{"num_reviews":2,"url":"https://tanbooks.com/products/books/saint-anthony-the-wonder-worker-of-padua/","add_this":[{"service":"","annotation":""}],"gtin":null,"id":2117,"can_purchase":true,"meta_description":"Read Saint Anthony: The Wonder Worker of Padua by Charles Warren Stoddard, a Catholic book from TAN","category":["Books","Books/Become a Saint/Lives of the Saints","Books/General "],"AddThisServiceButtonMeta":"","main_image":{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/2117/1315/1315__05879.1675951614.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Anthony: The Wonder Worker of Padua"},"add_to_wishlist_url":"/wishlist.php?action=add&product_id=2117","custom_fields":[{"id":"52818","name":"Author","value":"Charles Warren Stoddard"},{"id":"52819","name":"Imprint","value":"TAN Books"},{"id":"52820","name":"Pages","value":"128"},{"id":"52821","name":"Publication Date","value":"1/1/2009"},{"id":"52822","name":"Product Format","value":"Paperbound"},{"id":"52823","name":"Pdf","value":"https://tanbooks.com/content/SaintAnthony_Preview.pdf"}],"sku":"110","description":"<p>To call St. Anthony of Padua one of the greatest saints is mistaken; it is not enough of an honor for so illustrious, so magnificent, so pure a holy man and second father of the Order of St. Francis; he is a contender for the title of greatest saint. Born in 1195 to a noble family of Lisbon, Portugal, as Fernando, St. Anthony was educated at the cathedral school of the city. At 15, he became an Augustinian canon in a nearby convent, but soon moved to the motherhouse in Coimbra to avoid visits from family and friends. His excellent memory facilitated his studies, and in ten years as a canon, during which he was ordained, he became a hidden but extremely erudite and wise priest.</p>\n<p>He became attracted to the Franciscans, who had settled near Coimbra, when he heard accounts of their martyrdoms in Morocco by the Saracens. Attracted to their evangelical simplicity and the possibility of martyrdom, he transferred into the order and took his venerable name. After failing to preach in Morocco and be martyred as he desired, he ended up in Italy, at a small Franciscan convent. On one occasion, when Dominicans came to the town for an ordination, there was no one to preach, and so Anthony was chosen. The astonishing potency of his eloquence, voice, and knowledge blew all those present away, and St. Anthony was swept up into a life of preaching and teaching (at the command of St. Francis himself) to the young Franciscan friars.</p>\n<p>He became renowned throughout Italy and southern France, and Pope Gregory IX called him the \"Ark of the Covenant\"; he was also known as the \"Hammer of Heretics.\" Throughout his short life (he died at 36), he preached with astounding vigor and miraculous glory, performing miracle upon miracle. He reattached a young boy's foot, induced a starving mule to bow to the Eucharistic Lord rather than eat oats, preached to the fishes, and held the Baby Jesus. He is rightly called the wonder-worker of the Franciscans, and he is indeed the favorite Saint of probably the whole world. Within a year of death he was canonized. In this short biography, find the greatest deeds and happenings of the glorious saint's life; there is not a single anecdote or moment of his life that would not move you to a sublime awe at the amazing power God bestowed on his servant. Come to know this holy and gentlest of all the saints, even the Evangelical Doctor of the Church.</p>","tags":[],"warranty":"","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$16.95","value":16.95,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"},"height":"7.00","detail_messages":"","availability":"","page_title":"Saint Anthony: The Wonder Worker of Padua","cart_url":"https://tanbooks.com/cart.php","max_purchase_quantity":0,"mpn":null,"upc":"9780895550392","options":[{"id":4780,"type":"Configurable_PickList_Set","display_name":"Format","required":true,"state":"variant_option","partial":"set-rectangle","condition":true,"values":[{"id":9403,"label":"Paperbound","selected":true,"data":"Paperbound"},{"id":9404,"label":"eBook","selected":false,"data":"eBook"}]}],"related_products":[{"id":2109,"sku":"1229-GROUPED","name":"Saint Philomena: The Wonder-Worker","url":"https://tanbooks.com/products/books/saint-philomena-the-wonder-worker/","availability":"","rating":5,"brand":null,"category":["Books","Books/Become a Saint/Biographies","Books/General "],"summary":"St. Philomena is perhaps the most extraordinary Saint in the history of the Catholic Church. When the relics of this 13-year-old virgin martyress were discovered in the Roman Catacombs in 1802, she...","image":{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/2109/1945/1945__13071.1675951638.