St. Anthony of Padua was born to wealthy parents in Lisbon, Portugal in the year 1195. He was given the name Fernando at his baptism. His parents, who belonged to one of the most prominent families in the city, sent him to be educated at the local Cathedral school. At the age of 15 he entered the religious order of St. Augustine on the outskirts of Lisbon. Fernando was constantly visited by friends and family and his studies suffered. After two years he was sent to Coimbra, then the capital of Portugal, where he remained for eight years devoting himself to study and prayer. Fernando was ordained a priest in the monastery of Santa Cruz of Coimbra in 1220 at the age of 25.

Shortly thereafter, the bodies of the five Franciscan martyrs were returned to Coimbra from Morocco where they were tortured and beheaded for preaching the word of Christ. Fernando was so inspired by the martyrs he asked for and received permission to join the Franciscan Friars and go to Morocco. It was at this time he was given the name Anthony after the patron of friary at Coimbra named St. Anthony of Olives.

But God had other plans for Anthony. He soon became very ill with malarial fever that he had to go home. On his way home, his ship ran into a violent storm and was blown to the city of Sicily, Italy. The friars at nearby Messina welcomed him and nursed him back to health.

In 1922, Anthony was asked to give a short sermon at the ordination of Dominicans and Franciscans. His words were extremely powerful and those who were present were very impressed with his ability to speak. Anthony was then asked to travel to northern Italy and parts of southern France to preach the word of God.

He preached his last and most famous sermon during the Lenten season in Padua, Italy. Large crowds gathered to hear Anthony, up 30,000, and they waited all night to hear him speak.

In 1231, Anthony was near death and wanted to return to Padua. Along the way, his ox-drawn wagon stopped in Arcella where he was given his last rites. Anthony died there at the age of 36. The following year, Pope Gregory IX declared Anthony a saint.