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Basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua, Italy
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Saint Anthony of Padua (born Fernando Martins de Bulhões) was a 13th-century Portuguese Catholic priest, Franciscan friar, and Doctor of the Church renowned for his powerful preaching and deep devotion to the poor.
Key Facts and Life
- Birth: August 15, 1195, in Lisbon, Portugal
- Death: June 13, 1231, at Arcella, near Padua, Italy
- Feast Day: June 13
- Canonization: 1232 by Pope Gregory IX (one of the fastest in Church history)
- Doctor of the Church: Proclaimed in 1946 by Pope Pius XII
Journey and Ministry
- Early Life: Born to a wealthy family, he joined the Augustinian Canons at age 15 before transitioning to the Franciscan Order in 1221.
- Preaching: Originally intending to be a missionary in Morocco, he fell ill and was redirected to Italy, where his brilliant knowledge of Scripture and eloquent public speaking caught the attention of St. Francis of Assisi.
- Theology Teacher: St. Francis entrusted him to teach theology to the friars, making him one of the early order’s leading intellectuals while still practicing strict Franciscan poverty.
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I am a proud parishioner of the Church of Saint Anthony in North Providence, RI, USA. The Saint gave me a revelation, while my pastor preached about him last June in front of a tapestry depicting Saint Francis of Assisi.
I observed an imaginary video of Saint Anthony, with the right side of his body visible and the left obscure. Saint Anthony was smiling and inserted in my mind “I will protect you.”
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