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Anthony first
joined the Augustinian Order. But he became a
Franciscan in 1221, when he was 26 years old when
five Franciscans (St. Bernard, St. Peter, St. Otho,
St. Accursius, and St. Adjutus) died in martyrdom in
Morocco in 1220, in the hope of shedding his own
blood and becoming a martyr.
Anthony was a
gifted preacher, and was called upon to teach his
fellow Franciscans. Crowds gather when he spoke. His
teachings were simple and resounding and even the
common man understood the message. He was regarded
as another St. Francis.
Saint Anthony was
holy man. He had apparitions of the Infant Jesus,
and of St. Francis. His miracles included filling
the wine barrel of a poor woman who left the tap
open, and making whole the wine glass, which had
earlier, broke.
In another miracle
attributed to St. Anthony, a young man named
Leonardo, in a fit of anger kicked his own mother.
Repentant, he confessed his fault to St. Anthony who
said to him: "The foot of him who kicks his mother
deserves to be cut off." Leonardo ran home and cut
off his foot. Learning of this, St. Anthony took the
amputated member of the unfortunate youth and
miraculously rejoined it.
Anthony died on
June 13, 1231, at the age of 36. Saint Anthony was
canonized (declared a saint) less than one year
after his death. St. Anthony was declared a Doctor
of the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1946. |