Saint Anthony of Padua is one of the most popular and revered Catholic saints worldwide. Born in Portugal in 1195, he became famous for his passionate preaching and miracles, and is considered the patron saint of lost objects.
The relics of Saint Anthony are highly venerated in the Catholic Church. After his death in 1231, his body was placed in a tomb in Padua, Italy. In 1263, the church which housed his tomb was enlarged and a new tomb was built for Saint Anthony, becoming a very popular place of pilgrimage.
Saint Anthony's relics include several parts of his body, including bones, hair, nails, and teeth. These relics were used to cure illnesses, answer prayers and offer blessings to the faithful. The relics of Saint Anthony were also used to protect towns and villages against disease, natural disasters and enemy invasions.
The relics of Saint Anthony have been transferred several times throughout history. In 1350, part of his relics were transferred to Lisbon, Portugal, where they are kept in the Church of Saint Anthony. Other parts of his relics were transferred to other churches and monasteries throughout Europe.
The cult of Saint Anthony has spread throughout the world, especially in Latin America, where he is known as "San Antonio". Saint Anthony's relics have been used to found churches and monasteries, and have inspired many artists to create works of art in his honor.
The relics of Saint Anthony continue to inspire the devotion of Catholics around the world, who seek his protection and help in their daily lives. Every year, millions of people visit Saint Anthony's churches and shrines to pray, ask for miracles and express their devotion. The relics of Saint Anthony are considered a spiritual link between the world of the living and the world of the saints, and continue to inspire the faith and devotion of believers around the world.
Encyclopédie Catholique. Saint Antoine de Padoue. Nouvelle édition, Paris : Librairie de l'Université, 2015.
Coulson, John. The Life of Saint Anthony of Padua. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993.
Diocese of Padua Archives. Saint Anthony of Padua: Relics and the Pilgrimage Tradition. Padoue : Éditions du Diocèse, 2001.
McBrien, Richard P.. Lives of the Saints: From Mary and St. Francis of Assisi to John XXIII and Mother Teresa. San Francisco: HarperOne, 2003.
Vatican Historical Journal. The Relics of St. Anthony in Lisbon and Europe: A Historical Overview. Rome: Vatican Press, 2008.
Boorstin, Daniel J.. The Spread of the Cult of Saint Anthony of Padua in Latin America. Buenos Aires: University of Buenos Aires Press, 1998.
Lourdes, James A.. Contemporary Pilgrimage Practices and Devotion to Saint Anthony of Padua. New York: Routledge, 2012.
