Saint Anthony of Padua

Biography

Saints Fernando de Bouillon was born in Lisbon (Portugal) in 1195 by his father Alfonso Martin, rider and mother Mary, the family was noble descendant of Geoffrey of Buglione.

Esiste an analogy between Anthony and Francis started for both young career weapons and tempted by the easy life and sin, but who will lead them both to choosing the path of the testimony of faith to follow Jesus Christ.

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Life

At 15 he entered between the Canons Regular of St. Augustine who were holding the will of King Alfonso I of Portugal and Queen Mafalda of Savoy, the St. Vincent near Lisbon. Fernando is applied in the study with excellent teachers of science and theology and is preparing to be ordained.
In 1219, at age 24, Fernando became a priest. Aspired to a religious life tougher, Fernando can be moved to another community of St. Augustine, Holy Cross of Coimbra.

Arrive in Coimbra in 1220 the bodies of five Franciscan friars beheaded in Morocco because they preached the Gospel. When they arrived the monks of Mount Olivares, arrived to collect the corpses, Ferdinand expects them her inspiration to live the Gospel. Obtained permission from the Franciscan Provincial of Spain and the Augustinian Prior to entering the Hermitage Juvenile Ferdinand is now the religious profession and changes her name to Anthony.

Anthony on the model of the five brothers killed in Morocco, wants to bring God's word to infidels even if it means martyrdom, and received calls from Brother John Parenti, then provincial of Spain permission to go. Sailed with a brother, brother Filipino of Castile, to Morocco.

The malarial fever forced him to read during the journey to Africa began in 1220. The disease continues and his companions managed to convince Anthony to return home for treatment. During the return trip, a storm drove the ship off the coast of eastern Sicily. Maintained by the Franciscans of the city in two months heals. By brothers Anthony learns that Francis had summoned the friars of Assisi Porziuncola for the General Chapter of Pentecost in 1221, during which it was presented the text of the Rule. Anthony was invited to the General Chapter of Assisi. Comes with other Franciscans in Santa Maria degli Angeli where Francis listens, without knowing him personally.

Minister Provincial of the Order of Northern Italy proposes to move to Montepaolo near Forli to celebrate Mass in a small hermitage. For more than a year Anthony dedicated to contemplation and penance by addressing the most humble tasks and helping the brothers, then one day he went with the brethren in the Church of St Mercurial to attend the ordination of new priests, where he at to pray in the presence of a large audience also composed of notables. The impression caused by his own eloquence was such that he was appointed preacher taught even at Francis who advised him not to lose the spirit of prayer and devotion. His preaching began in Romagna in northern Italy continues to combat the Albigensian heresy Cathar in Italy and in France, where he will arrive in 1225.

Anthony was firmly convinced that to fight the heretics that it had skilled preachers, theological training was required for the Friars Minor and after much insistence Francis allowed him to found in 1223 the first Franciscan school of theology in Bologna, at the convent of Santa Maria of Pugliola.

The fame of Anthony eloquence and miracles accompanying the preaching persuaded Honorius to send Anthony in France to combat the Cathar heretics, and Anthony remained in that land for over two years between 1225 and 1227 preaching in Provence and Languedoc Biscay. The father provincial of Provence named him first guardian of the convent of Le Puy and superior of the convents of the Limousin.

The news of the passing of Francis and the General Chapter held by Brother Elias, Anthony forced to return to Italy, and reached the destination at the end of May of 1227. The new Master General of John Anthony Parenti appointed Provincial Minister of Northern Italy. In the period after Anthony opens new homes and visit the monasteries to know the monks and control and the Third Order Poor Clares. Florence takes up residence in Padova, writing in the Sunday sermon and two months after the sermons for the feasts of the saints, giving priority to issues of faith, morality and virtue. God's love and compassion towards the poor. Prayer, humility and mortification, arguing against pride, greed, lust and wear.

In 1228, at the request of Pope Gregory IX, keep the sermons of the week of Lent and is called "Ark of the Testament." On this occasion it is said that the crowds hear him preach the cosmopolitan language of origin of each of them. From 1228 to 1231 traveling continuously despite poor health. Campo Sampiero retires to rest near Padua, in a small room to the friars gave Hermitage Count Tiso.

Anthony is dedicated to preaching and confession. Count Tiso often goes into the room of Anthony to assess its health. One evening, during one of these visits, attends to the visit to the Holy Child Jesus does. Health conditions worsen and Anthony June 13, 1231, sank forces, asked to be brought back to Padua. During the trip he was admitted in the Convent dell'Arcella where he died in the late afternoon.

The convent dell'Arcella and Santa Maria Mater Domini start a dispute to decide which of the two sites would secure the body given that Anthony would have wanted to die in the Holy Cross. The decision belongs to the Father Provincial establishing that the body is placed in the convent of Santa Maria Mater Domini.

The marble tomb where he was placed immediately became the destination of pilgrimages that have never been arrested to date, and during which there have been many miracles. Acclaimed saint by popular acclaim, just one month of transition, Anthony was canonized in the cathedral of Spoleto on the day of Pentecost in 1232 in the presence of Pope Gregory IX.

St. Bonaventure during the transfer of the body took place 32 years after the death of Anthony, is the language of the Holy uncorrupted. The relic is now in the Chapel of the Treasury's Basilica in Padua Anthony is patron. Pius XII proclaimed St. Anthony in 1946 Doctor of the Church, and gives the title of doctor evangelicus for his firm and constant adherence to the Gospel. Saint Anthony is being honored by the Catholic Church on June 13.