Fernando Bulhom was born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195. He was inspired by five Franciscan missionary martyrs (Bernard, Peter, Accrusio, Adiuto, and Otto) who were were put to death by sword when they urged the King of Morocco to convert to the Christian faith. The relics of these friars were brought back to Portugal and laid to rest in the Church of the Holy Cross in Coimbra where Fernando lived. Inspired by the friars' martyrdom, he felt called to join the Franciscan community at Olivais in the summer of 1220, taking on the name of Anthony, a saintly hermit of the fourth century.
| "Saint Anthony was declared a saint less than one year after his death!" |
According to legend Count Tiso had a castle about 11 miles from Padua, Italy that he offered a chapel and a hermitage ,on the castle grounds, to the Franciscan friars. Toward the end of his life St. Anthony would pray in the seclusion of a hermit cell. The count upon passing the St. Anthony's cell noticed a brilliant light emanating from within and he saw the future saint conversing with child Jesus in his arms. Count Tiso fell to his knees and did not mention this story till after the saint's death.
We humbly petition that the Chapel erected in honor of Saint Anthony, Wonder Worker of Padua, become a refuge and haven for all pilgrims who seek to know God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to love Him and to serve Him through the intercession of His saints!