St. Anthony Preaching to the Fishes

St. Anthony’s famous “Preaching to the Fishes” took place near Padua. Anthony, nicknamed “The Hammer of Heretics,” felt a pressing need to preach the Gospel of Christ. To prove the faithlessness of the heretics, he made a point of preaching to some nearby fishes, “creatures without reason.” 

St. Anthony went to where the river ran into the sea and began to speak to the fishes in the water. He said, “Listen to the word of God, O ye fishes of the sea and of the river, seeing that the faithless heretics refuse to do so.”

As soon as he said these words, a great multitude of fishes, small and large, came to the bank of the water. It was said that never before had so many been seen in those waters. They poked their heads out of the water to hear his words. 

Word of this miracle made its way through the city. The heretics were touched and began to also listen to St. Anthony. When he was done, St. Anthony dismissed the fishes and they returned to the sea. Many in the city were converted that day.