Reading Theology to the Brothers: The Background to St. Anthony's Opus Dominicale

ABSTRACT:
Anthony of Padua (c. 1190-1231) was a prominent and influential figure in the Franciscan tradition, yet remains virtually untouched by English-speaking Franciscan scholars of the modern world. The present article is part of an ongoing endeavour to correct this, and explores part of Anthony's life and more importantly, his legacy. In particular, it treats the question, how did St Antony of Padua come to write his great series of commentaries on the Sunday Gospels, which he himself called his Opus Evangeliorum, but which is generally known today as his Sermones Dominicales?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Paul Spilsbury gained a PhD in 1999 from Bristol University, England, for his research into the writings of St Antony. His translation of these writings is currently being published in four volumes by the Franciscan publishing house, Edizioni Messaggero, at Padua. This article is condensed from his ongoing work on the background to the Saint’s writings.