Biography
Saint Anthony was born in Portugal, but received his last name from where the world knew him, the Italian city of Padua, where he died and where his relics are still venerated.  

Pope Lo XIII called him “the saint of the whole world” because his image and devotion can be found everywhere.  He is known as “the evangelical Doctor”.  He wrote sermons for every feast of the year.  As a biography of his time describes, ¨he was powerful in word and in deed.  His body dwelt here on earth but his soul already was living in heaven¨He is the patron of sterile women, the poor, travelers, bread makers.  He is invoked for lost items and to ask for a good husband or wife.  His intercession is truly extraordinary. 

He was born in the year 1195 and was called Fernando de Bulloes y Taveira de Azevedo,a name that was changed when he entered the order of the Friars Minor.    His parents, young members of the Portuguese royalty entrusted his early education to the clergy of the Cathedral of Lisbon, but was put in the care of the canons regular of St., Augustine at the age of 15, who had their house to the city.  Two years later, he received permission to be moved to the priory of Coimbra, then the capital of Portugal, in order to avoid the distraction caused by the constant visits of his loved ones. 

He was not without trials.   In his youth he was heavily attached by his sensual passions.  But he did not permit himself to be conquered and with the help of God he dominated them.  He was strengthened by visits to the Blessed Sacrament.  From the time he was young he had consecrated himself to Our Lady and entrusted to Her his purity

Once in Coimbra, he dedicated himself entirely to prayer and studies due to his extraordinary memory, he attained a vast knowledge of Scripture in a very short time.  In 1220 King Don Pedro of Portugal returned from an expedition to Morocco and brought with his relics of the Franciscan martyrs who has been martyred there shortly before.  Fernando had spent eight years in Coimbra and was deeply moved by at the sight of these relics.  A deep desire to give his life for Christ was born within his heart.  

A little after this, some Franciscans arrived to stay at the convent of Santa Cruz, where Fernando was also staying.  This experience opened his heart and he was so insistent that, beginning in 1221, he was admitted to the order.  Almost immediately after entering, he was authorized to embark for Morocco to preach the Gospel to the Moors.   But he did not arrive to the lands where he thought he would attain a glorious martyrdom.  He was attacked by a grace illness (hydropsy), that left him incapacitated in bed for several months.  Finally, he had to be sent back to Europe.  The boat in which he was sent, tossed by strong winds, lost its way and was forced to stop in Messina, the capital of Sicily.  With great difficulty, he traveled from the island to Assisi where, as his brothers in Sicily had informed him, he went to take part in the general chapter.  This was the great assembly of 1221, the last chapter in which all the members of the order were allowed to participate.  It was presided over by Brother Elias as Vicar General and Saint Francis, seated at his feat, was also present.  Undoubtedly this meeting left a great impression of the young Portuguese friar.  After the closing, the brothers returned to their posts and Anthony was placed in charge of the solitary hermitage of Saint Paul, near Forli.  At this moment, it is uncertain whether he was a priest or not.  Certainly no one had realized the extraordinary intellectual and spiritual gifts of the Young sickly that never spoke of himself.  When he was not seen praying in the chapel, he was serving the other brothers, busy over all with cleaning the dishes after community lunch. 

But the clear light of his intellect was not destined to remain hidden.  It happened that at the celebration of an ordination in Forli, the Franciscan and Dominican candidates met at the Franciscan convent in that city.  Surely by mal-intent, the Dominicans none of the Dominicans had arrived prepared to pronounce the customary address for the ceremony, and, as none of the Franciscans felt capable of the task, Anthony was ordered to go and speak and they said that the Holy Spirit would enlighten him.  He obeyed without complaining; from his first word until he finished his improvised discourse, all those present listened attentively to him, moved by emotion and amazement at his elocution, his fervor, and wisdom.  When the provincial minister got news of the talents displayed by the young Portuguese friar, he sent him out to preach through various parts of Romagna, a region that included all of Lombardy at the time.  He obtained great successes preaching against the heresies that abounded in northern Italy.   In many cases, they were men of a certain positions and education, and he brought them reasonable arguments and took examples from the Sacred Scriptures.

