Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Irish Ring Lost & Found

I have had St. Anthony as a special friend for years. He has helped me find numerous items. The first items were money to buy gas so I could get to work. The next miracle occurred when I thought I had lost my Claddaugh ring. I looked for about a year, but never asked for St. Anthony's intercession because I felt I could find it. I was sure it was in my bedroom, so checked my vacuum, emptied and strained all contents of the bag and continued this practice. I kept hoping it would be found. I finally said a prayer to St. Anthony. It was within a day that I went to an often-used plastic container for jewelry. There was my ring in plain sight. I had checked that container numerous times before, so I know it was another of St. Anthony's miracles.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

St. Anthony's Comment Box Quotes - From Blogger Julie

This from Quirky Catholic:

Blogger Julie said...

Saint Anthony pray that I find my wedding ring! Thnk you. 8:43 AM

Blogger Julie said...

Thank you Saint Anthony for your help in finding my ring!!!! I found my ring within minutes of leaving a comment. My ring has been lost for eight months!!!!! 9:18 AM

Friday, August 26, 2011

A Contact Lens at the Beach

In the 1960's I wore "hard" contact lenses which at the time were fairly expensive—$400.00. I lost one while singing around a bonfire at night on a sandy beach. A group of us looked for it—a contact lens in sand! The next morning I offered Mass and Communion to St. Anthony for the return of the lens. About one hour later, answering a knock at our cottage door, there was a young person wondering if this was the place where a person had lost a contact lens and would this be it? A "hard" contact lens in his hand. It was. My non-Catholic friend almost converted on the spot!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Peanuts and Glasses

I lost my glasses and my husband told me to pray to St. Anthony. I looked everywhere 3 times, then I prayed. The next day I was throwing peanuts on the outside deck for the squirrels and it was quite windy. I wanted to watch the peanuts to see how long they'd stay with the wind and there in the middle of the peanuts were my glasses. It had been very windy all day. Why didn't they blow off the deck sooner? How did they even get on the deck? So, thank you St. Anthony!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Finding Lost Luggage

Returning from a vacation this past spring, a friend and I were stranded because our connecting flight was canceled due to weather. We could not get a flight out for 2 days. My friend called some local relative and they agreed to come pick us up and allow us to stay in their house for the time. The only problem was that our luggage was still on course to be sent home. We went to the baggage office and asked if they could pull it for us and the woman behind the counter told us it was not possible. We persisted and she finally called someone in charge of luggage. She got off the phone and told us that there are many people waiting for luggage and since it is dark, raining, and there are thousands of bags, it could take 4 hours or longer. My friend and I went to sit by the carousel to wait. A woman walked by who had just got her luggage and I congratulated her. She told me that she had been waiting since 4:00--it was now after 9. I decided to say a prayer to St. Anthony that he would find our luggage and have it sent to us. I also texted my mom and brother asking them to do the same. 20 minutes later, we see our luggage come down the carousel. It is a huge airport and it probably took 20 minutes just to get the luggage from the terminal to the baggage claim area. I know that St. Anthony found it for us.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Litany of Saint Anthony

Litany of Saint Anthony (For Private Use)
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
St. Anthony of Padua, (pray for us)
St. Anthony, glory of the Friars Minor,
St. Anthony, ark of the testament,
St. Anthony, sanctuary of heavenly wisdom,
St. Anthony, destroyer of worldly vanity,
St. Anthony, conqueror of impurity,
St. Anthony, example of humility,
St. Anthony, lover of the Cross,
St. Anthony, martyr of desire,
St. Anthony, generator of charity,
St. Anthony, zealous for justice,
St. Anthony, terror of infidels,
St. Anthony, model of perfection,
St. Anthony, consoler of the afflicted,
St. Anthony, restorer of lost things,
St. Anthony, defender of innocence,
St. Anthony, liberator of prisoners,
St. Anthony, guide of pilgrims,
St. Anthony, restorer of health,
St. Anthony, performer of miracles,
St. Anthony, restorer of speech to the mute,
St. Anthony, restorer of hearing to the deaf,
St. Anthony, restorer of sight to the blind,
St. Anthony, disperser of devils,
St. Anthony, reviver of the dead.
St. Anthony, tamer of tyrants,
From the snares of the devil, through your intercession St. Anthony deliver us.
From thunder, lightning and storms, through your intercession St. Anthony deliver us.
From all evil of body and soul, through your intercession St. Anthony deliver us.
Through your intercession, St. Anthony protect us.
Throughout the course of life, with your prayers St. Anthony protect us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
V. St. Anthony, pray for us.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let Us Pray
O my God, may the pious commemoration of St. Anthony, your Confessor and Proctor, give joy to your Church, that she may ever be strengthened with your spiritual assistance and merit to attain everlasting joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Saint Anthony's Bread

"St. Anthony's Bread" goes back to 1263 AD, when a child drowned near the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua as it was still being built. The mother besought St. Anthony and promised that if her child were restored to life, she would give to the poor an amount of wheat equal to the weight of her child. Her son was saved, and her promise was kept. "St. Anthony's Bread," then, is the promise of giving alms in return for a favor asked of God through St. Anthony's intercession (the custom also takes place throughout the year when parents give alms after placing their baby under the patronage of St. Anthony). In some places, the custom has a literal parallel in that loaves of bread might be blessed and given away at church or, generally, to the poor. If St. Anthony intersession has helped you in your life and you would like to give alms in thanksgiving to him, click here to read about an Anthonian Hospital in Africa that is in real need of help to assist the poor in their area.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Keys - Lost and Found

