St. Anthony of Padua was a well-loved Franciscan priest who took his name from the Italian city of Padua, where he preached for a year and a half and where he eventually died. Anthony (Antony) was actually born to nobility in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195. He was baptized with the name of Ferdinand. As a young man he joined the Augustinian order and was an avid student of Scripture. His life was forever changed, however, when the tortured bodies of five viciously murdered Franciscan priests were brought from Morocco, Africa to Portugal for burial. Anthony, inspired by their heroism, joined the Franciscan order and sailed to Morocco soon afterwards.

Unfortunately, the African climate did not suit Anthony and he became ill. On the voyage back to Portugal a storm blew his boat off course and he landed instead in Sicily. He traveled to Assisi (where he probably met St. Francis) and assumed a life of quiet study and humble labor among his fellow Franciscans. But God had other plans for Anthony. The priest assigned to give the homily at an ordination Mass did not show and at the last minute, Anthony was asked to speak. The people in attendance were astonished at the young man's fervor, conviction, and knowledge of Scripture.

Anthony was sent to preach his charismatic message in Italy, France, and Belgium. Although he was short and inclined to corpulence, his magnetic words converted such amazing numbers of heretics that he was given the moniker "Hammer of Heretics". Anthony lived his words: he intervened passionately for people imprisoned for debt and performed countless acts of mercy. During this period the owner of a house where Anthony was staying looked through a window and saw Anthony tenderly cradling the Infant Jesus; today he is often depicted with the Holy Infant. Anthony once held the Blessed Sacrament high above his head and a nearby donkey dropped to its knees, causing its owners to convert to Catholicism; now Anthony is the patron saint of donkeys and horses.

Anthony surrendered his whole life to service to God, devotion, preaching, and study of the Scripture. But his health failed and he died in 1231, at only 36 years of age. He was canonized the following year and was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church within the last century. We are proud to model our lives on "the little man with the big heart" who gave his all for Christ!

"O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms; and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours."