Post #6033

SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA, CONFESSOR AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH Anthony (at the century Fernando Martins de Bulhões), born the 15th of August 1195 in Lisboa in Portugal from parents of wealthy and aristocratic origins, who raised him piously, adolescent, at the age of fifteen years old (1219), embraced the life of the regualar Canons of the Holy Cross of the Abbey of St. Vincent of Lisbon. Remained in the abbey of St. Vincent for around two years. Then, preferring a major recollection, hindered by the frequent visits of friends and parents, asked to obtain the transfer near the monastery of the Holy Cross in Coimbra, city at that time capital of Portugal and distant 230 km ca from Lisbon. Fernando arrived in Coimbra in 1212, at the age of ca 17 years old. The monastery was very big and had around seventy canonicals. Here being versed in the Sacred Scriptures and in preaching, a career within the Order awaited him.