Receive reasons to believe
< Find all the Reasons here
EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE
Les saints
n°38

Portugal, Italy, and France

1195-1231

Saint Anthony of Padua: "everyone’s saint"

Pope Leo XIII referred to him as "everyone’s saint". Saint Anthony was born in Lisbon during the time of the Crusades. A disciple of St. Augustine and St. Francis of Assisi, he was a missionary, a preacher, a miracle-worker, a mystic and, after his death, not only venerated at his tomb in Padua, Italy, but also throughout the world. 

Who then is this saint whom Pope Pius XII proclaimed the "Evangelical Doctor"? Let's discover his story and the many testimonies of people who experienced his presence, help, compassion, peace and new-found faith.

Saint Antoine de Padoue, 1450, fresque de Benozzo Gozzoli,  église Santa Maria in Aracoeli, Rome / ©CC0/wikimedia
Saint Antoine de Padoue, 1450, fresque de Benozzo Gozzoli, église Santa Maria in Aracoeli, Rome / ©CC0/wikimedia

Reasons to believe:

  • Jean Rigaud (d. 1323), friar minor and later bishop of Tréguier, left us an account of the many miracles performed by Saint Anthony at Saint-Pierre-du-Queyroix, Saint-Junien, Solignac and Brive, in the Limousin region of France. His book, La vie de saint Antoine de Padoue, can be read online in the original French.
  • Anthony knew in advance the day of his death and announced, from the top of a hill surrounding Padua, the honor that the city would enjoy as a result of his merits.
  • On June 13, 1231, moments before giving up the ghost, Brother Anthony contemplated Jesus with his own eyes and declared, "I see my Lord, he calls me to him."
  • The many miracles he performed from the day of his funeral soon led to calls for his canonization, which was granted on May 30, 1232, by Pope Gregory IX, less than a year after his death.
  • On April 8, 1263, 31 years after Anthony's death, Brother Bonaventure, Doctor of Theology and Minister General of the Order, proceeded with the canonical recognition of the saint's body and discovered his tongue still fresh and intact.
  • The spiritual fruits of Saint Anthony are palpable: in Provence and Languedoc, he founded numerous convents of Friars Minor. The Brive caves, where he led a solitary life, are now one of France's most popular places of pilgrimage and spirituality.

Summary:

Anthony was born Fernando de Bulloes y Taveira de Azevedo, in Lisbon, the future capital of Portugal, in 1195 (or 1190, according to forensic tests carried out on his mortal remains). "A boy of good character," according to his biographers, "he learned from his parents charity towards the poor, and mercy grew with him from childhood." Entrusted to the canons of the cathedral for his education and instruction, he did not give in to the pleasures of a city teeming with young people and entertaining places, populated by Teutonic and Breton crusaders attracted by the fresh air and sunshine, but applied himself to learn the principles of grammar and rhetorics. At the age of marriage, he chose to consecrate himself to God by joining the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine, at the monastery of São Vicente de Fora (Lisbon), taught by masters who were experts in theology, logic and medicine.

After two years, he moved to the monastery of Santa Cruz in Coimbra (200 kilometers further north) and, in doing so, made it clear to everyone that this move was not just a change of place, but a change of life. These were the most fruitful years of his theological and spiritual formation. He searched the hidden meaning of the Scriptures and fortified his faith against errors; he learned wisdom and, in a short time, demonstrated such a knowledge of the Scriptures that his memory served him as a book. That was until some of Francis' poor friars knocked on the monastery door, asking for alms. On January 16, 1220, five of these brothers, sent by Francis to evangelize the Muslims in Morocco, were cruelly beheaded by the sultan. This event shook the spirit of Fernando, who, conceiving in his heart the project of also going to Morocco to give his life for Christ, prayed with these words: "Oh, if the Most High would deign to let me share the crown of these holy martyrs! If the executioner's sword could find me bending my neck, on my knees, for the name of Jesus!" One day, he confided to the Franciscan brothers his plan to don their habit, on condition that he be sent to proclaim Christ to the Saracens. He changed his name from Fernando to Anthony, and left for Morocco in early autumn. However, illness prevented him from fulfilling his dream, and in early spring he returned to Portugal. He was within sight of Spain when contrary winds drove the boat onto the coast of Sicily.

