Saint Anthony

Two holy relics of St. Anthony of Padua will visit the Diocese of Charlotte, NC, from Friday, December 5 to Sunday, December 14. The two first-class relics will be accompanied by Fathers Mario Conte and Fabio Turrisendo, two Franciscan friars from the Pontifical Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy.  The two relics are fragments of St. Anthony’s Skin and his Floating Rib; the latter relic has special significance because it was venerated by Lucy of Fatima in her convent in Coimbra in 1995, and by then-Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis) in the Cathedral of Buenos Aires in 2000.

When young Fernando chose to leave Lisbon’s monastery, few understood his decision – yet it shaped his path to sainthood

A life-changing choice reverberates through a family as the future St. Anthony sets out on a path few dare to follow

Around 1210, the 15-year-old Fernando – later known as Anthony – sought admission to St. Vincent’s Abbey, home of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine

As Anthony’s health declined and he approached the final chapter of his life, he requested to be taken to Padua, the city he had long called home

Following the arduous Lenten preaching of 1231, Anthony, physically drained, celebrated his final Easter on earth