The surprising mostly true story of St. Anthony of Padua

Who was St. Anthony?

St. Anthony started life as Fernando Martins de Bulhões. was born into a wealthy family in Lisbon Portugal in 1195. He was educated by the clergy and admitted at age 15 into the monastic life. Apparently, life in the monastery was not everything he hoped for and after two years he was transferred to Coimbra. There he immersed himself in Augustinian theology and devoted himself to study and prayer. He was ordained during this time.

A momentous event

In 1219, St. Francis blessed five Franciscan priests as they headed out to spread the Gospel to the Muslims. They made it to Morocco where they were apprehended, tortured, and eventually martyred. These five Franciscan missionaries were the first Franciscan martyrs. When the bodies were returned, Fernando was so inspired and moved by their great heroism that he felt called to become a missionary and possibly a martyr himself.

 Fernando left monastic life and became a Franciscan. He changed his name to Anthony after the abbey,  St. Anthony of Olivares, near Coimbra, where he first obtained his Franciscan habit. He was soon sent to be a missionary on the continent of Africa.  The world had lost five brave missionaries, but the future St. Anthony was set on his new path.

Short life as a missionary and meeting a saint!

The mission didn’t last long for Anthony! He became very ill after reaching his destination and had to return home to Portugal. Maybe he caught an infection? Maybe it was food poisoning? Maybe he just wasn’t suited to the rigors of sea travel? Whatever it was, a sudden storm put him ashore in Sicily and Anthony had no choice but to recover there. His fellow Franciscans nursed him back to full health. Upon making his recovery, Anthony had the opportunity to travel to Assisi and meet St. Francis himself!

He was then assigned to a little hermitage in Padua, Italy where he spent the remainder of his life. 

A hidden talent uncovered

He spent his days doing menial tasks and simple labor. One day he traveled to the town of Forli for an ordination mass. No one had been assigned to preach the homily that day, and at the last minute, the superiors picked Anthony to do it! He didn’t want to do it, but his hidden talent for public speaking was finally uncovered! Blessed by the Holy Spirit, his homily was delivered so eloquently, that he amazed his fellow Franciscans and all who heard him. And that started his career as a preacher. 

St. Anthony of Padua was known for spending many hours in prayer and studying in preparation to preach. His years as a contemplative and student served him very well for this! This is such a great example of past experiences and interests coming to fruition many years later – even in ways we could have never dreamed of.

He became known as a great orator and a fearless preacher. He earned the nickname, Hammer of the Heretics. Towards the end of his life, he gave a sermon with over 30,000 people in attendance.

His ability to touch the soul with his words inspired so many to seek reconciliation through the sacrament of confession that there were not enough priests to hear everyone who wanted to be heard. So great in fact, that he is a Doctor of the Church. When his remains were exposed after death, his tongue was found to be incorrupt.

Legends and Miracles

There are several legends and miracles attributed to St. Anthony of Padua. He had the gift of bilocation and was able to preach and sing in the choir at the same time.

He was the bane of existence to heretics of the day. They tried to poison his food but were never able to even make him sick! On one occasion, to prove the power of the word of God to a group of heretics, St. Anthony gave a homily at the riverside to the fish, who poked their faces out of the water to hear the great speaker preach the word of God.

Once in confession, a young man admitted to kicking his own mother. St. Anthony told him that metaphorically speaking, it would be better to cut off his foot than to ever hurt his mother like that. The young man promptly went home and cut off his foot. Upon hearing this, St. Anthony found the young man, retrieved the foot, and miraculously reattached the two.

Perhaps the greatest miracle St. Anthony is known for is the appearance of the Christ child in his presence many times. This is why St. Anthony is mostly portrayed as holding Baby Jesus and a Lilly symbolizing purity.


St. Anthony is the patron of many different things and is invoked for special miracles. But I think he should definitely be the saint of young people who are trying to find their role in this life. They should follow St. Anthony’s example and prepare, and then go where God is sending them, even if that means they have to give up their own plans and abandon their own understanding to do so. 

On a personal note …

For some reason that I am unaware of, my father’s family takes this feast day very seriously. Out on my father’s ranch is a small chapel. When I visited my father as an adult (the first time I had been to his ranch since I was 15 months old) I was there on the occasion of this feast. A priest came out, the extended family gathered, and we had a mass in that chapel, way out in the relative wilderness of Northern New Mexico.  I thought that was pretty neat.

Was to celebrate!

• Make bread!
• Give to the poor – even if it’s just something in the poor box at church.
• Here’s a cute fish craft! here too!
• Decorate your home altar with this lovely picture of St. Anthony from Catholic Icing.
• Or have younger students color a picture of the saint – also available from Catholic icing.

• Watch a Youtube movie! Aleardino’s glass

6 THings to know about St. Anthony of Padua Feast Day

St, Anthony of Padua with kids

The Legend of St. Anthony’s Bread

Color a picture of St. Anthony and the Fish

Download the June Pack of activities from Catholic Icing!

Gluten free?  Try this blender bread!

Beautiful Catholic T shirts for men here.