Fr. Bob Kus 
Fernando Martins de Bulhões was born around 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal into a wealthy family. Although his family wanted him to live as a noble, Fernando chose, instead, to become an Augustinian friar.
After he was ordained a priest, Fr. Fernando was put in charge of hospitality in his abbey. One day in 1219, he welcomed five Franciscan friars who were on their way to Morocco as missionaries to preach to the Muslims. Not long after this encounter, Fernando learned that all five of the Franciscans had been martyred in Morocco.
Impressed by the simplicity of the Franciscans’ lifestyle, and intrigued by their martyrdom, Fernando decided to leave the Augustinians and become a Franciscan. So, in 1220, Francisco entered the Franciscans and took the name Anthony.
Soon, he traveled as a missionary to Morocco with another friar. Unfortunately, he became ill and had to return home. However, on the way home to Portugal, he was shipwrecked and landed in Sicily. From there, he traveled to Italy where he would spend the rest of his life. He served the community in the kitchen.
One day, Fr. Anthony’s had an experience that changed the direction of his life. On that day, his house was hosting an ordination, and many Dominican friars were invited. The Dominicans thought a Franciscan would preach at the Mass since they were the hosts, and the Franciscans thought a Dominican would preach since Dominicans like to think of themselves as great preachers.
When the head of the house learned that nobody was prepared to preach, he asked Anthony to be the homilist. When Anthony objected that he was unworthy to do so, he was told to simply listen to the Holy Spirit. So, that’s what Anthony did. His preaching was so clear, and his style so simple yet captivating, that the assembly was spellbound.
After that, the minister general of his Order commissioned Fr. Anthony to preach the good news of Jesus throughout northern Italy. And, at times, he was even invited to teach at great universities in France.
Fr. Anthony of Padua died in 1231. Legend says that when he died, the children cried in the streets and that angels came down from heaven to ring the bells of all the churches. Anthony of Padua was canonized in 1232 by Pope Gregory IX. His feast day is June 13.
St. Anthony of Padua is a patron saint of a wide variety of things. Though he is most famous for being the saint to invoke to find lost objects – “St. Anthony, St. Anthony, please look around, something is lost and now must be found!” – he is also the patron saint of places such as Beaumont, Texas; fishermen; the elderly, pregnant women; sailors; shipwrecks, and travelers. So, he has plenty to keep him busy in heaven!
