Later in the story, all the friars minor, the order of friars St. Anthony was part of, were called to a general meeting. At the meeting, the preacher that was supposed to deliver the sermon wasn’t prepared. The bishop needed someone to give a sermon, and as nobody had prepared anything, was desperate for somebody. He asked St. Anthony, and, only because the bishop requested of him to give the sermon, did he nervously comply. St. Anthony was obedient to everybody around him.. 

The story depicts St. Anthony’s holiness in a few different ways. God had given St. Anthony had the wonderful gift of preaching, and he used it appropriately, honoring God and his power. Near the end of the book, it introduces the manuscript that St. Anthony had been writing. When he took a short break, St. Anthony came back to his study to find that the precious manuscript was missing! Brother Louis went missing around that same time that the manuscript was lost, and St. Anthony prayed for the return of brother Louis and his precious manuscript. By a miracle, brother Louis had a conversion experience where he returned to the friary with the stolen manuscript. Saint Anthony was devoted to the Christ Child ever since he was a little child, when his friend, Inez, showed him the secret of her happiness, the Christ Child, even though she was in crutches.  At the end of the book, St. Anthony and his friend Pedro were on a trip when they stopped at one of St. Anthony’s friend’s castle for the night. During the night, the Christ Child appeared to him during his prayer time. Saint Anthony was respectfully reverent towards God. 

Saint Anthony and the Christ Child portrays several ways that Saint Anthony was humble. After St. Anthony had delivered a terrific sermon, he did all that he could to avoid applause from others, escaping directly after his Mass to feed the poor that came to the monastery to ask for food. Later, when he was part of the friars minor, St. Anthony greatly desired the blessing of St. Francis, thinking that if he could have the blessing of the leader of his order, it would help him improve his own sermons. At the end of the book, Anthony and Pedro were traveling when they stopped at his friend’s castle. The Christ Child appeared to St. Anthony, and his friend, the lord of the castle, witnessed it. Anthony begged his friend not to tell anyone of this miracle until after he died. St. Anthony was always humble, working to draw less attention to himself, and more to God, and other people.

Saint Anthony and the Christ Child is a wonderful story of the life of St. Anthony, that covers the desires, challenges, and miracles of St. Anthony. It is an adventure packed story that was exciting to read. The story of St. Anthony and the Christ Child is inspiring for many souls to follow his example of obedience, holiness, and humbleness that he showed to everyone around him.