Deepertruth: St. Anthony and the Miracle of the Fish

Anthony is known as one of the great miracle-workers, healing the sick and raising the dead, but one of his most famous miracles involves a group of fish. In the town of Rimini, Italy, after the townspeople refused to listen to him and even mocked him, St Anthony started to preach, but they did not want to listen to him, and they even mocked him. In a dramatic gesture, Anthony went to the seashore, saying, “Because you show yourself unworthy of God's word, behold, I turn to the fishes so that your unbelief may be shown up more clearly”.

Anthony of Padua was preaching in Romagna to Cathar heretics, who initially rebuffed him. Anthony preached instead to the fish, after which many people came to witness the miracle and hear the sermon.

Some of the fishes began to open their mouths and nod their heads as a way of praising God. On seeing this, St. Anthony rejoiced and cried out: “How blessed is the Creator!For the fishes give God more honor and praise than the heretics do.