Saint Anthony of Lisboa and “the saint”: between veneration and (simple?) fiction

Abstract

The Christian veneration of saints, especially in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches establishes issues in criticizing religion on the perception of authenticity of faith of their devoted believers. Such is the situation that has taken place regarding Saint Anthony of Padua. This essay explores his life line and some of the events that took place in several steps taken to proclaim his sanctity, in such way that there was an effort to revise the history and also the legendary aspects of the “Saint” throughout the nine centuries following his death. At the end, using the hermeneutical method to interpret diverse facts for a new understanding of the fiction that has been created around him.

Keywords

• devoción
• fe
• historia
• san antonio de lisboa
• santidad
• veneración