Saint Anthony of Padua: Proclaimer of the Good News

by Marie Baudouin-Croix

This new series introduces children to some special friends whose stories will help them remember that God lives in every person they meet. As children learn to love and respect everyone, they will follow the way of the Gospel---just as the saints did. Full color illustrations on every page, a prayer and glossary encourage children to interact with the story.

74 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2002

Reviews

[Tammy Schilling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice little children's biography with nice pictures. Perfect for 4-8 year olds.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most Catholics have a close relationship with St. Anthony as he is the one we pray to for lost items. Anything missing around the house and I can be heard calling upon St. Anthony to help me find it but what is the story behind this and who exactly was St. Anthony many of us may not be so sure. From the early 1200s Anthony (born Fernando) was a godly child and asked his parents to let him become a priest at age 15. His wealthy family was not exactly pleased as they had thought he would follow in the father's footsteps and be a knight to the King but being a religious family they finally relented and gave Fernando to the Augustinian monks to serve the "King of the World". Fernando loved being a priest and devoted himself to the poor and tried to live as Jesus did but he saw that some priests had a love for money, wealth and material items making him feel angry inside. Until one day he met some men who belonged to "The Little Brothers", who followed Francis. They had given up their earthly items, lived as Jesus did and helped the poor. After he heard of the martyrdom of these certain brothers he begged his order to let him join them and eventually he was given permission. He traded his white robes for the brown habit of the Franciscan monks, changed his name to Anthony, and devoted his life to helping the poor, evangelizing and preaching the Good News. Miracles are associated with Anthony ever afterward as he continued on and the small story of one of his books being stolen from him, which he prayed for its return only to have it shortly show up is how he became the patron saint of lost items. Like all the books in this series, a small palm-sized picture book with a lot of text and gorgeous watercolour illustrations, it ends with a specific prayer to the Saint and makes for interesting and detailed reading even in this brief format.