Saint Anthony of Padua
Feast day: June 13
Saint Anthony of Padua, a Franciscan who preached God’s Word, Doctor of the Church (13/06)
Who is he?
Saint Anthony of Padua was a Franciscan priest and a famous preacher. He understood the Bible very deeply, so the Church declared him a Doctor of the Church. He is named after the city of Padua in Italy, where he lived his last years.
Life story
His real name was Fernando, and he was born around 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal. At 15, he joined the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine, studied the Bible diligently and became a priest.
One day, the bodies of five Franciscan friars who had just been martyred in Morocco, in Africa, were brought back. Fernando was deeply moved. He asked to join the Franciscans, took the name Anthony, and asked to go as a missionary to Morocco. But when he arrived, he became very sick and had to sail back home. The ship ran into a storm and was blown onto the island of Sicily, in Italy.
In Italy, he did small jobs in a friary, and no one knew how learned he was. Once, at an ordination, no one had prepared a homily, and the superior told Anthony to go up and speak. He preached so simply and so deeply that everyone was amazed. From then on, Saint Francis of Assisi gave him the job of teaching theology to the brothers.
He preached all over Italy and the south of France. Crowds came to hear him; many people were sorry for their sins and went to Confession, and many rich people learned to share with the poor. According to tradition, people once saw the Child Jesus appear in his arms while he was praying.
He died near Padua on 13 June 1231, when he was about 36 years old. Less than a year later, in 1232, he was canonized. In 1946, Pope Pius XII declared him a Doctor of the Church. Even today, many places still have “Saint Anthony’s bread,” which is bread shared with the poor in his name.
Why is he a saint?
Saint Anthony was very learned but lived very humbly. He was happy to do small jobs, and when God needed him, he used his gifts to preach God’s Word. He loved Jesus and cared for the poor. That is why so many people still come to ask for his prayers today.
A lesson for you
- When you lose something, you can ask Saint Anthony to pray for you; but remember to keep safe the most precious thing of all, your friendship with God.
- Be humble: do small jobs well, and don’t show off when you are good at something.
- Share with the poor, even just a piece of bread or a toy.
Identifying marks
- Holding the Child Jesus in his arms: according to tradition, people once saw the Child Jesus appear in his arms while he was praying.
- A white lily: a sign of his pure heart.
- A brown habit with a white cord tied in three knots: he was a Franciscan friar.
- A book (*): he was a preacher and a Doctor of the Church.
- A loaf of bread (*): it recalls “Saint Anthony’s bread,” bread given to the poor in his name.
(*) Only in some pictures and statues.
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