Saint Anthony of Padua was a prominent Catholic religious figure of the first decades of the 13th century. He was born at the very end of the 12th century, to be more precise, in 1195, in the current capital of Portugal, Lisbon. There he was introduced to Christianity and was given his first religious education. He found his life purpose when he first saw the bodies of Christian martyrs returned from Muslim Morocco. It was when he realized that it was his religious duty to bring true faith to the most inveterate heretics. However, he could not reach the Muslim world due to natural circumstances and poor health, so he began to teach and preach throughout southern Europe.
The reason I chose St. Anthony is that my parents gave me this name. I think they did so because they are religious people, and they want me to develop the same personality traits that St. Anthony had. St. Anthony was a sincere, understanding, diligent and fearless person. I believe that every Christian, whether they are Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox, should aim to develop these aspects of the personality.
Studying the biography of St. Anthony taught me two big lessons. The first one is that one should not be disappointed about the failures and dead ends on their life path. There is always a way to effectively apply one’s best personal qualities and skills, as well as the place and people who need them. The second thing I have learned is that empathy and understanding are universal keys to people’s hearts. The simplicity of St. Anthony, his sincerity, and asceticism are what motivate me to be holy.