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Is there a more popular saint in the Church than St Anthony? Down the centuries Christians have called on St Anthony to find mislaid personal possessions. He is so helpful in finding lost things that he has been dubbed heaven's 'lost property officer'! Despite his strong association with Padua in northern Italy, the place where the saint died aged only thirty-six, Anthony in fact was born at Lisbon in Portugal, where he grew up, was educated and ordained a priest. He travelled to Italy, met St Francis and put on the Franciscan habit. He soon attained a widespread reputation as a teacher and a preacher, so much so that he was nicknamed the 'hammer of heretics. People flocked to hear him speak and were attracted to him because of his growing reputation for performing wondrous miracles, including the gift of holding the infant Christ in his arms whilst in ecstasy. He died at Padua aged only 36 in 1231. | |||||||||
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HEAVEN'S LOST PROPERTY OFFICER | |||||||||
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