St. Anthony of Padua was born in Lisbon to a noble family. He joined St. Francis and his companions, lived for a year in a cave and taught in Bologna. One day he showed an incomparable talent in preaching and that became his main activity. He preached in France, Spain, and Italy attracting huge congregations wherever he went. The last two years of his life he spent in Padua, and dyed in 1231. The following year he was canonized. He was above all the greatest preacher of the middle ages and one of the finest orators of all time.
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