St. Anthony

St. Anthony

St. Anthony was born in 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal, but did most of his ministry in northern Italy and southern France. 

As a young man he joined the Augustinians, but eventually felt called to become a Franciscan so he could go to Morocco to preach to the Muslims and hopefully become a martyr.  On board the ship to Morocco he became seriously sick and needed to return to Portugal.  However, a bad storm blew his ship eastwardly across the Mediterranean and it arrived in Sicily. 

After getting back to good health, Anthony moved to a little hermitage in northern Italy to a life of seclusion and contemplation.  However, at a friar ordination at which they forgot to designate a preacher, St. Anthony was asked by his superiors to give the sermon.  All present were spellbound by his preaching, and he was soon assigned to ministry as a traveling preacher, especially in areas where heresy was rampant. 

Anthony effectively won many souls back to Christ.  During this time, he was also asked by St. Francis to become the first teacher of theology to the new young friars. 

Learn more at:  About St. Anthony.

Posted in: Uncategorized