Anthony of Padua 
Anthony of Padua 
After a group of Franciscan martyrs whom Ferdinand had briefly met where returned to Coimbra as martyrs, Ferdinand was determined to become a missionary and a martyr. He left the Augustinians to join the Franciscan Order. He received permission to go to Morocco as a missionary, but was forced by illness to return home. He was stationed in a small hermitage in Italy, where he prayed, studied, and performed menial duties.
One day, the preacher at an ordination ceremony failed to appear. No one else was prepared to speak, and the duty was given to Ferdinand, now known as Anthony. Those gathered where astonished by Anthony's knowledge of scripture and theology and his skill as a speaker. He was soon appointed as a traveling preacher. In years to come he travelled throughout Italy and France. A major aspect of his preaching was to combat the heresies of the day. He also criticized weakness and corruption in the clergy and greed and tyranny in society. Anthony also became the first friar to teach theology to the other friars.
During Lent in 1231, Anthony was preaching in Padua. After Easter, Anthony set out with two companions for a friend's estate near the city. On the way, they made Anthony a cell in a walnut tree by binding the branches together. Later that spring he died, on the way back to Padua.
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patron.htm
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