June 13 was the feast of Saint Anthony of Padua, a 13th-century priest, theologian, and doctor of the Church.
Regarded in his own lifetime as a "wonder-worker" for the miracles he performed, Saint Anthony is best known today as the patron saint of those who have lost items. Thousands, if not millions, of Catholics invoke Saint Anthony's intercession every day.
Some of those Catholics are readers of the About.com Catholicism GuideSite, and they have shared their stories in How Saint Anthony Helped Me Find a Lost Item. Now it's your turn. Have you ever prayed to Saint Anthony to find something you had lost? If so, what happened? Share your story with your fellow readers!
(Statue of Saint Anthony of Padua holding the Christ Child in the Church of San Crisogono in Trastevere, Rome. Photo © Scott P. Richert.)
More on Saint Anthony:
- Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church
- Saint Anthony the Wonder-Worker
- 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
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Hello, Mr. Richert, I had no idea that our patron Saint Anthony de Padua was the same priest who founded our great city of San Antonio, TX!
St. Anthony was not the founder of the city, it was named in his honor.
I’m praying to Saint Anthony now to find my (deceased) mother’s diamond ring.
Funny that! St. Anthony is remarkable! Even today, when I went in search of a gift box in the specialty story where I work, I couldn’t find one; yet I knew we had them in the store. Just as I came past a bookcase, one fell off the shelf right behind me! I didn’t brush against it or cause any commotion in order for that to happen, it was this wonderful saint helping me out once again! Have faith, and thank God every day!
I say a prayer to St. Anthony all the time, and encourage many of my friends to do the same. My favorite example, though, was a friend who had been looking for her lost checkbook for quite a while. I went over to help and we looked for another couple of hours. As I was leaving, I told her to say a prayer to St. Anthony. She laughed at the suggestion, but we both said the prayer. When she woke up the next morning, the checkbook was right in the middle of the otherwise empty kitchen table!
I really do believe if you ask with faith nothing is impossible. St. Anthony has never delayed his response to me, but there is one request that I am still waiting for him to give