Motto of St. Anthony of Padua

Fr. Scott Haynes

A Sermon on St. Anthony’s Brief

There are certain prayers in the Catholic tradition that are very short, but they carry the strength of centuries. St. Anthony’s Brief is one of them:

Ecce Crucem Domini

Fugite partes adversae!

Vicit Leo de tribu Juda,

Radix David! Alleluia!

[Behold the Cross of the Lord!

Flee, ye hostile powers!

The Lion of the tribe of Judah,

The Root of David, has conquered! Alleluia

Tradition tells us that St. Anthony gave this prayer to a poor woman who was troubled by temptations of the devil. Later, Pope Sixtus V, himself a Franciscan, had these words engraved at the base of the obelisk in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. It is sometimes called the “Motto of St. Anthony.”

What is beautiful about this prayer is that it does not argue with evil. It does not negotiate with temptation. It does not panic before darkness. It simply lifts up the Cross.

“Behold the Cross of the Lord!”

That is the Christian answer to fear, temptation, discouragement, impurity, anger, despair, and every whisper of the enemy. We do not overcome evil by our own cleverness. We overcome it by turning to Christ crucified, Christ victorious, Christ risen from the dead.

St. Anthony knew this well. He was a preacher of the Gospel, a lover of the poor, a man filled with the Word of God. His power did not come from charm or human strength, but from union with Jesus Christ. The devil fears the saints because the saints belong completely to Christ. The devil fears the Cross because on the Cross he was defeated.

“The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered.”

That title comes from the Apocalypse, where Christ is revealed as the victorious Lion, the Root of David, the One who triumphs not by worldly violence but by sacrificial love. The Cross looked like defeat on Good Friday, but it was the throne of victory. The Blood of Christ is stronger than sin. The mercy of Christ is stronger than shame. The grace of Christ is stronger than temptation.

So, when we are tempted, we should learn from St. Anthony. Do not give the devil a long conversation. Do not let temptation build a home in the imagination. Do not stare at the darkness. Lift up the Cross. Make the Sign of the Cross. Say with faith: “Behold the Cross of the Lord! Flee, ye hostile powers!”

And then remember this: the Brief is not magic. It is an act of faith. Its power is not in the paper, the medal, or the words as mere words. Its power is in Jesus Christ, whom those words confess. The prayer works in the heart that turns to Christ with trust, humility, repentance, and confidence.

Today, let us ask St. Anthony to help us recover this simple Catholic courage. When evil seems loud, let us remember that Christ is louder in silence. When temptation presses upon us, let us remember that Christ has already conquered. When fear comes near, let us hold up the Cross.

Behold the Cross of the Lord. The Lion of Judah has conquered. Alleluia.