Feast of St Anthony in Cassino

Online, May 26, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Also the city of Cassino, in the region Latium, hosts every year the celebrations in St Anthony's honour. Notably celebrations take place, in Cassino as well as in many other cities, on the 13th of June, the day when the saint died and ascended into heaven. The feast of St Anthony is one of the main events of the city, which has also dedicated to the saint a church in Diamare square, and both the city's inhabitants and tourists appreciate a lot this event.

Cassino is just one of the many cities where people celebrate the saint on the 13th of June: St Anthony is considered as one of the most important saints of the Church, and his worship is very widespread and still alive. To turn Fernando Martim de Bulhões e Taveira Azevedo (this is his real name) into a saint loved and venerated worldwide have contributed the many miraculous events that were ascribed to him shortly after his death, and which led to his canonization in very short time: he died in Padua on the 13th June 1231 and was proclaimed saint the next year, on the 30th of May by Pope Gregory IX, who had assisted his sermons and knew him well. Gregory IX also determined the date for the liturgical feast in his honour (the 13th of June). St Anthony also received another important recognition in 1946, when pope Pius XII bestowed the title of Doctor Evangelicus upon him in virtue of the value of his writings and his sermons.

A year after the death of the saint, and for all the following years until today, the 13th of June has been the day consecrated to St Anthony, who has become the patron saint of Portugal, of Brazil and of many Italian cities, Padua first of all. In Padua there is the big basilica that bears his name and that preserves his relics. The Basilica of St Anthony in Padua is one of the most important places of worships in the world and attracts many pilgrims all year round, but above all on the 13th of June, when a keenly felt procession takes place.

Although Padua is the Italian city which is most bonded to St Anthony and his worship, also the celebrations that take place in his honour in Cassino are very keenly felt, not only by believers, but also by tourists and by those who have a passion for folkloristic events. The feast of St Anthony in Cassino, indeed, is conceived as a religious feast, but with the passing of time has become also an interesting folkloristic event. The two features of the feast coexist perfectly, turning the event into one of the unmissable happenings of Cassino: celebrations, which usually take place in various days, reaching the climax on the 13th of June, include a holy mass and a procession in honour of the saint, which is usually followed by wonderful wireworks. Every year the events programme changes, offering, for example, theatre performances, concerts and live music.

This article was written by Francesca Tessarollo, with support from cassino Italy hotels. For any information please visit st anthony cassino, or visit hotel rocca cassino.