On one occasion, when the heretics of Rimini kept him from preaching to the people of the town, Saint Anthony went to the seashore and began to yell, “Hear the Word of God, all you fish of the sea, since the sinners of the earth do not want to hear them.”  Thousands of fish gathered, jumping out of the sea as a sign of approval.  This miracle moved the city, and the heretics had to give in to the people. 
Despite being very ill from hydropsy, Saint Anthony preached for the 40 days of Lent.  The people pressed in to touch him and would tear off pieces of his habit, to the point that he had to designate a group of men to protect him after his sermons.   

Along with the mission of a preacher, he was given the task of reader of Sacred theology to the brothers.  This was the first time that a member of the Franciscan order was given this duty.  In a letter that is generally attributed to Sa Francis, this naming is confirmed in the following words. “To my dearly beloved brother Anthony, brother Francis greets you in Jesus Christ.  I am pleased that you b the one who reads Sacred Theology to the brothers, may these studies never affect the  holy spirit of prayer and devotion that is part of our rule.” Nevertheless, it became ever clearer that the greatest mission of Anthony was in the pulpit.   He possessed many qualities o f a good preacher; knowledge, eloquence, a great power f persuasion, an ardent zeal for the good of souls and a loud and clear voice that could reach very far.  Also, it was affirmed that he was given the power obtain miracles.   Despite his short stature, he possessed an extraordinarily attractive, almost magnetic.  At times, his presence alone was enough to bring sinners to fall at his feet.  His whole person seemed to radiate holiness.  People would follow him from place to place in order to speak with him along the way.  The people used to close their stores and offices to attend his sermons.  Often women would go out before sundown and remained in the Church all night in order to get a seat near the pulpit.  Frequently the churches were not big enough to contain the large audience and, so that nobody would have to be without hearing hi, he often preached in marketplaces and public squares. 

After receiving permission to commit all his time to preaching from Pope Gregory IX, he resided in Padua, a city where he had worked previously and where he was loved and respected, and also saw many fruits of his Ministry.  The people not only came to hear him in great numbers, but also reformed their lifestyles in response to his exhortation.  Ancestral disputes between families were fixed, prisoners were given freedom and many of those who had gained money illegally returned it, sometimes publically, leaving their titles and money at the feet of St. Anthony, so that he could return it to its legitimate owner. 

After preaching a series of sermons in the spring of 1231, his health started to get worse and he retired for rest, with two other friars, to the woods of Camposampiero. Very quickly he understood that his days were numbered and he asked to be taken to Padua.  On June 13, 1231, in the room of the Chaplin of the Poor Clares of Arcella he received the last rights.  Then intoned a hymn to Our Lady, and smiling, said, “I see Our Lord coming!” and died.  It was June 13, 1231.  The people ran through the streets yelling, “A saint has died!  A saint has died!”  He was only 35 years old.  During his funeral the people demonstrated the deep veneration they had for him.  The citizens of Padua have always considered his relics their most precious treasure. 

Saint Anthony was canonized less than a year after his death.  On this occasion, Pope Gregory IX chanted the antiphon "O doctor optime" in his honor and, in this manner, anticipated what would occur seven centuries later, when Pope Pius  XII declared Saint Anthony “Doctor of the Church”  in 1946. In Padua there is a magnificent basilica where his mortal remains are venerated.   

Bibliography
Butler, Vida de los Santos.
Salesman, P. Eliécer, Vidas de los Santos.
Sgarbossa, Mario y Luigi Giovannini - Un Santo Para Cada Día
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Prayer to St. Anthony
O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and Charity for His creatures made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore of you to obtain for me (request). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle. Even so, you are the saint of Miracles.
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.
Amen. (Say 13 Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glorias)

Novena Prayer to Saint Anthony
O wonderful St. Anthony, glorious on account of the fame of your miracles, and through the condescension of Jesus in coming in the form of a little child to rest in your arms, obtain for me of His bounty the grace which I ardently desire from the depths of my heart . (State your intention)
You who were so compassionate toward miserable sinners, regard not the unworthiness of those who pray to you, but the glory of God that it may once again be magnified by the granting of the particular request (State your intention) which I now ask for with persevering earnestness. Amen
Pray one Our Father,
one Hail Mary, and
Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!

