No one wanted to listen to Saint Anthony of Padua. Then, according to an ancient Franciscan tradition, something extraordinary happened: while he was preaching by the water, the fish began to approach as if they were listening to him.

But the story of Saint Anthony is much more surprising than many know.

Before becoming one of the most popular saints in the Catholic Church, Fernando de Bulhões was a young Portuguese religious man dedicated to his studies. Inspired by the martyrdom of five Franciscans, he abandoned the life he knew to become a missionary. He wanted to preach in Morocco, but a serious illness thwarted his plans and unexpectedly led him to Italy.

There, almost unknown and living simply among the Franciscans, the moment that would change his life occurred: in Forlì, he was asked to preach. His profound knowledge of the Scriptures surprised everyone and revealed the extraordinary preacher who had remained hidden until then.

From that moment on, Saint Anthony traveled through Italy and France proclaiming the Gospel, teaching theology, and facing strong resistance.

Until he reached Rimini.

According to Franciscan tradition, when some people refused to listen to him, Anthony went to the water and began to preach to the fish. The story recounts that the animals approached the shore while the inhabitants, surprised by the scene, finally began to gather.

In this documentary, you will learn the story of Saint Anthony of Padua, the context of the famous sermon to the fish, which elements belong to the Franciscan tradition, and what we can historically affirm about one of the great preachers of the Middle Ages.

You will also discover how a virtually unknown friar ended up being canonized less than a year after his death and, centuries later, proclaimed a Doctor of the Church with the title Doctor Evangelicus.

At the end of the video, we will pray together to Saint Anthony for those who have lost their way, for those going through unexpected changes, and for those who need to learn to listen to God's will even when the path seems different from what they had imagined.

🙏 Tell us in the comments: What part of Saint Anthony's story impressed you the most?

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SOURCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES

• BENEDICT XVI. General Audience: Saint Anthony of Padua. Vatican City, February 10, 2010.
https://www.vatican.va/content/benedi...

• PIUS XII. Rejoice, Felix of Lusitania. Apostolic Letter by which Saint Anthony of Padua is proclaimed a Doctor of the Church. January 16, 1946.
https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-x...

• Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua. Life and Biography of Saint Anthony.

https://www.santantonio.org/en/sa-cat...

• Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua. The Franciscan Transformation — Ferdinand's Entry into the Friars Minor and Mission to Morocco.

https://www.santantonio.org/en/conten...

• Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua. From Africa to Assisi — illness in Morocco, journey to Sicily, and arrival in Italy.

https://www.santantonio.org/es/conten...

• Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua. Forlì — the beginning of Saint Anthony's mission as a preacher.

https://www.santantonio.org/en/conten...

• Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua. Miracle of the Fish — the tradition of the sermon to the fish and a consideration of its historicity.

https://www.santantonio.org/en/conten...

• Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua. The Sermons of Saint Anthony — his writings, biblical formation, and theological activity.

https://www.santantonio.org/en/conten...

• Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua. The Death of Saint Anthony — Last Days, Arcella, and Death on June 13, 1231.
https://www.santantonio.org/en/conten...

Note: Some extraordinary episodes narrated in the video, especially the sermon about the fish, belong to the Franciscan hagiographic tradition and are presented as such. The video deliberately distinguishes between historically documented events and accounts preserved by Catholic tradition.

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