Early Years
St. Anthony was born in 1195 (13 years after St. Francis of Assisi) in Lisbon, Portugal and given the name of Fernando at Baptism. He was a member of the Bulhom family which was a wealthy and prominent family in Portugal.
At 15 years of age he entered the religious order of St. Augustine. Monastery life was difficult for the young man who was not very good at prayer and study, further complicated by his old friends that visited frequently and engaged him in political discussions
Two years later he was sent to Coimbra, Portugal where he spent nine years studying Augustinian theology. Fernando was ordained a priest during this time.
His life took a life-changing turn when the bodies of the first five Franciscan martyrs were returned from Morocco. They had been martyred (tortured and beheaded) after repeated warnings from the Sultan to stop preaching about Christ. Fernando eventually joined the Franciscans, took the name Anthony, and set out to preach and martyr himself in Morocco. His ship to Morocco never arrived, was blown off course, and ended up in Sicily where he was nursed back to health after a severe illness. He was eventually assigned to Northern Italy where his knowledge and holiness became evident among the Franciscans. His preaching inspired the masses as he was able to connect with the poor.
At 15 years of age he entered the religious order of St. Augustine. Monastery life was difficult for the young man who was not very good at prayer and study, further complicated by his old friends that visited frequently and engaged him in political discussions
Two years later he was sent to Coimbra, Portugal where he spent nine years studying Augustinian theology. Fernando was ordained a priest during this time.
His life took a life-changing turn when the bodies of the first five Franciscan martyrs were returned from Morocco. They had been martyred (tortured and beheaded) after repeated warnings from the Sultan to stop preaching about Christ. Fernando eventually joined the Franciscans, took the name Anthony, and set out to preach and martyr himself in Morocco. His ship to Morocco never arrived, was blown off course, and ended up in Sicily where he was nursed back to health after a severe illness. He was eventually assigned to Northern Italy where his knowledge and holiness became evident among the Franciscans. His preaching inspired the masses as he was able to connect with the poor.
St. Anthony: Preacher to the People & Teacher to the Franciscans
Anthony made as many as 400 trips travelling between Italy and France in his efforts to preach to the people and take on the heretics. He did in his unique way and was successful in portraying the positives of Christianity, the need for conversion and the wonder of reconciliation with a loving Father.
St. Francis of Assisi was so impressed with Anthony's abilities and understanding of theology and scripture that he gave him the responsibility of teaching other Franciscans. He would start teaching in a friary in Bologna, Italy where he taught theology and scripture with effective methods such as allegory and symbolism.
By 1226 he was appointed provincial superior and proceeded to preach in the city of Padua, Italy. Some of his sermons would be attended by more than 30,000 people. He required protection from people would attempt to snip off pieces of his habit as a relic. These sermons took their toll on his health. He died at age 36. Pope Gregory IX canonized him in 1232.
Source: About St. Anthony. (n.d.) In St. Anthony's Shrine. Retrieved from: http://www.stanthony.org/index.php/st-anthony-of-padua/
St. Francis of Assisi was so impressed with Anthony's abilities and understanding of theology and scripture that he gave him the responsibility of teaching other Franciscans. He would start teaching in a friary in Bologna, Italy where he taught theology and scripture with effective methods such as allegory and symbolism.
By 1226 he was appointed provincial superior and proceeded to preach in the city of Padua, Italy. Some of his sermons would be attended by more than 30,000 people. He required protection from people would attempt to snip off pieces of his habit as a relic. These sermons took their toll on his health. He died at age 36. Pope Gregory IX canonized him in 1232.
Source: About St. Anthony. (n.d.) In St. Anthony's Shrine. Retrieved from: http://www.stanthony.org/index.php/st-anthony-of-padua/