St.

Anthony of
Padua
LUC MADONNA
 Biographical Dates/ Travels
St. Anthony was born on August 15, 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal
Died on June 13, 1231 in Padua, Italy.
Was a Franciscan preacher and teacher (entered the monastery at the age of 15).
He studied in Coimbra (Portugal) for nine years where he was ordained a priest.
Life took a huge turn when he heard about five Franciscan martyrs whose
headless bodies were returned from Morocco.
This is when he officially took the Franciscan habit, changed his name to
Anthony, and selflessly missioned to Morocco.
However, God was not asking of Anthonys life, and instead, he was struck with
an illness months later and ended up in Padua, Italy.
He would spend the next nine years (from 1223-1231) preaching in Northern Italy
and Southern France until his death at age 36.
Sainthood
St. Anthony was canonized a saint by Pope Gregory IX less than a year after
his death
He was canonized because after his death, many miracles took place at the
site of his tomb.
Also, he is considered the greatest preacher of the Middle Ages and one of
the best orators the church has ever seen
One of the founding figures of monasticism, or the denunciation of worldly
pursuits
We can challenge ourselves to be more like St. Anthony with our
selflessness. He was willing to give up his life for the Gospel to be spread.
Just months before he went to Morocco, five Franciscan missionaries were
tortured and beheaded at the same place Anthony was going to preach at. In
fact, he thought he was going to die when he accepted the mission.
Church and Worldly
Contributions
St. Anthony was one of the
greatest speakers and
preachers in the history of the
Church.
He taught the Church that
your life was given by Jesus
Christ, and you must offer it to
him if he asks of you.
He taught the world to not
care so much about
materialistic things, but about
your soul and relationship with
Connection to the Eucharist
Story about the Jewish man and the donkey:
Jewish man challenged the Real Presence of the Eucharist.
Challenged Anthony to a contest:
Would starve a donkey for three days, then see if it would eat the Eucharist or a
bail of hay.
During the three days, Anthony fasted.
When the three days were over, the donkey was released with the hay and
Eucharist equidistant from each other.
The donkey was about to eat the hay when Anthony said. Mule, in the name of the
Lord our God, I command you to come here and adore your Creator.
The donkey ran to St. Anthony, who was elevating the Eucharist, and sat down
almost in an adoration position.
Amazed, the Jewish man immediately converted to Christianity.
Prayer to St. Anthony
Saint Anthony, attentive to those who
invoke thee, grant us the aid of thy
powerful intercession for the grace of
holy purity, meekness, humility,
obedience, the spirit of poverty, and
perfect abandonment to the will of God.
Amen