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.
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. 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. 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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