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Philomena: The Wonder-Worker"},"images":[{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/2109/1945/1945__13071.1675951638.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Philomena: The Wonder-Worker"},{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/2109/10181/1229_3D__93213.1694019391.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Philomena: The Wonder-Worker"}],"date_added":"Jul 22nd 2020","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":true,"has_options":true,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":[{"id":55590,"name":"Author","value":"Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, EDM OP, STL"},{"id":55591,"name":"Imprint","value":"TAN Books"},{"id":55592,"name":"Pages","value":"170"},{"id":55593,"name":"Publication Date","value":"39706"},{"id":55594,"name":"SKU","value":"1229"},{"id":55596,"name":"Pdf","value":"https://tanbooks.com/content/SaintPhilomenaTheWonderWorker_Preview.pdf"}],"num_reviews":5,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"price":{"without_tax":{"currency":"USD","formatted":"$16.95","value":16.95},"price_range":{"min":{"without_tax":{"currency":"USD","formatted":"$9.95","value":9.95},"tax_label":"Tax"},"max":{"without_tax":{"currency":"USD","formatted":"$16.95","value":16.95},"tax_label":"Tax"}},"tax_label":"Tax"},"add_to_wishlist_url":"/wishlist.php?action=add&product_id=2109"},{"id":2704,"sku":"TE1382","name":"Saint Philomena: The Wonder-Worker (eBook)","url":"https://tanbooks.com/products/books/saint-philomena-the-wonder-worker-ebook/","availability":"","rating":0,"brand":null,"category":["Books","Books/General ","Books/General /eBooks & Audiobooks"],"summary":"St. Philomena is perhaps the most extraordinary Saint in the history of the Catholic Church. When the relics of this 13-year-old virgin martyress were discovered in the Roman Catacombs in 1802, she...","image":{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/2704/2976/2976__91212.1666799906.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Philomena: The Wonder-Worker (eBook)"},"images":[{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/2704/2976/2976__91212.1666799906.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Philomena: The Wonder-Worker (eBook)"}],"date_added":"Jul 22nd 2020","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":true,"has_options":false,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":[{"id":49139,"name":"Product Format","value":"eBook"},{"id":49143,"name":"File URL","value":"1229-Saint-Philomena-the-Wonder-Worker.epub"},{"id":58481,"name":"SEARCH_IGNORE","value":"true"}],"num_reviews":0,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"add_to_cart_url":"https://tanbooks.com/cart.php?action=add&product_id=2704","price":{"without_tax":{"currency":"USD","formatted":"$9.95","value":9.95},"tax_label":"Tax"},"add_to_wishlist_url":"/wishlist.php?action=add&product_id=2704"},{"id":2982,"sku":"2383-GROUPED","name":"A Rich Young Man: A Novel Based on the Life of Saint Anthony of Padua","url":"https://tanbooks.com/products/books/a-rich-young-man-a-novel-based-on-the-life-of-saint-anthony-of-padua/","availability":"","rating":5,"brand":null,"category":["Books","Books/Become a Saint/Biographies","Books/General ","Lifelong Learning/TAN Homeschool/Shop by Grade/7th Grade","Lifelong Learning/TAN Homeschool/Shop by Grade/8th Grade"],"summary":"St. Anthony of Padua has been a friend to millions of Catholics asking his help to recover lost objects. But few seem to know much about his remarkable life. The son of a knight in the court of...","image":{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/2982/1933/1933__27034.1675951623.jpg?c=1","alt":"A Rich Young Man: A Novel Based on the Life of Saint Anthony of Padua"},"images":[{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/2982/1933/1933__27034.1675951623.jpg?c=1","alt":"A Rich Young Man: A Novel Based on the Life of Saint Anthony of Padua"}],"date_added":"Jul 22nd 2020","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":true,"has_options":true,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":[{"id":53779,"name":"Author","value":"John Edward Beahn"},{"id":53780,"name":"Imprint","value":"TAN Books"},{"id":53781,"name":"Pages","value":"348"},{"id":53782,"name":"Publication Date","value":"11/12/2013"},{"id":53783,"name":"Product Format","value":"Paperbound"},{"id":53784,"name":"Grade","value":"Sixth Grade"},{"id":53785,"name":"Grade","value":"Seventh Grade"},{"id":53786,"name":"Grade","value":"Eighth Grade"},{"id":53787,"name":"Subject","value":"English/Literature"}],"num_reviews":1,"weight":{"formatted":"0.90 