Day One
O holy St. Anthony, gentlest of saints, your love for God and charity for his creatures made you worthy while on earth to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena (State your intention). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle; even so, you are the saint of miracles. O gentle and loving Saint Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms, and thee gratitude of my heart will always be yours.
One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!

Day Two
O miracle-working St. Anthony, remember that it never has been heard that you left without help or relief anyone who in his need had recourse to you. Animated now with the most lively confidence, even with full conviction of not being refused, I fly for refuge to thee, O most favored friend of the Infant Jesus. O eloquent preacher of the divine mercy, despise not my supplications but, bringing them before the throne of God, strengthen them by your intercession and obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena (State your intention) .
One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!

Day three
O purest St. Anthony, who through your angelic virtue was made worthy to be caressed by the Divine Child Jesus, to hold him in your arms and press him to your heart. I entreat you to cast a benevolent glance upon me. O glorious St. Anthony, born under the protection of Mary Immaculate, on the Feast of her Assumption into Heaven, and consecrated to her and now so powerful an intercessor in Heaven, I beseech you to obtain for me the favor I ask in this novena (State your intention). O great wonder-worker, intercede for me that God may grant my request.
One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!

Day four
I salute and honor you, O powerful helper, St. Anthony. The Christian world confidently turns to you and experiences your tender compassion and powerful assistance in so many necessities and sufferings that I am encouraged in my need to seek you help in obtaining a favorable answer to my request for the favor I seek in this novena (State your intention). O holy St. Anthony, I beseech you, obtain for me the grace that I desire.
One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!

Day five
I salute you, St. Anthony, lily of purity, ornament and glory of Christianity. I salute you, great Saint, cherub of wisdom and seraph of divine love. I rejoice at the favors our Lord has so liberally bestowed upon you. In humility and confidence I entreat you to help me, for I know that God has given you charity and pity, as well as power. I ask you by the love you did feel toward the Infant Jesus as you held him in your arms to tell Him now of the favor I seek through your intercession in this novena (State your intention).
One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!

Day six
O glorious St. Anthony, chosen by God to preach his Word, you received from Him the gift of tongues and the power of working the most extraordinary miracles. O good St. Anthony, pray that I may fulfill the will of God in all things so that I may love Him, with you, for all eternity. O kind St. Anthony, I beseech you, obtain for me the grace that I desire, the favor I seek in this novena (State your intention).
One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!

Day seven
O renowned champion of the faith of Christ, most holy St. Anthony, glorious for your many miracles, obtain for me from the bounty of my Lord and God the grace which I ardently seek in this novena (State your intention) . O holy St. Anthony, ever attentive to those who invoke you, grant me that aid of your powerful intercession.
One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!

Day eight
O holy St. Anthony, you have shown yourself so powerful in your intercession, so tender and so compassionate towards those who honor you and invoke you in suffering and distress. I beseech you most humbly and earnestly to take me under your protection in my present necessities and to obtain for me the favor I desire (State your intention). Recommend my request to the merciful Queen of Heaven, that she may plead my cause with you before the throne of her Divine Son.
One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!

Day nine
Saint Anthony, servant of Mary, glory of the Church, pray for our Holy Father, our bishops, our priests, our Religious Orders, that, through their pious zeal and apostolic labors, all may be united in faith and give greater glory to God. St. Anthony, helper of all who invoke you, pray for me and intercede for me before the throne of Almighty God that I be granted the favor I so earnestly see in this novena (State your intention).
One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!
May the divine assistance remain always with us.
Amen
May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
O God, may the votive commemoration of blessed Anthony, your confessor, be a source of joy to your Church, that she may always be fortified with spiritual assistance, and deserve to enjoy eternal rewards. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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