Ferdinand had briefly met a group of Franciscans who were later martyred. Their bodies were returned to Coimbra where Ferdinand was then residing. He became determined to become a missionary and a martyr. He left the Augustinians to join the Franciscan Order. He did become a missionary and was sent to Morocco but was forced to return home due to illness. He was then stationed in a small hermitage in Italy where he prayed, studied, and performed menial tasks.
Ferdinand changed his name to Anthony. He was once given the duty to fill in for a preacher who failed to appear at an ordination ceremony. Those who were there, were astonished at Anthony's knowledge of scripture and theology and at his ability to speak publicly. He was then appointed as a traveling preacher and traveled throughout Italy and France. His orations often combated the heresies of the day. He criticized weakness and corruption in the clergy and greed and tyranny in society. Anthony also taught theology to other friars.
During the Lenten Season in 1231, Anthony was preaching in Padua. After Easter, he and two companions set out for a friends estate near the city. On the way they made Anthony a cell in a walnut tree by binding the branches together. Later that spring he died on the way back to Padua.
Anthony should be the patron saint of those who
find themselves completely uprooted and sent out on unfamiliar paths.
That is, after all, how his life was lived. Most commonly though,
St. Anthony is thought of as the patron saint of lost articles. Anthony
found himself only by allowing himself to be totally lost in the
providence of God.
