Anthony of Padua

Patron ofLost Things, Poor, Travelers, Portugal

SituationsLost Items, Shipwrecks, Starvation

ProfessionsElderly, Mail Carriers

Why this patronage

Saint Anthony of Padua is invoked for lost things because of a story from his own life: a novice who had left the order ran off with Anthony’s prized psalter, full of his teaching notes. Anthony prayed for its return, and the legend holds the thief was seized with such dread that he brought the book back and rejoined the community. From this the friar became, for all of Christendom, the saint who finds what is lost. His care for the poor and hungry flows from his Franciscan life and his fame as a preacher to the destitute, which is why he is also patron of the poor and against starvation; the enduring custom of “St. Anthony’s Bread,” alms given to feed the hungry in thanks for his help, keeps that link alive. As a friar who travelled far to preach and once survived a storm at sea, he is likewise invoked by travellers and against shipwreck, and so too by mail carriers who entrust their journeys to him. A son of Lisbon, he remains one of the great patrons of Portugal.

Life

Saint Anthony of Padua was a Portuguese Franciscan friar and Doctor of the Church, renowned for his powerful preaching and devotion to the poor. Born Fernando Martins de Bulhões in Lisbon around 1195, he is one of the most quickly canonized saints in Church history.

Prayer

Responsory of Saint Anthony (Si Quaeris Miracula)

Si quaeris mirácula,

If then you ask for miracles,

mors, error, calámitas,

death, error, all calamities,

daemon, lepra fúgiunt,

the leprosy and demons fly,

aegri surgunt sani.

and health succeeds infirmities.

Cedunt mare, víncula;

The sea obeys and fetters break,

membra resque pérditas

and lifeless limbs you do restore;

petunt et accípiunt

while treasures lost are found again,

iúvenes et cani.

when young or old your aid implore.

Péreunt perícula,

All dangers vanish at your prayer,

cessat et necéssitas;

and direst need doth quickly flee;

narrent hi qui séntiunt,

let those who know your power proclaim,

dicant Paduáni.

let Paduans say: these are of thee.