Saint Anthony of Padua

Anthony of Padua was born in a wealthy family. Against the wishes of his family, Ferdinand entered the Augustinian Abbey of St. Vincent on the outskirts of Lisbon. Ferdinand studied Scripture and the Latin classics. Later, he persuaded his superiors to transfer him to the Augustinian Santa Cruz Monastery (Abbey of the Holy Cross) in Coimbra, then the capital of Portugal, where he was able to continue his studies.

After his ordination, Ferdinand was placed in charge of hospitality in his abbey. In this role, in 1219, he came in contact with five Franciscans who were on their way to Morocco to preach to the Muslims there. Ferdinand was strongly attracted to the simple Gospel lifestyle of the Franciscan friars. Ferdinand obtained permission from his superiors to join the Franciscan order. In the summer of 1220 he was given the Franciscan habit and began to learn the teachings of their founder, Francis of Assisi. He took the new name of Anthony.   Later, Anthony set off to Morocco with another friar. He intended to die preaching the Gospel there. However, upon his arrival in Morocco, he fell so ill he had no choice but to return home.

On the return trip to Portugal, his ship was driven by storm upon the coast of Sicily and he landed at Messina. From Sicily he made his way to Assisi.  One day, on the occasion of an ordination, when a great many visiting Dominican monks were present, there was some misunderstanding over who should preach. It turned out that Anthony would preach and he overwhelmed the congregation with his ability to preach so well. 

Later in life, Anthony became ill with dropsy and, in 1231, went to the woodland retreat at Camposanpiero with two other friars to recover. There Anthony lived in a cell built for him under the branches of a walnut tree. Saint Anthony died on 13 June 1231 at the Poor Clare convent at Arcella on the way back to Padua at the age of 36.

When he died, it is said that the children cried in the streets, that all the bells of the churches rang of their own accord, and that angels came to earth to ring the bells for the death of the saint.