Saint of the Day: Saint Anthony of Padua

Winchester, VA – Born Fernando Martins in Lisbon, Portugal, Saint Anthony entered religious formation at 15. Ordained with the Augustinians, when the bodies of the first Franciscan martyrs passed through Lisbon, he was consumed with desire to join the Franciscans and evangelize the Muslims in Morocco. Upon making it to Morocco, his health declined and he was forced to abandon this mission, but this detour paved the way for his preaching charism to emerge. Appointed by St. Francis as teacher to the friars, he had a precious annotated book of psalms, which was stolen by a novice who decided to leave the order. His prayers brought back both the book—and the novice. He is patron of lost articles. St. Anthony of Padua, pray for us!