St.Anthony of Padua, The Patron Saint of Our School
St. Anthony, though a native of Lisbon Portugal,received his surname from his long residence at Padua, the city which possesses the treasure of his relics. He was born in 1195 and was christened Ferdinand which he changed to that of Anthony when he entered the order of St.Francis, out of devotion to the great patriarch of Monks.His father was Martin De Bullones, an officer in the army of Alphonnsus I of Portugal. The mother of our Saint was Mary of Tevara - one of the most accomplished of women. At fifteen years of age he entered among the regular Canons of St.Augustine near Lisbon.
He received the new habit in 1221, in the little Francisian Convent near Coimbra. After spending sometime in solitude prayer and penitential austerities, he obtained permission to go to Africa to preach the Gospel to the moors. He scarcely arrived there, when God, satisfied with the sacrifice of his heart, visited him with a severe attack of illness and forced him to return to Spain. But by contrary winds the vessel on which he embarked was driven to Sicily. Here a guardian in the province of Romagna, named Gratiani, took pity on him and sent him to the hermitage of Mount Paul, a little solitary convent near Bologna, where he took upon himself the duties in the kitchen and other servile work. He listened to everybody, and only spoke when obliged, till the following incident made him known to the world.
An assembly of the neighbouring Dominicians and Francisca friars was held at Forli, in which the Dominicians were desired to make exhortation to the company.They all excused themselves everyone saying that he was not prepared.Then Anthony's guardian ordered Anthony to speak.The saint begged to be excused saying that he was used to washing dishes and sweeping the house. But at the insistence of the superior, he spoke with such eloquence, erudition and unction that all were astonished.He was twenty six years old at that time.
St.Francis, hearing of the discovery of this hidden treasure in his Order in Anthony, sent him to Vercelli, there to study Theology and after a short time to teach the Sacred Sciences.
He at length dedicated himself wholly to the functions of a missionary preacher.This was his greatest success, and he built a glorious career as a preacher: he had a polite address, an easy carriage;and a very pleasing countenance;his voice was strong ,clear and agreeable; he was endowed with a happy memory and was a complete master of all the arts of persuasion.
The learned admired the loftiness of his thoughts, while to the ignorant a natural simplicity rendered all his discourses no less intelligible and easy.The most obstinate heretics and the most hardened sinners threw themselves at his feet, declaring themselves conquered. Pope Gregory IX hearing his preaching at Rome in 1227, in his surprise figuratively called him the "Ark of the Convenant".
St.Anthony died on the 13th of June, 1231, being only 36 years of age. Thirty two years after his death, a state church was build in Padua, in his honour and his remains were transited into it.The flesh was all consumed except for the tongue, which was found incorrupt red and as fresh ass it was whilst he was living.St.Bonaventure, the then General of the Order took it in his hand, bathing it with tears and kissing it with great devotion said: O Blessed tongue that didst always praise God, and has been the cause that an infinite number learned to praise Him ; now it appears how precious thou art before Him who framed thee to be employed in so excellent and a high function".The tongue is kept in the same church and can be seen even today.
Innumerable miracles testified to his sanctity, and he was canonized saint by Pope Gregory IX on May 30, 1232 just 352 days after his death.
Even today, God works countless miracles through this humble saint of Padua.
