Description

Oil Dedicated to St Anthony of Padua (Patron for the Elderly)

St Anthony of Padua, Anthony also spelled Antony, Italian Sant’Antonio da Padova. Original name Fernando Martins de Bulhões, (born 1195, Lisbon, Portugal—died June 13, 1231, Arcella, Verona [Italy]; canonized 1232; feast day June 13), Franciscan friar, doctor of the church, and patron of the poor. Padua and Portugal claim him as their patron saint, and he invoked for the return of lost property.

Anthony born into a wealthy family and raised in the church. He joined the Augustinian canons in 1210 and probably became a priest. In 1220 he joined the Franciscan order, hoping to preach to the Saracens (Muslims) and martyred. On his way to Morocco, he became seriously ill and forced to return home. However, his ship back to Portugal blown off course and eventually landed in Sicily. Because of his continuing poor health, not allowed to pursue his missionary work among the Saracens. Instead, he taught theology at Bologna, Italy, and at Montpellier, Toulouse, and Puy-en-Velay in southern France. He won great admiration as a preacher and noted for his simple yet profound teaching of the Catholic faith. He died en route to Padua, Italy, where he buried.

The most celebrated of St. Francis of Assisi’s followers and had the reputation of a miracle worker. On January 16, 1946, Pope Pius XII declared him a doctor of the church. In art he shown with a book, a heart, a flame, a lily, or the child Jesus. Among his authentic writings sermons for Sundays and feast days, published at Padua in three volumes in 1979.