LBS","value":0.9},"demo":false,"price":{"without_tax":{"currency":"USD","formatted":"$24.95","value":24.95},"price_range":{"min":{"without_tax":{"currency":"USD","formatted":"$9.95","value":9.95},"tax_label":"Tax"},"max":{"without_tax":{"currency":"USD","formatted":"$24.95","value":24.95},"tax_label":"Tax"}},"tax_label":"Tax"},"add_to_wishlist_url":"/wishlist.php?action=add&product_id=2982"},{"id":3223,"sku":"TA9886","name":"Saint Philomena: The Wonder-Worker (MP3 Audio Download)","url":"https://tanbooks.com/products/books/saint-philomena-the-wonder-worker-mp3-audio-download/","availability":"","rating":0,"brand":null,"category":["Books","Books/General ","Books/General /eBooks & Audiobooks"],"summary":"St. Philomena is perhaps the most extraordinary Saint in the history of the Catholic Church. When the relics of this 13-year-old virgin martyress were discovered in the Roman Catacombs in 1802, she...","image":{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/3223/3585/3585__35300.1666799855.png?c=1","alt":"Saint Philomena: The Wonder-Worker (MP3 Audio Download)"},"images":[{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/3223/3585/3585__35300.1666799855.png?c=1","alt":"Saint Philomena: The Wonder-Worker (MP3 Audio Download)"}],"date_added":"Mar 2nd 2021","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":true,"has_options":false,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":[{"id":42295,"name":"Product Format","value":"MP3 Download"},{"id":42307,"name":"File URL","value":"Saint-Philomena-the-Wonder-Worker-Audiobook.zip"},{"id":58664,"name":"SEARCH_IGNORE","value":"true"}],"num_reviews":0,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"add_to_cart_url":"https://tanbooks.com/cart.php?action=add&product_id=3223","price":{"without_tax":{"currency":"USD","formatted":"$9.95","value":9.95},"tax_label":"Tax"},"add_to_wishlist_url":"/wishlist.php?action=add&product_id=3223"},{"id":1285,"sku":"1235-GROUPED","name":"Saint Francis Solano: Wonder Worker of the New World and Apostle of Argentina and Peru","url":"https://tanbooks.com/products/books/saint-francis-solano-wonder-worker-of-the-new-world-and-apostle-of-argentina-and-peru/","availability":"","rating":5,"brand":null,"category":["Books","Books/General ","Lifelong Learning/TAN Homeschool/Shop by Product Line/Windeatt","Books/General /eBooks & Audiobooks"],"summary":"Mary Fabyan Windeatt was known as the “Storyteller of the Saints” in the '50s and '60s. It is no wonder that her book on St. Francis Solano renders his life in such an exciting and engaging...","image":{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/1285/1689/1689__20905.1675951629.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Francis Solano: Wonder Worker of the New World and Apostle of Argentina and Peru"},"images":[{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/1285/1689/1689__20905.1675951629.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Francis Solano: Wonder Worker of the New World and Apostle of Argentina and Peru"},{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/1285/10812/1235_Cover1__37074.1710269000.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Francis Solano: Wonder Worker of the New World and Apostle of Argentina and Peru"},{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/1285/10813/1235_Cover2__19362.1710269000.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Francis Solano: Wonder Worker of the New World and Apostle of Argentina and Peru"},{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/1285/10814/1235_Interior1__78313.1710269001.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Francis Solano: Wonder Worker of the New World and Apostle of Argentina and Peru"}],"date_added":"Jul 22nd 2020","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":true,"has_options":true,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":[{"id":54576,"name":"Author","value":"Mary Fabyan Windeatt"},{"id":54578,"name":"Illustrator","value":"Gedge Harmon"},{"id":54581,"name":"Imprint","value":"TAN Books"},{"id":54587,"name":"Pages","value":"232"},{"id":54592,"name":"SKU","value":"1235"},{"id":54594,"name":"Product Format","value":"Paperbound"},{"id":56030,"name":"Pdf","value":"https://tanbooks.com/content/1235_Preview.pdf"}],"num_reviews":1,"weight":{"formatted":"9.90 LBS","value":9.9},"demo":false,"price":{"without_tax":{"currency":"USD","formatted":"$14.95","value":14.95},"price_range":{"min":{"without_tax":{"currency":"USD","formatted":"$9.95","value":9.95},"tax_label":"Tax"},"max":{"without_tax":{"currency":"USD","formatted":"$14.95","value":14.95},"tax_label":"Tax"}},"tax_label":"Tax"},"add_to_wishlist_url":"/wishlist.php?action=add&product_id=1285"},{"id":2758,"sku":"TE2993","name":"Saint