Antony

Antony OF PADUA, ST, was born at Lisbon, August 15, 1195, and on the father's side was related to Godfrey of Bouillon. He was at first an Augustinian monk; but in 1220 he entered the Franciscan order, and became one of its most active propagators. He preached in the south of France and Upper Italy, and died at Padua, June 13, 1231. He was canonised by Gregory IX. in the following year. He himself practised the most severe asceticism, and opposed vigorously the movement for mitigating the severity of the Franciscan rule led by Elias of Cortona. According to legend, he preached to the fishes when men refused to hear him; hence he is the patron of the lower animals, and is often represented as accompanied by a pig. His monument, a fine work of statuary, is in the church which bears his name at Padua.