Our Patron Saint

St. Anthony of Padua

“We need external peace to live with others, internal peace to live with ourselves and eternal peace to live with God.”

St. Anthony was born in Lisbon, Portugal on August 15, 1195. At his baptism he was named Fernando after his uncle who was a priest. In his early teens Fernando entered the Monastery in Coimbra, Portugal.  He spent nine years studying theology as an Augustinian monk and was ordained a priest in 1220.

In Coimbra at age 25, he experienced something that changed his life forever. When the bodies of the first Franciscan martyrs, who had been tortured and killed preaching the faith in Morocco, were brought to Coimbra for burial, Fernando was deeply moved by their heroic witness to Christ. He vowed to follow in their footsteps, preach to those who did not know Christ and become a martyr for his faith. Fernando left the Augustinians and joined the Franciscan Friars. It was then that his name was changed to Anthony.

Perhaps we would have never heard of St. Anthony if he hadn’t gone to an ordination in 1222. While gathered for a meal, the provincial suggested that one of the friars give a short sermon. Anthony was asked to give “just something simple,” since the Franciscans did not know if he had any education. As he spoke, the fire within him ignited and his words moved and impressed all who heard him speak.

Recognized as an extremely gifted preacher and teacher, Anthony drew great crowds everywhere, especially in the city of Padua. He challenged the people to care for the poor and spoke strongly about social injustices. His stirring words showed how deeply he understood the everyday problems of ordinary people.

Despite his valiant efforts, not everyone listened.  Legend has it that in Rimini the people refused to listen to him preach. He then walked to the side of the river and began to preach to the fishes, which appeared to pop their heads out of the water, row after row, and listen intently. That got everyone’s attention and admiring crowds gathered in the thousands to hear him preach.

Although he is popularly known as the “Finder of Lost Articles,” St. Anthony was most concerned with finding people who had lost their way to God. A story from his life expresses this. Anthony wrote notes from his teachings and theology in his prayer book and book of psalms. A young friar left the Order and took Anthony’s book with him. Anthony prayed fervently that he would find his prayer book and that the young friar would have a change of heart. Soon the runaway returned with the prayer book and rejoined the Franciscan Order.

Anthony traveled tirelessly in northern Italy and southern France choosing to enter the cities where the heretics were strongest. At one such city he came upon a heretic who challenged him, asking him to prove through a miracle the real presence of Jesus in the Host. A hungry, starved mule was brought forward, with its fodder on one side and the Holy Sacrament on the other. Ignoring its meal, the animal knelt before the consecrated Host.

Anthony’s superior, St. Francis of Assisi, directed him to teach the friars sacred theology, provided that the studies did not destroy the spirit of holy prayer and devotedness. He first taught in Bologna and then continued to teach, assuming more responsibility within the Order. In 1226 he was appointed Provincial Superior of northern Italy.

While in Rome at 33 years old, he met Pope Gregory IX, who had been a friend and advisor of St. Francis. When Anthony was asked to speak, he did so humbly. The response was so great that people later said that it seemed the miracle of Pentecost was repeated.

Sadly, he died on June 13, 1231, at the age of 36. This simple and humble Friar, who preached the Good News lovingly and with fearless courage, had been a Franciscan for only 10 years.

Within one year of his death, Pope Gregory IX, moved by the many miracles that occurred at Anthony’s tomb, declared him a Saint. The youth, whom his fellow Friars thought was uneducated, became one of the great preachers and theologians for his day.

In 1946 Pope Pius XII officially declared St. Anthony a Doctor of the Universal Church.

Since the miracles happened at his tomb on the day of his burial, a Tuesday, our parish honors St. Anthony after the 5pm Mass every Tuesday, with prayer and the opportunity to venerate a first-degree relic.

For prayers, novenas and additional information about St. Anthony, we suggest visiting the website for St. Anthony Shrine.