Welcomed by the friars of Messina (Sicily), he learned that the annual general chapter of the Order was to be held in Assisi (Umbria) at the end of May, for Pentecost 1221. Although he was still recovering from his illness and the shipwreck, he attended the gathering and heard Francis speak of the goods promised to those who serve the Lord. But when all the brothers returned to their communities, Anthony stayed there on his own, unknown to all, and discreet about his education and priestly status. Discovering that he was a priest, Brother Gratian, provincial of Romagna (Italy), then sent him to Montepaolo, in the hills above Forlí (Emilia-Romagna), where six brothers lived in a hermitage. There, for a year and a half, he lived in silence, prayed and, through fasting and penance, trained himself to discipline his senses. One day in September 1222, at a priestly ordination, the superior invited Brother Anthony to deliver the customary spiritual conference. The brother everyone assumed to be just good enough to do menial chores turned out to be an expert theologian, exegete, preacher and spiritual man! Brother Gratian immediately entrusted him with the task of preaching in Romagna, a region infested by the Cathar heresy. Shortly afterwards, Francis, seeing that Anthony knew how to combine science and humility, sent him to teach theology to the friars in Bologna, calling him "my bishop" - as the task of preaching and teaching was then reserved for bishops or "men proven by their qualities of life and doctrine".

In 1223, Pope Honorius III appealed to King of France Louis VIII to intervene in Languedoc, where "heretics were openly attacking the Church and ruining the Catholic faith". Anthony was therefore sent there to bring believers back to the faith and morals of the Gospel. He taught in Montpellier and Toulouse; in Limoges, he oversaw the communities of France, and served as superior of the monastery at Le Puy. Jean Rigaud, a Friar Minor from Limoges and later Bishop of Tréguier, left us an account of numerous miracles performed in Saint-Pierre-du-Queyroix, Saint-Junien, Solignac and Brive, in the Limousin region. The Brive caves, where Anthony led a solitary life, are now one of France's most popular places of pilgrimage and spirituality. In Provence and Languedoc, in Limousin and Velay, Anthony founded numerous convents of Friars Minor. The many conversions that took place in France and Italy through his zeal earned him the nickname of "the hammer of heretics". Returning to Italy, he attended the General Chapter of Pentecost in Rome in 1227 (after the death of St. Francis on October 3, 1226). There, Anthony was appointed Provincial of Northern Italy.

At the General Chapter held in Assisi for Pentecost 1230, during which he preached before the Pope who, impressed by his knowledge of the Bible, called him "the ark of the Testament" itself, Anthony was relieved from all his duties of governing the friars, and given permission to preach freely in any place of his choice. On this occasion, he settled in Padua (Veneto), in the convent of Santa Maria. He spent the winter of 1230-1231 editing his complete works, the Sermons for Sundays and Festivals of the Year, but had to stop at the beginning of February to devote himself entirely, for forty days, "with untiring zeal to preaching, teaching and the ministry of confession until sunset, very often while fasting". It was a time of exhausting activity, in the city's churches or in the open air, before an audience that sometimes exceeded 30,000 people of all ages and conditions, but very rich with "an abundant harvest for the Lord": the pacification of old grudges, the restitution of stolen property, the liberation of fathers held in prison until the debts of usury were exhausted, the conversion of notorious criminals, and so on.

Anthony knew in advance the day of his death and announced, from the top of a hill surrounding Padua, the honor the city would enjoy as a result of his merits. Exhausted and tormented by persistent dropsy, he had to retire to Camposampiero, some twenty kilometers north of Padua, to recover his health and rest his mind. On Friday, June 13 in the year of our Lord 1231, during a meal, he suffered a heart attack and asked to be taken back to his community in Padua. The journey, on an oxcart, was a difficult one. As he entered the city, a friar advised him to stop at the Cella monastery, where the brothers were providing spiritual assistance to the Poor Clares. It was here that Brother Anthony's soul, provided with the sacraments of the Church, after contemplating with his own eyes Jesus, his Lord ("I see my Lord, he calls me to him"), "was absorbed in the abyss of light".