Francis Solano: Wonder Worker of the New World and Apostle of Argentina and Peru (eBook)","url":"https://tanbooks.com/digital/products/books/other/ebooks-audiobooks/saint-francis-solano-wonder-worker-of-the-new-world-and-apostle-of-argentina-and-peru-ebook/","availability":"","rating":0,"brand":null,"category":["Books","Books/General ","Books/General /eBooks & Audiobooks"],"summary":"Mary Fabyan Windeatt was known as the “Storyteller of the Saints” in the '50s and '60s. It is no wonder that her book on St. Francis Solano renders his life in such an exciting and engaging...","image":{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/2758/2422/2422__32159.1666799910.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Francis Solano: Wonder Worker of the New World and Apostle of Argentina and Peru (eBook)"},"images":[{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/2758/2422/2422__32159.1666799910.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Francis Solano: Wonder Worker of the New World and Apostle of Argentina and Peru (eBook)"}],"date_added":"Jul 22nd 2020","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":true,"has_options":false,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":[{"id":49504,"name":"Product Format","value":"eBook"},{"id":58516,"name":"SEARCH_IGNORE","value":"true"}],"num_reviews":0,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"add_to_cart_url":"https://tanbooks.com/cart.php?action=add&product_id=2758","price":{"without_tax":{"currency":"USD","formatted":"$9.95","value":9.95},"tax_label":"Tax"},"add_to_wishlist_url":"/wishlist.php?action=add&product_id=2758"},{"id":1975,"sku":"TE9821","name":"Saint Anthony (eBook)","url":"https://tanbooks.com/products/books/saint-anthony-ebook/","availability":"","rating":0,"brand":null,"category":["Books","Books/General ","Books/General /eBooks & Audiobooks"],"summary":"To call St. Anthony of Padua one of the greatest saints is mistaken; it is not enough of an honor for so illustrious, so magnificent, so pure a holy man and second father of the Order of St. Francis;...","image":{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/1975/2411/2411__33311.1666799902.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Anthony (eBook)"},"images":[{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/1975/2411/2411__33311.1666799902.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Anthony (eBook)"}],"date_added":"Jul 22nd 2020","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":true,"has_options":false,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":[{"id":48725,"name":"Product Format","value":"eBook"},{"id":58190,"name":"SEARCH_IGNORE","value":"true"}],"num_reviews":0,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"add_to_cart_url":"https://tanbooks.com/cart.php?action=add&product_id=1975","price":{"without_tax":{"currency":"USD","formatted":"$9.98","value":9.98},"tax_label":"Tax"},"add_to_wishlist_url":"/wishlist.php?action=add&product_id=1975"},{"id":3720,"sku":"TA0515","name":"St. Anthony of Padua Audio Drama (MP3 Audio Download)","url":"https://tanbooks.com/products/books/st-anthony-of-padua-audio-drama-mp3-audio-download/","availability":"","rating":0,"brand":null,"category":["Books","Books/General ","Lifelong Learning/TAN Homeschool/Shop by Product Line/Windeatt","Books/General /eBooks & Audiobooks"],"summary":"St. Anthony of Padua\nEvery young Catholic should know the story of St. Anthony of Padua. St. Anthony is a beloved Saint by many Catholics, wel","image":{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/3720/8757/8757__61516.1666799852.png?c=1","alt":"St. Anthony of Padua Audio Drama (MP3 Audio Download)"},"images":[{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/3720/8757/8757__61516.1666799852.png?c=1","alt":"St. Anthony of Padua Audio Drama (MP3 Audio Download)"}],"date_added":"Oct 4th 2022","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":true,"has_options":false,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":[{"id":42066,"name":"Format","value":"MP3 Audio Download"},{"id":58830,"name":"SEARCH_IGNORE","value":"true"}],"num_reviews":0,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"add_to_cart_url":"https://tanbooks.com/cart.php?action=add&product_id=3720","price":{"without_tax":{"currency":"USD","formatted":"$7.95","value":7.95},"tax_label":"Tax"},"add_to_wishlist_url":"/wishlist.php?action=add&product_id=3720"},{"id":2071,"sku":"1293-GROUPED","name":"Saint Anthony Prayer Card (Pack of 100)","url":"https://tanbooks.com/products/books/saint-anthony-prayer-card-pack-of-100/","availability":"","rating":5,"brand":null,"category":["Books","Sales/Bulk Pricing/Prayer Cards"],"summary":"The St. Anthony Prayercard in packs of 100. Color","image":{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/2071/1619/1619__22118.1675951611.