Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference Antonello Belluco's 2006 Antonio guerriero di Dio or Anthony, Warrior of God [39] is a biopic about the saint. [40] In 1692, Spanish missionaries came across a small Payaya Indian community along what was then known as the Yanaguana River on the feast day of Saint Anthony, 13 June. The Franciscan chaplain, Father Damien Massanet, with agreement from General Domingo de Teran, renamed the rivers in his honor, and eventually built a mission nearby, as well. This mission became the focal point of a small community that eventually grew in size and scope to become the seventh-largest city in the country, the U.S. city of San Antonio, Texas. [15] The richness of spiritual teaching contained in the Sermons was so great that in 1946 Venerable Pope Pius XII proclaimed Anthony a Doctor of the Church, attributing to him the title Doctor evangelicus, since the freshness and beauty of the Gospel emerge from these writings. [11] [12] Veneration as patron saint [ edit ] In Ellicott City, Maryland, southwest of Baltimore, the Conventual Franciscans of the St. Anthony Province dedicated their old novitiate house as the Shrine of St. Anthony which since 1 July 2004 serves as the official shrine to Saint Anthony for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. [21] Portugal, Spain and Brazil [ edit ] Santo Antônio (Saint Anthony) Church in Teresópolis, Brazil

After St. Anthony’s death, the story led the faithful to begin praying to him as the Patron Saint of Lost or Stolen Items—and not only misplaced objects, but also souls in need of prayers for conversion or return to the Faith.In Albania, the Franciscans arrived in 1240 spreading the word of Saint Anthony (Shna Ndou). The St. Anthony Church, Laç ( Albanian: Kisha e Shna Ndout or Kisha e Laçit) in Laç was built in his honor. [23]Saint Anthony is one of the most important saints amongst Albanians and the pilgrimage to his church is done yearly by a considerable number of non-catholic Albanians as well. [24] Monti, Dominic V. (O.F.M.) (2008). Francis and His Brothers. A Popular History of the Franciscan Friars. Cincinnati, Ohio: Franciscan Media. ISBN 978-0-86716855-6. A group of novices, who had been invested with the Franciscan habit at Holy Family Friary in Oldenburg, Indiana, came to Mt. Airy in the first week of 1890. The first investitures at Mt. Airy took place August 15, 1890—on the feast of the Assumption, which became a traditional date for many years. My special devotion to this Franciscan preacher and teacher—so powerful before the throne of God—begins in my ancestry. You would be hard-pressed to find an Italian who does not revere and love St. Anthony of Padua. Despite his Portuguese heritage, the Italians lay claim to this miracle-worker who lived most of his life in Italy and died in Padua, a little west of Venice. Three years later, we sold our house, and were preparing to relocate. I was convinced that my rings were there but had not found them. Though I had prayed to St. Anthony for the return of the rings daily, I had never prayed a novena to him for this intention in the days before his feast.

True to their promise, the Franciscans allowed Anthony to go to Morocco, to be a witness for Christ, and a martyr as well. But, as often happens, the gift he wanted to give was not the gift that was to be asked of him. He became seriously ill, and after several months realized he had to go home. That year, I prayed a novena ending on the vigil of his feast, which happens to be my birthday. With great hope that he would restore my rings to me on the feast day, I offered my Mass every day that week in thanksgiving for his intercession in my family. I felt excited to see what our faithful family saint would do.

St. Anthony's Bread

As the number of Franciscan saints increased, iconography struggled to distinguish Anthony from the others. Because of a legend that he had once preached to the fish by the mouth of the river Marecchia in Rimini, this was sometimes used as his attribute. He is also often seen with a white lily stalk, representing his purity. Other conventions referred to St. Anthony's visionary fervor. Thus, one attribute in use for some time was a flaming heart. He is also sometimes depicted along with the mule in Rimini that allegedly bowed down to him holding the Eucharist. At Shrine of St. Anthony, a taste of history and a sense of peace". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved August 28, 2012. St. Anthony gives his name to Mission San Antonio de Padua, the third Franciscan mission dedicated along El Camino Real in California in 1771. [20] I screamed, "Praise God!" and got on my knees right there in the closet, praying in thanksgiving to St. Anthony. My husband heard me cry out, and came into the room to find me moved to tears and exclaiming, as my mother had, “He has never failed us!”