Born into a wealthy family near Lisbon, Portugal, Saint Anthony of Padua, also known as Saint Anthony the Wonder-Worker, entered the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine at age 15 over his parent's objection. He excelled in his studies of Scripture and the Church Fathers, and, after two years, he convinced his superiors to transfer him to the Monastery of Santa Cruz in Cóimbra, Portugal, so that he could continue his education without distraction from his family. Today we celebrate his feast day.
In 1220, five Franciscans whom Saint Anthony had met were martyred at the hands of Muslims in Morocco. Saint Anthony received permission to leave the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine and to become a Franciscan. He took the name Anthony at that time and set off for Morocco to preach the Faith, fully expecting to suffer a martyr's death as well. Becoming severely ill, he tried to return to Portugal, but his ship was stranded on the coast of Sicily. When he recovered, he traveled to Assisi for a general meeting of the Franciscan order, and he would spend the rest of his life in Italy and France.
In Italy, his preaching came to the attention of Saint Francis, the founder of the Franciscans, who directed him to teach theology to the Franciscan brothers. He preached so strongly the Cathars and Albigenses that he earned the title "Hammer of the Heretics." During his life, he performed many miracles, including rendering poisoned food innocuous by making the Sign of the Cross over it; bilocating (appearing in two places at one time) so that he could celebrate Mass and sing the Divine Office; and reattaching an amputated foot.
Saint Anthony is often portrayed with the Infant Jesus in his arms, in honor of an apparition of the Infant Jesus, in which He kissed Saint Anthony and told him He loved him for his zealous preaching. He died on June 13, 1231, and his feast is celebrated on that day. His canonization took less than a year. In 1263, Saint Anthony's tomb was opened to transfer his relics, and his tongue was discovered to be incorrupt, which the great Franciscan Saint Bonaventure took as a sign that God had been pleased with Saint Anthony's preaching. On January 16, 1946, in recognition of that preaching, Pope Pius XII declared Saint Anthony a Doctor of the Church.
There is a story in the official Butler's lives of the Saints of Saint Anthony's encounter with an Jewish man. This man contested the "Real Presence of the Eucharist; so one day he approached Saint Anthony publicly and after spelling out all of his reasons for not believing in such a "fable" as the Real Presence, he challenged Anthony to a contest. He bet that the Real Presence was a lie, and he proposed to "starve a donkey" for three days---no hay, and see if the donkey would choose to eat hay or preferred the Eucharist. Saint Anthony, being publicly "put on the spot" accepted the challenge. So the wealthy merchant brought out his donkey, publicly hitched him to a post where he could be observed by all; and proceeding to "starve the donkey" for three days. Simultaneously, Saint Anthony went into the forest and "fasted" for three days---taking no food. When the day of trial came, Anthony emerged from the forest and sought out a local Church where he took the Eucharist and returned to the spot where the donkey was tied. Meanwhile, the challenger had placed a large pile of hay about 20 ft away from the donkey.
Anthony took out the Eucharist holding it in his hands; the merchant untied the donkey, who needless to say, made a "beeline" for the pile of hay. Just as the donkey was about to reach the hay, Saint Anthony elevated the Eucharist and shouted in a loud voice: "Mule, in the Name of the Lord Our God, I command you to come here and adore your Creator! " The donkey "reared up" on his hind legs as if someone had pulled him by a bridle; he spun around, and ran to Saint Anthony, dropping to his forelegs, hind legs still extended; and put his head down to the ground in a "posture of adoration" before the Eucharist which Saint Anthony continued to hold elevated. The Jewish merchant, stunned by what occurred begged Saint Anthony's forgiveness, converted on the spot, and donated the money to build a new Catholic Church, his newfound faith. On the cornerstone of the Church, he had engraved a picture of Saint Anthony holding the Eucharist aloft and the donkey, "kneeling on his forepaws" in adoration of the Body of Christ.
As Saint Anthony knew, prayer along with fasting is powerful! Saint Louis de Montfort once said that when you hear these miraculous stories about the saints, believe them. The worldly find them difficult to believe, but to the faithful, God does great things for those who truly follow Him.
Saint Anthony, pray for us and for all those for whom we pray.
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