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Anthony Prayer Card (Pack of 100)"},"images":[{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/2071/1619/1619__22118.1675951611.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Anthony Prayer Card (Pack of 100)"}],"date_added":"Jul 22nd 2020","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":true,"has_options":true,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":[{"id":52555,"name":"Product Format","value":"Prayer Card"}],"num_reviews":3,"weight":{"formatted":"0.63 LBS","value":0.63},"demo":false,"price":{"without_tax":{"currency":"USD","formatted":"$9.95","value":9.95},"tax_label":"Tax"},"add_to_wishlist_url":"/wishlist.php?action=add&product_id=2071"}],"shipping_messages":[],"rating":5,"reviews":{"messages":[],"total":2,"end":2,"start":1,"list":[{"name":"paul","rating":"5","title":"The wonder worker of Padua","text":"great stories on St. Anthony. it was a good read","date":"Jan 31st 2024"},{"name":"Jeffrey C.","rating":"5","title":"Saint Anthony: Wonder Worker, Hero, and Friend","text":"Five stars for a great saint. Saint Anthony is not a milquetoast (is any saint?). He was learned, clever, zealous, and holy. You;ll learn why the saint preached to the fishes, the origin of the custom of writing "St. Anthony Guide" on letters, and much more. Caveat: this is the only book on St. Anthony I'veread. The style is a little dry, and the author breaks the fourth wall at one point. Still a great book.","date":"Sep 12th 2022"}]},"bulk_discount_rates":[],"meta_keywords":"Lost Items,Patron Saint,Hammer of Heretics","show_quantity_input":1,"title":"Saint Anthony: The Wonder Worker of Padua","gift_wrapping_available":false,"min_purchase_quantity":0,"customizations":[],"images":[{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/2117/1315/1315__05879.1675951614.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Anthony: The Wonder Worker of Padua"},{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/2117/1341/1341__50216.1675951615.jpg?c=1","alt":"Saint Anthony: The Wonder Worker of Padua"}],"width":"4.25"}
To call St. Anthony of Padua one of the greatest saints is mistaken; it is not enough of an honor for so illustrious, so magnificent, so pure a holy man and second father of the Order of St. Francis; he is a contender for the title of greatest saint. Born in 1195 to a noble family of Lisbon, Portugal, as Fernando, St. Anthony was educated at the cathedral school of the city. At 15, he became an Augustinian canon in a nearby convent, but soon moved to the motherhouse in Coimbra to avoid visits from family and friends. His excellent memory facilitated his studies, and in ten years as a canon, during which he was ordained, he became a hidden but extremely erudite and wise priest.
He became attracted to the Franciscans, who had settled near Coimbra, when he heard accounts of their martyrdoms in Morocco by the Saracens. Attracted to their evangelical simplicity and the possibility of martyrdom, he transferred into the order and took his venerable name. After failing to preach in Morocco and be martyred as he desired, he ended up in Italy, at a small Franciscan convent. On one occasion, when Dominicans came to the town for an ordination, there was no one to preach, and so Anthony was chosen. The astonishing potency of his eloquence, voice, and knowledge blew all those present away, and St. Anthony was swept up into a life of preaching and teaching (at the command of St. Francis himself) to the young Franciscan friars.
He became renowned throughout Italy and southern France, and Pope Gregory IX called him the "Ark of the Covenant"; he was also known as the "Hammer of Heretics." Throughout his short life (he died at 36), he preached with astounding vigor and miraculous glory, performing miracle upon miracle. He reattached a young boy's foot, induced a starving mule to bow to the Eucharistic Lord rather than eat oats, preached to the fishes, and held the Baby Jesus. He is rightly called the wonder-worker of the Franciscans, and he is indeed the favorite Saint of probably the whole world. Within a year of death he was canonized. In this short biography, find the greatest deeds and happenings of the glorious saint's life; there is not a single anecdote or moment of his life that would not move you to a sublime awe at the amazing power God bestowed on his servant. Come to know this holy and gentlest of all the saints, even the Evangelical Doctor of the Church.