Non Tasarmi, Fratello!: American Society of Dowsers Feast of St. Anthony of Padua, June 13

Feast of St. Anthony in Little Italy NYC

One of the most famous of all the Italian saints - who was born in Portugal. His real name was Fernando Martins de Bulhões. He originally studied with the Augustinians, but was deeply impressed when he met 5 Franciscans who were heading to Morocco to preach to the Muslims. Unsurprisingly, the Muslims killed them. The Franciscans bodies were brought back to Assisi in a procession that Fernando witnessed. Fernando got permission to switch teams and joined the Franciscans, taking the name of Anthony. On his way to Italy his boat sank and he ended up in Sicily, and then was assigned to a convent in Tuscany. He was such a sickly looking guy he freaked out the nuns (I guess) and he went to work in a hospice.

From Wikipedia::

"One day, on the occasion of an ordination, a great many visiting Dominican friars were present, and there was some misunderstanding over who should preach. The Franciscans naturally expected that one of the Dominicans would occupy the pulpit, for they were renowned for their preaching; the Dominicans, on the other hand, had come unprepared, thinking that a Franciscan would be the homilist. In this quandary, the head of the hermitage, who had no one among his own humble friars suitable for the occasion, called upon Anthony, whom he suspected was most qualified, and entreated him to speak whatever the Holy Spirit should put into his mouth. Anthony objected but was overruled, and his sermon created a deep impression. Not only his rich voice and arresting manner, but the entire theme and substance of his discourse and his moving eloquence, held the attention of his hearers."

A star was born! He spent the rest of his short life preaching - he died at the age of 36. His body was exhumed thirty years after his death and and was dust, but " the tongue was claimed to have glistened and looked as if it was still alive and moist".