St. Anthony: Hammer of Heretics

St. Anthony, whose feast day is today, lived at the end of the 12th century and beginning of the 13th century, and is one of the most well-known and popular saints of the Church.  He was a gifted preacher and many miracles are attributed to his intercession both during his earthly life and his heavenly life.  Many people were spurred to repentance and conversion as a result of his preaching and he was well-gifted in refuting heresies leading to the nickname 'Hammer of Heretics'. 

Read this article to find out more about his life including why his intercession is often sought when seeking something that has been lost and why he is often depicted holding the Christ Child. 

St. Anthony was born in Lisbon, Portugal and in reading the article mentioned above you can read how he ended up in Padua, Italy.  Below are some photos relevant to St. Anthony's early life in Lisbon:

St. Anthony was born in 1195 where this small altar now
sits in the basement of a beautiful church named
in his honor in Lisbon, Portugal.

Bl. Pope John Paul the Great visited Lisbon and prayed
at the the site of St. Anthony's birth in 1982.



The baptismal font in which St. Anthony was baptized
located at the Cathedral which was a block from
St. Anthony's home.  "Anthony" is actually his
religious name - he was baptized "Ferdinand".