It has been 29 years since the full skeleton of St. Anthony of Padua was displayed for public viewing.  His jawbone, tongue, and voice box are always on display at his Basilica here in Padua, but the Pope has given permission to show all his bones for several days.  St. Anthony is the patron saint of Italy, and many Italians come to visit his resting place to pray and seek miracles.  On the highways coming into Padua right now, there are signs that say per il santo uscita 7 (for the saint exit 7).

Last night Mark and I spent some time with two lesser-known living saints.  Mark is a young Nigerian man who came to southern Italy via Libya in a small boat and was rescued off  the shore of Sicily by the Italian coast guard. Mark fledNigeria because after his father (the village chief) died, the people of his village demanded that Mark and one of his father’s widows marry.  They both were Christians and refused.  The woman was killed, and Mark fled for his own life.

He applied for asylum in Italy and it was denied; they ordered him to leave the country.  Having no way to return toAfrica, he lived for a while in Italy.  Later he made his way to France and then crossed to Britain by hanging onto the undercarriage of a truck that passed through the tunnel under the English Channel.  Mark applied for asylum in Britainbut was sent back to Rome on an airplane.  The law says that you must apply for asylum in the country of first entry into the European Union—in this case, Italy.  From Rome, Mark made his way to Padua.

Vanessa, a member of our Nigerian church in Padua, met Mark on the street and began trying to help him.  She turned to us for guidance in what might be done for him.  We, in turn, took him to see a lawyer who works with an association that seeks to help immigrants.  Debbie and I had talked with this same lawyer several months ago about an African woman whom we were trying to help.  The lawyer showed real compassion for the issues that immigrants in Italy face.

The lawyer listened to Mark’s story and then shared what needed to be done.  Mark’s situation is far more complicated than we first thought.  As I sat there, I grew discouraged.  I was ready to give up.  But, the lawyer laid out a series of things that must be done.  He was undaunted by the hurdles before us.  He is truly committed to doing everything possible to get Mark documents that will lead to good life in Italy.  What will happen with Mark?  We don’t know.  But, we are not giving up.

Vanessa and this kind lawyer:  they are living saints.  They are working to care for and help one of God’s children. God is using them to bring hope to Mark’s life.

The elderly woman in the doctor’s waiting room said that she went to see St. Anthony’s bones 29 years ago.  They were very black, and they gave her nightmares.  She won’t be going back this time.  She and the other woman agreed that praying to the saint may be helpful, but viewing the bones is a bit excessive.

I am not planning to go see the bones either.  I would have to stand in a long line; 200,000 people will view the saint this week.  And I prefer living saints anyway—ones that in small, daily ways bring God’s kingdom in people’s lives.

Through your prayers and support, you partner with these two living saints as we work with them to bring God’s love to a sometimes callous world.