Description

Chaplet of St Anthony

Burly Wood – 8mm – 39.5cm

boxed and prayer sheet included

Saint Anthony of Padua

************

AKA:

Antonio da Padova


Evangelical Doctor

Born

: August 15, 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal

Died

: June 13, 1231 in Padua, Italy of Natural Causes


Buried on the Tuesday following his death in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Padua, Italy



**

Legend says that all the sick who visited his new grave were healed

Venerated

: Roman Catholic Church

Beatified

: May 30, 1232

Canonized

: May 30, 1232 by Pope Gregory IX

Feast Day

: June 13

Patronages

: Against Barrenness


Against Shipwreck


Against Starvation


Against Sterility


American Indians


Amputees


Animals


Asses


Boatmen


Domestic Animals


Elderly People


Expectant Mothers


Faith in the Blessed Sacrament


Fishermen


Harvests


Horses


Lower Animals


Mariners


Oppressed People


Poor People


Pregnant Women


Sailors


Seekers of Lost Articles


Starving People


Swineherds


Travel Hostesses


Travelers


Watermen


Tigua Indians



Places

: Brazil


Portugal


Italy


Mexico


Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas


Diocese of Beaumont, Texas


Diocese of Masbate, Philippines


Diocese of Timmins, Ontario

Representations

: Infant Jesus (referring to his vision)


Book


Bread


Christ-child in his Arms


Christ-Child on a Book


Fire in his Hand


Fire on his Breast


Franciscan Habit


Kneeling Mule


Lily

Saint Anthony, called “Saint Anthony of Padua” on account of his long residence in that city, was a native of Lisbon in Portugal, where he was born in 1195, receiving the name of Ferdinand at his Baptism.  At an early age his parents placed him in the community of the Canons of the Cathedral of Lisbon, by whom he was educated.  At 15 he entered the Order of Regular Canons of

Saint Augustine

near Lisbon.  After two years he was sent to the convent of the Holy Cross of the same Order at Coimbra.

He had lived in this house eight years, intent on his studies, when the relics of five Franciscan martyrs were brought from Morocco to Portugal.  This event inspired him to follow in the footsteps of these heroes of the Faith.  When this became known, his brethren offered extreme opposition, but he finally obtained permission and passed over to the Franciscan Order.

After some time he obtained leave to go to Africa to preach to the Moors, but a severe illness obliged him to return to Spain.  However, the vessel was driven to Sicily by contrary winds, and the desire to see

Saint Francis

took him to Assisi, where a general chapter of the Order was in progress.  At first he was entirely ignored in the Order, and he purposely kept himself in obscurity; but providence soon revealed to the Franciscans what a treasure they had acquired and Saint Anthony was made professor of theology, which subject he later taught successively at Bologna, Toulouse, Montpellier, and Padua.

He gave up teaching to devote himself to preaching, for he was an accomplished orator, being at the same time filled with zeal for souls.  In this work he traveled through France, Spain, and Italy.  He was invested with several important dignities in his Order and labored hard to preserve monastic discipline, boldly opposing the famous General Elias, who sought to introduce relaxations.  He died June 13, 1231, and was canonized the following year by Pope Gregory IX.

Though he was denied the grace of a martyr’s death, Saint Anthony was a martyr of the Word, a martyr of the road, a martyr of the crowds.  So numerous were those who flocked to hear him that no church could house them and the saint was often forced to preach in the open air.

Even during his lifetime, he was regarded as a legendary hero and striking miracles were related about him: his sermon to the fish at Rimini, the mule that knelt before the

Blessed Sacrament

, the Psalter that was stolen and returned (on account of which he has become the patron of those who have lost something), and the story of how his host saw him holding the Child Jesus in his arms when he looked through the window.

Prayer

: Almighty, ever-living God, You gave Your people the extraordinary preacher Saint Anthony and made him an intercessor in difficulties.  By his aid grant that we may live a truly Christian life and experience Your help in all adversities.  Amen.