St. Anthony of Padua was born August 15, 1195 near Lisbon, to a wealthy
family and given the name Fernando. He was sent to the cathedral school in
Lisbon, but in 1210, at the age of 15 he entered the Augustinian monastery of
Sao Vicente in Lisbon, against the wishes of his family. But in their monastery
near his native city he was distracted by visits from relatives and friends.
After two years, Fernando asked to be transferred. He was sent to Holy Cross in
Coimbra, a great center of learning and capital of Portugal at that time. He
devoted the next eight years of his life to study and prayer, immersing himself
in Sacred Scripture. When news of the Franciscan martyrs in Morocco
reached him, he joined the Franciscan Order in 1221, when he was 26 years old.
At his own request, he was sent as a missionary to Morocco with the mission of
preaching among the Moors. He had to return to Europe because of ill health.
After this, St Anthony was moved to Romagna (Italy) and spent 9 months as a
chaplain to hermits. He was so modest that he thought nothing of spending his
days carrying on the lowliest duties of the kitchen and convent. But the Lord
had bigger plans for this holy man. At an ordination ceremony, the priest who
was about to give the sermon fell ill suddenly and St Anthony was called upon
to give the sermon in his place. Although he refused with humility at first, he
eventually had to do so because of his vow of obedience to his superior. He
delivered a very moving and impressive sermon. He worked very close to St
Francis of Assisi, and is probably the second best known Franciscan in history.
St Anthony distributing the bread - Willem Van Herp |
The last two years of his life he spent in Padua, preaching, hearing
confessions and working to help the poor. St. Anthony died on June 13th, 1231
at Arcella, a suburb of Padua in the apartment reserved for the chaplain of the
sisterhood of Poor Clares of Arcella. There he received the last rites and
died. He was only 36. Saint Anthony was canonized in 1232 by Pope Gregory IX
and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1946. He holds the
record for the second fastest canonization in history: he was declared a saint
352 days after his death. In 1263, a basilica was built in his honor. He was
above all the greatest preacher of the middle ages and one of the finest
orators of all time. Today he is one of the most famous saints and is often
called upon by Catholics to help find lost possessions. Saint Anthony of Padua
is usually sculpted or portrayed holding the child Jesus, or a lily or a book,
or all three, in his arms.
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