Apostleship of Prayer - Saints

June 13 - Saint Anthony of Padua

Anthony was born in Lisbon towards the end of the twelfth century.He joined the Augustinians first but, after seeing the bodies of the first Franciscan Martyrs being carried through the town, he decided to join the Friars Minor. He longed to set out to preach to the Moors in Africa. Nevertheless his health prevented him from doing this.He devoted many years to meditation on the Scriptures and living deeply his vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Soon he became recognized as a great scholar and, after filling in for another preacher, he became to be recognised as a great preacher. His reputation drew enormous crowds and th power of his words converted many. He became the first theologian of the Franciscans to teach the other Franciscans. He died at Padua in the year 1231 at the age of thirty-six.

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