Immediately, bands of children invaded the town, shouting "the holy father is dead; Saint Anthony is dead!", and the entire population mourned "the father of Padua, his guide and his coachman, who left a people of orphans". The many miracles he performed on the day of his burial soon gave rise to a movement in favor of his canonization, which was granted on May 30, 1232,by Pope Gregory IX, less than a year after his death. Plans were soon drawn up for the construction of a large basilica in Padua to welcome the many pilgrims and pay homage to him (1238-1310). Thirty-one years later, on April 8, 1263, Brother Bonaventure, Doctor of Theology and Minister General of the Order, proceeded with the canonical recognition of the saint's body and, with great emotion, discovered his tongue still fresh and intact. On January 16, 1946, the feast of the Five Martyrs of Morocco, Pius XII proclaimed St Anthony of Padua "Evangelical Doctor of the Church".

Valentin Strappazzon


Beyond reasons to believe:

The veneration of Saint Anthony spread to the Far East and the New World from the Renaissance onwards, in the wake of the Portuguese explorers. Although popular devotion, which is very fervent throughout the world, often depicts the saint as a welcoming Franciscan who is called upon to find lost objects, it should not be forgotten that he is first and foremost a great theologian and contemplative.


Going further:

St. Anthony: The Wonder-Worker of Padua, by Charles Warren Stoddard (TAN Books; 2nd edition, January 1, 2009)


More information:

