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Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati City is holding a three-day online art auction from June 11-13.
Dubbed "SpectaculART, the art auction ends on the feast day of the church's patron saint, San Antonio or Saint Anthony of Padua.
The art auction is for the benefit of Santuario de San Antonio Parish and Franciscan seminaries and parishes.
Over 200 artworks from professional and rising artists are featured in the auction.
To view the artworks and place a bid, visit:
Who is Saint Anthony of Padua?
Saint Anthony is the patron saint of the poor, priests, fishermen, elderly people, and those who have a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. He is also known as the finder of lost things and lost souls.
He was born on August 15, 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal to wealthy parents -- an army officer named Martin and his wife Mary. They named him Ferdinand but he adopted the name Anthony when he became a priest.
According to the Catholic News Agency, Saint Anthony was educated by priests as he was growing up and by age 15, he decided to become a priest himself.
At first, he entered the Augustinian seminary in his hometown of Lisbon. However, he was bothered that his friends constantly visited him so he moved to a more remote house where he devoted himself to praying and reading the Holy Bible.
In 1220, he heard that five Franciscan friars died for their faith in Morocco. He admired them for their act of faith and wanted to become a Franciscan himself to adopt their poor and humble way of life.
Some Augustinian monks criticized him but Saint Anthony chose to commit himself to the order established by Saint Francis, who was still living at that time.
Saint Anthony wanted to imitate the five Franciscan martyrs who died as
they attempted to convert Muslims in Morocco. However, he became seriously ill and had to be brought to Italy, where Saint Francis was.
Saint Anthony then resolved to stay in Italy to stay close to Saint Francis.
Saint Anthony later became known for his eloquence as a preacher and worked as a missionary in France, Italy and Spain.
At the age of 36, he became very ill and had to be brought to a Franciscan monastery in Padua, where he passed away on June 13, 1231.