Saint
Anthony of Padua (also known as Antonio da Padova, Evangelical
Doctor) was born as Ferdinand to a wealthy family in 1195 A.D. at
Lisbon, Portugal. He was educated in the cathedral school in Lisbon.
His family wanted him to be a great nobleman, but, Anthony felt a
religious calling and he joined the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine
in 1210 when he was 15.
Two
years later, to avoid the distraction of family and friends who
visited him frequently, Anthony received permission from his superior
to move to the Convent of Santa Croce in Cóimbra where he remained
for eight years. There he occupied his time with prayer and study,
where he learned a great deal about theology and gained the
understanding of Holy Scripture.
When
the bodies of Saint Berard and his companions, the first Franciscan
martyrs in 1220, were brought to be buried in the Church of Santa
Croce , Anthony was inspired to leave his order, enter the Friars
Minor, and go to Morocco to evangelize, and become a martyr for
Christ. After confiding his intentions to some of the Franciscans, he
received the Franciscan habit, and took the name Anthony.
When
Anthony first started for Morocco, he was stricken with a severe
illness which affected him the entire winter. He set sail for
Portugal and then Morocco the following spring, but, he was
shipwrecked off the coast of Sicily, where he remained for a time
until he regained his health. From there he journeyed to a general
chapter of the Franciscans at Assisi where he went entirely
unnoticed. He applied to the Provincial of Cóimbra for a place where
he could live in solitude and penance and enter more fully in the
discipline of Franciscan life. The Provincial was in need of a priest
for the hermitage of Montepaolo and sent him there to celebrate Mass
for the lay brothers.
While
Anthony lived at Montepaolo it happened that a number of Franciscan
and Dominican friars were sent together to be ordained. When the time
for ordination had arrived, it was found that no one had been chosen
to preach. The superior turned first to the Dominicans, but everyone
declined, saying he was not prepared. They then chose Anthony, whom
they thought only able to read the Missal and Breviary, and told him
to speak whatever the spirit of God inspired in him. Anthony obeyed,
and at first he spoke slowly and timidly, but soon he was enkindled
with the Spirit, and he began to explain the most hidden sense of
Holy Scripture with such profound learnedness and beautiful doctrine
that all were astonished. That moment began Anthony's public career.
He was then constantly travelling, evangelizing, preaching, and
teaching theology through Italy and France.
Anthony
won a reputation as a preacher and teacher of theology, received the
praise of Saint Francis, made numerous converts and performed many
miracles. He had a vision of the Infant Christ, and he was made
provincial of the monastery at Limousin, France in 1226.
Saint
Anthony of Padua died of natural cause at Vercelli, Italy in June
1231. His relics are at Padua, Italy. He was declared a Doctor of the
Church on January 16, 1946 by Venerable Pope Pius XII.
