SAINT: St Anthony of Padua – 13 June
By Heather Excell
Today’s world praises those who chase success with careful planning, yet St Anthony’s life took its greatest shape when his own plans gave way.
Born in 1195 to a noble family in Lisbon, Portugal, St Anthony of Padua, then known as Fernando, was raised in Christian virtues since birth. His teachers would often comment on his intimate relationship with God, and his humility to help struggling classmates.
Fernando’s mother often took him to the nearby Cathedral where he would spend hours contemplating the Sacred images. The parish priests noticed this and began instructing him in Scripture.
At 15 years old, Fernando entered the Augustinian monastery of St Vincent outside the Walls. There, he excelled among his peers in his theology and philosophy studies, and by his mid-twenties, was ordained a priest.
Fernando’s life was heading in the right direction for a quiet, scholarly life, but despite this, he desired not simply to know God, but to give everything for Him.
The turning point came in 1220 when the remains of five Franciscan martyrs arrived in Coimbra, Portugal from Morocco. Their witness of courage shook Fernando, inspiring him to leave behind security and status to follow the radical simplicity of St Francis of Assisi. He joined the Franciscan order taking the name Anthony.
Anthony deeply desired the life of a missionary, sharing the Gospel in far off lands, and even to die for it. In the Spring of 1221, he set sail for Morocco but fell ill on arrival and was sent back to Europe. Upon his return, he landed in Italy where he was sent to live a humble life of prayer and study in a small hermitage.
Anthony served his community without much notice, until 1222 when he attended the ordination of a group of Franciscan and Dominican friars. At the last minute, Anthony was called upon to preach. His words carried such clarity and depth that those present were astonished, and St Francis, the order’s Founder, entrusted him with the formation of the Franciscans.
One of his well-known miracles (and the reason for his patronage of lost things and people) occurred during his time spent teaching the Franciscans. A novice, disheartened with the monk’s way of life, had left the hermitage, taking with him Anthony’s Psalter (a valuable item before the time of the printing press). Upon realising the book had been stolen, Anthony prayed. The novice not only returned his book, but he also returned to religious life.
Anthony died in 1231 and was canonised only a year after his death. This is still one of the fastest canonisations in Church history.
The story of this great saint and doctor of the Church is one of surrender. It was in the redirection of his life that Anthony’s true purpose lay, teaching us that holiness is not found in our plans, but in our willingness to be led by Christ.
St Anthony of Padua, pray for us!