Saint Anthony of Padua, a 13th-century priest and doctor of the Church whose feast day is June 13, is sometimes referred to as a thaumaturgus, a medieval Latin word which comes from the Greek.
In modern English, it means "wonder-worker" or "miracle-worker." There are many Eastern Christian saints who are known as thaumaturgus, but relatively few in the West, and Saint Anthony is perhaps the best known among them.
A thaumaturgus is often renowned for the miracles attributed to him after his death, but he earns the title during his life. Saint Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12:7-10, lists among the "manifestations of the Holy Spirit" the "gift of miracles." Among the miracles ascribed to Saint Anthony is reattaching a severed foot and bilocation, or appearing in two places at one time. Interestingly, while we often think of simple, saintly people working miracles, it is usually the case that the wonder-working saints are, like Saint Anthony, excellent Scripture scholars and theologians. (Saint Francis of Assisi himself chose Saint Anthony to teach theology to the members of the Franciscan order.)
Of course, today Saint Anthony is best known as the patron saint of lost items, and while finding a lost item may not quite count as working wonders, many of those who have been the beneficiaries of Saint Anthony's intercession find it just short of miraculous. You can read some of their stories in Reader Stories: How Saint Anthony Helped Me Find a Lost Item, and if St. Anthony has interceded for you, please add your story to the list!
(Saint Anthony of Padua holding the Infant Jesus. Public domain.)
More on Saint Anthony:
- Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church
- Novena to Saint Anthony to Find a Lost Article
- Novena to Saint Anthony for Any Need
- Reader Stories: How Saint Anthony Helped Me Find a Lost Item
- When Is the Feast of Saint Anthony 2012?
- When Is the Feast of Saint Anthony 2013?
- When Is the Feast of Saint Anthony 2014?
- When Is the Feast of Saint Anthony 2015?
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am happy to have read about saint Anthony in this site! some three years ago. I have a strong devotion for him, and have bought books about him, and this year my intention as we wait for his feast day, i want him to find for me a husband,
and i know he wil for sure if its God will too.
Thank you
anne
kenya
Happy FEAST DAY! to all devotees of St. Anthony;
I must say that indeed st. Anthony is a great saint! yestday 12th june, i lost my phone, mobile, i was so stressed and could not even pray but just said St. SAnthony i need my phone pls! help me; someone picked it and kept it, i tried calling my line and he answered, he said that he picked the phone and would like to give it to me, and adviced me where to get him, i found the man and got my phone, in an hours time! This is a great testimony in my life; recovering a lost phone is hard in my country kenya, and have lost 3 phones before but at that time wasnt a devotee of st. anthonyl, this is some 4 years back;
ST. ANTHONY YOU ARE INDEED A WONDER WORKER!
HAPPY FEAST DAY TO ALL DEVOTEES!!!!
Anne,ciku26@hotmail.com
kenya
Saint Anthony of Padua (or is it Lisdua since he was born in Lisbon, Portugal, but became well known in Padua, Italy) has always seemed to me the epitome of humility. Here is a man who was famous for the depth and beauty of his preaching, his love of God and his fellow men, and what does he do for us? He finds lost “stuff!” Do people pray to him to make them more eloquent preachers, or better more God-loving and more God-fearing people? Nope, they pray to him to find their lost car keys, glasses, dentures, and a host of other items. May we all grow in St. Anthony’s eternal humility. Amen.
I will always be grateful for the help and guidance that was given to me during one of the most trying times for my family.
Just wanted everyone to know, about 15yrs ago, I went out to lunch with a friend and took off my watch. I put it on the table. After lunch I kno I put on the watch. Then I went home and was getting ready to go to my fiends house. When I was ready to leave I went for the watch I couldnt find it anywhere. We searched the house. Couldnt find it. I thought I put it back on, but I must not have. Went back to the resturant. People were at the table we were at. I asked the waitress, nothing in lost and found. Said a prayer to St. Anthony. The next day I found my watch on my dresser. And it wasn’t there the day before. Miracles happen. Thank you St. Anthony.
I pray to st. Anthony everyday to find something and sure enough I find it , so now I’m praying to st. Anthony to find wonderful women for my sons to marry.