Confessor and Doctor of the Church (1195 – 1231)
A native of lisbon. Portugal. St Antony was baptized ferdinand bouillon he joined the canons regular of St .Augustine in 1210. However, the sight of the bodies of the first franciscan martyrs brought back from morocco 10 years later inflamed him with a desire for martyrdom. His brethren therefore permitted him to join the newly founded mendicant order of St. Francis d’ Assisi. Having taken the name, Anthony he was, at his own request, sent to morocco, but falling seriously ill, was forced to return. His ship, however, was driven to sicily by a great storm, where he heard that a general chapter had been called at assisi for whitsuntide 1221. He joined the 3.000 brethren there and saw St. Francis for the first time. In his humility he concealed his own warning and so was urged some time later to say a few words……