Anthony of Padua

Who they were

Fernando was born into a noble family at Lisbon in 1195. At fifteen he joined the Augustinian canons, was trained at Holy Cross in Coimbra and ordained at 24. In 1220 the bodies of five Franciscan missionaries martyred in Morocco were brought to Coimbra, and he left the canons to follow Francis of Assisi, taking the name Anthony after the desert father.

He set out for Morocco but fell ill; the ship home was wrecked on Sicily, and in 1221 he reached Assisi. Near Padua he withdrew to live in a walnut tree, where tradition places his vision of the Child Jesus. Taken ill on 13 June 1231, he asked to die in Padua, and died at the Arcella on the way, murmuring 'I see my Lord.'

The miracles

He was canonised less than a year after his death, one of the fastest canonisations in the Church's history. Pius XII declared him a Doctor of the Church in 1946. In Padua he is simply 'the Saint'.

Why that counted as sanctity

Anthony joined a brilliant mind to a humble heart, study to prayer. He gave up an honoured career to become a poor friar and preached the Gospel so that ordinary people understood it.

Connected on this site

• Anthony the Great Saint
  “He is distinguished from other saints named Anthony, such as Anthony of Padua, by various epithets: Anthony of Egypt, Anthony the Abbot, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Anchorite, Anthony the Hermit, and Anthony of Thebes.” — Wikipedia
• Francis of Assisi Saint
  “In 1220 the bodies of five Franciscan missionaries martyred in Morocco were brought to Coimbra, and he left the canons to follow Francis of Assisi, taking the name Anthony after the desert father.” — this site's research
• Luke of Padua Saint
  “He became a close friend of Anthony of Padua, taking an active part in his prayers and assisting him to draft his sermons.” — Wikipedia