Share this reason

THE REASONS FOR THE WEEK

L’Église , Les saints , Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Saint Simon Stock reçoit le scapulaire du Mont Carmel des mains de la Vierge Marie
Les saints
Saint Pascal Baylon, humble berger
Les saints , Corps conservés des saints , Stigmates
Sainte Rita de Cascia, celle qui espère contre toute espérance
Les saints
L’étrange barque de saint Basile de Riazan
Les saints , Corps conservés des saints
Saint Antoine de Padoue, le « saint que tout le monde aime »
Les saints , Conversions d'athées , Témoignages de rencontres avec le Christ
L’extraordinaire conversion de Micheline de Pesaro
Les saints , Les anges et leurs manifestations , Corps conservés des saints
Saint Antoine-Marie Zaccaria, médecin des corps et des âmes
Les saints
Les saints époux Louis et Zélie Martin
Les saints , La profondeur de la spiritualité chrétienne
Frère Marcel Van, une « étoile s’est levée en Orient »
Les saints
Sainte Anne et saint Joachim, parents de la Vierge Marie
Les saints
Saint Loup, l’évêque qui fit rebrousser chemin à Attila
Les saints
Saint Ignace de Loyola : à la plus grande gloire de Dieu
Les saints
Saint Nazaire, apôtre et martyre
Les saints , Des miracles étonnants , Guérisons miraculeuses
Saint Jean-Marie Vianney, la gloire mondiale d’un petit curé de campagne
Les moines , Les saints
Saint Dominique de Guzman, athlète de la foi
Les saints , Témoignages de rencontres avec le Christ
Sainte Faustine, apôtre de la divine miséricorde
Les moines , Lévitations , Stigmates , Conversions d'athées , Témoignages de rencontres avec le Christ
Saint François, le pauvre d’Assise
Les saints , Les grands témoins de la foi
Ignace d’Antioche : successeur des apôtres et témoin de l’Évangile
Les saints
Antoine-Marie Claret, un tisserand devenu ambassadeur du Christ
Les saints
Alphonse Rodriguez, le saint portier jésuite
Les saints , Des miracles étonnants , Bilocations
Martin de Porrès revient hâter sa béatification
Les saints , Des miracles étonnants
Saint Martin de Tours, père de la France chrétienne
Les saints
Saint Grégoire le Thaumaturge
Les saints , Une vague de charité unique au monde , Corps conservés des saints
Virginia Centurione Bracelli : quand toutes les difficultés s’aplanissent
Les saints
Lorsque le moine Seraphim contemple le Saint-Esprit
Les saints , Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Des miracles étonnants , Corps conservés des saints
Saint Pierre Thomas : une confiance en la Vierge Marie à toute épreuve
Les saints
À Grenoble, le « saint abbé Gerin »
Les saints , Les apparitions et interventions mariales , Guérisons miraculeuses
Gabriel de l’Addolorata, le « jardinier de la Sainte Vierge »
Les saints , Les mystiques , Des miracles étonnants , Corps conservés des saints , Histoires providentielles
Sainte Rose de Viterbe : comment la prière change le monde
Les saints
Bienheureux Francisco Palau y Quer, un amoureux de l’Église
Les saints , Les apparitions et interventions mariales
La maturité surnaturelle de Francisco Marto, « consolateur de Dieu »
L’Église , Les saints , Les apparitions et interventions mariales
San Simón Stock recibe el escapulario del Carmen de manos de la Virgen María
Les saints
San Pascual Baylon, humilde pastor
Les saints , Corps conservés des saints , Stigmates
Santa Rita de Casia, la que espera contra toda esperanza
Les saints , Histoires providentielles
L’absolue confiance en Dieu de sainte Agnès de Montepulciano
Les saints
Sainte Catherine de Gênes, ou le feu de l’amour de Dieu
Les saints
Sainte Marie de l’Incarnation, « la sainte Thérèse du Nouveau Monde »
Les saints
Rosa Venerini ou la parfaite volonté de Dieu
L’Église , Les saints , Les apparitions et interventions mariales
Saint Simon Stock reçoit le scapulaire du Mont Carmel des mains de la Vierge Marie
Les saints
Saint Paschal Baylón: from humble shepherd to the glory of sainthood
Les saints , Corps conservés des saints , Stigmates
Saint Rita of Cascia: hoping against all hope
Les saints
Camille de Soyécourt, comblée par Dieu de la vertu de force
L’Église , Les saints , Les apparitions et interventions mariales
San Simone Stock ricevette dalle mani della Vergine Maria lo scapolare del Monte Carmelo
Les saints
San Pascal Baylon, umile pastore
Les saints
François de Girolamo lit dans les cœurs
Les saints , La profondeur de la spiritualité chrétienne
Hermano Marcel Van, "una estrella ha nacido en Oriente".
Les saints , Corps conservés des saints , Stigmates
Santa Rita da Cascia, colei che spera contro ogni speranza
Les saints
La extraña barca de San Basilio de Riazán
Les saints
Jeanne-Antide Thouret : partout où Dieu voudra l’appeler
Les saints
The unusual boat of Saint Basil of Ryazan
