PY519BSP St Anthony #519

Each beautifully designed medal is stamped in heavy gauge bronze and finished in a heavy silver plating that is thick enough to be engraved. The medals are rubbed with a soft patina to give them the distinct 'Py look.'

The inscription translates to: St. Anthony of Padua.

Born 1195 Lisbon

Died June 13, 1231, Padua, Italy

Canonized May 30 1232, Spoletro Italy by Pope Gregory IX

Symbolized by Book, Bread, Infant Jesus, Lily

Feast Day June 13

Patron Saint of: American Indians, Brazil, Lost Articles, Poor People, Fisherman, Mariners, and many others.

His Parents were Martim Vicente de Bulhoes and wife Teresa Pais TaveiraHe received in baptism the name of Ferdinand.

St. Anthony was born into a family of privilege and was educated in the school at the Cathedral of Lisbon & the Convent of Santa Croce where he remained for 8 years. He was very intelligent and learned all he could from the scriptures, church fathers, and then existing volumes of written knowledge.

After his ordination, Anthony was placed in charge of hospitality in his abbey. In this role, in 1219, he came in contact with five Franciscans who were on their way to Morocco to preach to the Muslims there. Anthony was strongly attracted to the simple Gospel lifestyle of the Franciscan friars. In February 1220, news arrived that the five Franciscans had been martyred in Morocco. Anthony meditated on the heroism of these Franciscans. He wanted to obey God's call to leave everything and follow Him. Anthony obtained permission from his superiors to join the Franciscan order. Shortly after being recieved into the Franciscan Order he left by ship to go back to Portugal when a storm caused the ship to land in Sicily. From Sicily he made his way to Assisi and sought admission into a monastery in Italy, but met with difficulty on account of his sickly appearance. He was finally assigned, out of pure compassion, to the rural hospice of San Paolo near Forli, Romagna, Italy, a choice made after considering his poor health. There he appears to have lived as a hermit and was put to work in the kitchen.

One day, on the occasion of an ordination, when a great many visiting Dominican monks were present, there was some misunderstanding over who should preach. The Franciscans naturally expected that one of the Dominicans would occupy the pulpit, for they were renowned for their preaching; the Dominicans, on the other hand, had come unprepared, thinking that a Franciscan would be the homilist.

In this quandary, the head of the hermitage, who had no one among his own humble friars suitable for the occasion, called upon Anthony, who he suspected was most qualified, and engineered him to speak whatever the Holy Spirit should put into his mouth. Anthony objected but was overruled, and his sermon created a deep impression. Not only his rich voice and arresting manner, but the entire theme and substance of his discourse and his moving eloquence, captivated the attention of his hearers.

In 1226, Pope Gregory IX. At the Papal court, his preaching was hailed as a "jewel case of the Bible" and he was commissioned to produce "Sermons for Feast Days."Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church on January 16, 1946, he is sometimes called "Evangelical Doctor".

Picture Shown is not actual size. Available in three sizes: 5/8", 7/8", or 1-1/4" in diameter.