The Holy Father mentioned the Patron Saints of this blog, the Franciscan Protomartyrs, in his General Audience address today, on the life and works of one of the most popular of all saints, Saint Anthony of Padua, Il Santo. Saint Anthony's life was transformed by his meeting with those shining lights of the Friars Minor who went through Portugal on their way to Morocco, where they would be martyred:
In Coimbra, the event that would lead to a decisive turning point in his life would take place: there, in 1220, the relics of the first five Franciscan missionaries, who had gone to Morocco, where they met with martyrdom, were exposed [for the veneration of the faithful]. Their experience brought forth in the young Fernando a desire to imitate them and to follow in the path of Christian perfection: he then chose to leave the Augustinian Canons and become a Friar Minor. His wish was granted and, the name of Antonio being chosen, he also left for Morocco - but Divine Providence had other plans.
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Saints Berard, Otho, Peter, Accursius, and Adjutus,
pray for us!