Les saints , Corps conservés des saints
Saint Anthony of Padua: "everyone’s saint"
Les saints , Conversions d'athées , Témoignages de rencontres avec le Christ
The extraordinary conversion of Michelina of Pesaro
Les saints , Corps conservés des saints
San Antonio de Padua, el "santo que todo el mundo ama".
Les saints , Conversions d'athées , Témoignages de rencontres avec le Christ
La extraordinaria conversión de Micheline de Pesaro
Les saints
Saint Augustin de Cantorbéry apporte la bonne nouvelle sur la terre des Angles
Les saints , Les anges et leurs manifestations , Corps conservés des saints
Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria, physician of bodies and souls
Les saints , La profondeur de la spiritualité chrétienne
Brother Marcel Van: a "star has risen in the East"
Les saints
Saints Louis and Zelie Martin
Les saints
La strana barca di San Basilio di Ryazan
Les saints , Corps conservés des saints
Sant'Antonio da Padova, il "santo che tutti amano"
Les saints , Les anges et leurs manifestations , Corps conservés des saints
San Antonio María Zaccaria, médico de cuerpos y almas
Les saints
Los Santos esposos Luis y Celia Martin
Les saints
Saint Rainer de Pise : la conversion miraculeuse d’un riche négociant
Les saints , Conversions d'athées , Témoignages de rencontres avec le Christ
La straordinaria conversione di Michelina da Pesaro
Les saints
Saint Jean-Baptiste, témoin du Christ annoncé par les prophètes
Les saints , Les anges et leurs manifestations , Corps conservés des saints
Sant'Antonio Maria Zaccaria, medico del corpo e dell'anima
Les saints
Saint Bernardin Realino répond à l’appel divin
Les saints
Santa Ana y San Joaquín, padres de la Virgen María
Les saints
San Nazario, apóstol y mártir
Les saints
San Lupo, el obispo que hizo retroceder a Atila
Les saints , Corps conservés des saints
Sainte Élisabeth du Portugal, une rose en royauté
Les saints
San Ignacio de Loyola: a la mayor gloria de Dios
Les saints , Des miracles étonnants , Guérisons miraculeuses
San Juan María Vianney, la gloria mundial de un cura de pueblo
Les moines , Les saints
Santo Domingo de Guzmán, atleta de la fe
Les saints , La profondeur de la spiritualité chrétienne
Fratel Marcel Van, "una stella è sorta in Oriente"
Les saints
I santi sposi Louis e Zélie Martin
Les saints
Saints Anne and Joachim, parents of the Virgin Mary
Les saints
La confiance en Dieu de sainte Marie-Madeleine Postel
Les saints
Saint Nazarius, apostle and martyr
Les saints
Saint Lupus, the bishop who saved his city from the Huns
Les saints
Saint Ignatius of Loyola: "For the greater glory of God"
Les saints
Sant'Anna e San Gioacchino, genitori della Vergine Maria
Les saints
San Nazario, apostolo e martire
Les saints
San Lupo, il vescovo che fece indietreggiare Attila
Les saints
Sant'Ignazio di Loyola: per la maggior gloria di Dio
Les saints , Des miracles étonnants , Guérisons miraculeuses
Saint John Vianney (d. 1859): the global fame of a humble village priest
Les moines , Les saints
Saint Dominic de Guzman: an athlete of the faith
Les saints , Des miracles étonnants , Guérisons miraculeuses
San Giovanni Maria Vianney, la gloria mondiale di un piccolo curato di campagna
Les moines , Les saints
San Domenico di Guzmán, atleta della fede
Les saints , Témoignages de rencontres avec le Christ
Santa Faustina, apóstol de la Divina Misericordia
Les saints
Jean Eudes, époux du Cœur Immaculé de Marie
Les saints , Témoignages de rencontres avec le Christ
Saint Faustina, apostle of the Divine Mercy
Les saints
Syméon monte sur une colonne pour demeurer seul avec le Christ
Les saints , Témoignages de rencontres avec le Christ
Santa Faustina, apostola della divina misericordia
Les moines , Lévitations , Stigmates , Conversions d'athées , Témoignages de rencontres avec le Christ
Saint Francis, the poor man of Assisi
Les moines , Lévitations , Stigmates , Conversions d'athées , Témoignages de rencontres avec le Christ
San Francisco, el pobre de Asís
Les saints , Les grands témoins de la foi
Ignacio de Antioquía: sucesor de los apóstoles y testigo del Evangelio
Les saints , Les grands témoins de la foi
Ignatius of Antioch: successor of the apostles and witness to the Gospel
Les moines , Lévitations , Stigmates , Conversions d'athées , Témoignages de rencontres avec le Christ
San Francesco, il poverello d'Assisi
Les saints
Thérèse Couderc remet tout entre les mains de Marie
Les saints , Les grands témoins de la foi
Newman cherche la véritable Église du Christ
Les saints , Les grands témoins de la foi
Ignazio di Antiochia: successore degli apostoli e testimone del Vangelo
Les saints
Dieu parle par la bouche de la bienheureuse Madeleine de Panattieri