Saint Anthony of Padua icon
December 19th 2012
Watercolor and Ink

“If things created are so full of loveliness, how resplendent with beauty must be the One who made them!” - St. Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church

This was done as a Christmas gift for a friend of mine. St. Anthony is often shown in art as holding a lily (for purity and virginity) as well as a book and the Christ Child. A book, because of his great fame for preaching the Gospel and his love for Scripture, and the Christ Child because of his love of the Word of God. It was said that St. Anthony had a vision in which the Christ Child appeared to him in the Scriptures.

Saint Anthony of Padua (August 15th 1195 — June 13th 1231), born Fernando Martins de Bulhões, was born in Lisbon to pious and wealthy members of the nobility. He received an excellent education at a cathedral school in Lisbon, and, at the age of fifteen, against the wishes of his parents, decided to enter the Canons regular, under the Rule of St. Augustine. He was ordained to the priesthood, and at the age of 24 he came into contact with five Franciscan friars named Berard, Peter, Otho, Accursius, and Adjutus who were on their way to preach the Gospel in Muslim-held Morocco. All five were martyred by the Muslim king and their bodies were sent back to Italy. St. Anthony was so impressed by the witness of these monks that he sought and was granted permission to join the new Franciscan Order. He chose the name Anthony, after St. Anthony the Great of Egypt, and lived a life of simplicity and poverty. Soon after, he set out for Morocco to preach the Gospel, but he fell ill, and was unable to travel. He decided to go to Italy instead, was shipwrecked off the coast of Sicily, and traveled by land up the coast of Italy to Tuscany. There, he served in the kitchen as a simple lay brother, still in poor health. One day, some Dominicans had stopped by; there was some misunderstanding as to who was to preach, because the Dominicans said that they were unprepared, so someone insisted that Anthony preach. Anthony protested, but finally they prevailed upon him, and his sermon was so beautiful, that afterwards Anthony was sent out on a great many missions to preach the Gospel. His preaching was renowned far and wide, and he was known for many numerous and fabulous miracles. He was nicknamed the Hammer of Heretics and brought many people back to the Faith. He died at the age of thirty-six from edema, on June 13th 1231. Of all saints, he had the fastest canonization process because of the great numbers of miracles attributed to him. He was canonized on May 30th, 1232, a little less than a year after he had died. He was named a Doctor of the Church on January 16th, 1946.

The Feast of St. Anthony of Padua is celebrated on June 13th.

St. Anthony of Padua, pray for us!

Almighty God,
You have given St. Anthony to Your people
as an outstanding preacher
and a ready helper in time of need.
With his assistance may we follow the Gospel of Christ
and know the help of Your grace in every difficulty.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.