For the past three days I had been searching for my house keys, which I lost at home. I already had two keys that enabled me to enter my house but I needed all the keys in the bunch in order to live a normal life, such as being able to open my letter box. After discussing this situation with a friend, she asked me to pray to God to assist me in finding the keys. I told her that we have a saint whom we pray to for lost items. I quickly searched the Web and I saw it was Saint Anthony of Padua. I saw a prayer to him regarding lost things and I said the prayer twice. I was not too optimistic since I had already searched everywhere without success. After two hours I went to sit down on the sofa where I normally watch TV. My mind suddenly told me to look right at the corner of the cushion and I saw my hand extending towards the corner. Immediately there were my keys. There is almost a zero chance that I would have searched for the keys where I found them. I felt humbled. Thank God and thank Saint Anthony of Padua.

Have a story of St. Anthony's help in your life? Email it to us and we will post it on our blog~

Monday, August 15, 2011

Saint Anthony Quote - Regarding the Virgin Mary

"O name of Mary! Joy in the heart, honey in the mouth, melody to the ear of her devout clients."

-- Saint Anthony of Padua

Become a 'Devout Client' of the Blessed Virgin Mary - To learn more about the Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary visit here

Sunday, August 14, 2011

The Gift of Speech

I found out that not only is St. Anthony the patron saint of lost things, but he was also a very eloquent speaker. My son is a freshman in high school; he works very hard but sometimes is not very confident. He had to attend a competition where he had to make a speech. Public speaking is not for everyone. That morning, he woke up and was very worried that he would not do well, even though he prepared for several weeks. After he left for the competition very nervous and worried, I prayed to St. Anthony to give my son the power to speak as eloquently as him. I just did not want my son to be embarrassed and feel ashamed. I asked St. Anthony to make my son happy with whatever he could do. Well, not only did my son not embarrass himself, he was one of the finalist in the competition. Thank you Saint Anthony, you have always been there for us!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Friends Help Friends

St. Anthony has been my best friend since I was in the fifth grade. I am now 72 years old. Whenever I have asked him to help me find anything, he has never let me down. One time I went to visit a friend who was frantic because she said she had lost her mortgage check, which was a certified check from the bank. I told her to ask St. Anthony to help her find it and she said she had already done so. I asked her then, "Do you talk to him often?" She said no. So I said, "Dear St. Anthony, so good and so kind, please help my friend her check to find." I no sooner said that prayer to my friend when she walked over to her hutch, picked up a folder and out fell the check. She exclaimed that she had gone to that hutch five times and the check never showed up there. She had even picked up the folder it fell out of and she did not find it. My response was, "Well, you just have to talk to St. Anthony every day, if you want him to know who you are when you do talk to him." He has been my lifelong friend, I always talked to St. Anthony every single day.

Have some insight or a story in regard to Saint Anthony that you would like to share? Email it to us and we will post it on our blog~

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Lost, And Then Found in a Dream

Growing up Catholic, I was always informed by my grandmother that if I lost something I should pray to St. Anthony. Being a former Seminarian this was not too absurd. Now that I am an adult and have children of my own, I tell my children the same thing that my grandmother told me. In fact it has worked in my life many times over. One recollection would be where I lost my money clip. I prayed to St Anthony.... I was so frustrated I took a nap. During my nap I had a dream and saw the money clip on the floor under a cabinet at a store. When I awoke I phoned the store and sure enough it was there. The power of prayer to St Anthony works!

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Saint Anthony Quote - Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. We are full of words but empty of actions, and therefore are cursed by the Lord, since he himself cursed the fig tree when he found no fruit but only leaves. It is useless for a man to flaunt his knowledge of the law if he undermines its teaching by his actions.

--From a sermon by Saint Anthony of Padua

Friday, August 5, 2011

Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony

"Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints"

O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and Charity for His creatures, made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me (request). O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms; and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be...

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Finding More Than Asked For

I had been looking for my house keys for over an hour when I called my mom to ask if she had any insights about where I could look. I followed her suggestions but the keys were nowhere. At last she said, "Well, St. Anthony might help you..." She told me to light a candle, which I did, and say what she told me to say: "St. Anthony, I need your help. Please help me find my keys." I put the match down, took two steps, and saw my glasses case on the floor (which I'd been looking for for a month), and right by the case were my keys. It was less than 10 seconds since I had asked for his help. I went over to St. Anthony's Church here in our city, and made an offering before that day was over. Thank you, St. Anthony.

Have a St. Anthony lost & found story of your own to share? Email it to us and we will post it on our blog~

Monday, August 1, 2011

The Lost Passport

I had an upcoming work trip overseas. Unfortunately, my passport had been missing forever. For months, I'd been tearing up my apartment in search of it. I even had a note posted on my front door to constantly remind myself to find it, but all to no avail. Then it struck me that I should pray to St. Anthony for guidance. Literally within 10 seconds I started digging in a bin of old utility bills, and there it was, buried deep in the middle. I almost started crying! So I went online to look up a way to thank St. Anthony. I was riveted by all the postings there and realized, like others had stated, that St. Anthony has never failed me either, in all the years I've prayed to him. So I just want to say thank you, St. Anthony!