St. Anthony of Padua
St. Anthony (also known as Antony) is a Doctor of the Church, a Franciscan called the "Hammer of the Heretics", and the "Wonder Worker." He is also known as the finder of lost articles. St. Anthony (1195 - 1231) was born in Portugal and entered the Augustinian monastery of Sao Vicente in Lisbon when he was fifteen. When news of the Franciscan martyrs in Morocco reached him, he joined the Franciscans at Coimbra at the age of 25. Illness caused him to leave Morocco, and a storm then drove his ship to Sicily, so that he found himself taking part in the General Chapter of the Franciscans in 1221, where he met Saint Francis of Assisi. Anthony became a preacher by accident. When a scheduled preacher did not show up for an ordination ceremony at Forli, the Franciscan superior quickly asked the friars in attendance to volunteer. Each excused himself, saying that he was not prepared, until finally, Anthony was asked to give it. When he too, excused himself in a most humble...