I Try So Hard To Believe

About three weeks ago I was searching for my daughter's social security card as she was recently hired at a new job. My wife and I looked and looked ... it was not in the "usual" place, and the last time we had needed it was three years ago. While searching I recalled the previous times St. Anthony had helped me -- finding a lost wrench to a locking lug nut, helping a stranger find a lost St. Christopher medal on the bike path, lost keys, etc. Now, though, I was aware I had a particular reluctance to pray to St. Anthony -- I told myself that I didn't want to bother him this time, but secretly I was afraid that after praying I wouldn't find it, and I was afraid I would begin to doubt ...

My daughter was getting anxious, and so I reluctantly said the prayer, "Dear St. Anthony, please come around ..." As I was saying the prayer, I knew in my heart I would not find it this time, at least not while shuffling through a stack of casino points cards on my wife's recently-cleaned dresser. I finished the prayer expecting little or nothing, but was entirely unprepared for what came next. Not one minute, not one second, but literally a fraction of a second after I finished the prayer a single card slipped out from the stack.

For the next five minutes I was reduced to tears on the bedroom floor. You see, you'd have to really know me -- especially these days -- to understand. Right now amidst my trials, I try so hard to believe but it is sometimes so hard to believe. God bless St. Anthony; in his simple act of helping me at that very moment he helped me to understand the reality of God's immediate presence in a way I have never before been able. May I ever increase my gratitude and devotion to this special saint and servant of God.

We are always so grateful for the truly inspiring stories of Saint Anthony's help that our readers send to us to share with the world - thank you to T.W. for one of the best, most heartfelt we have received. Please pass it on to anyone you know that needs an increase in faith in God's generous and loving care~

St. Anthony's Relics in Austalia, Singapore, and Canada in 2013

This June 2012, two friars from the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, are bringing a relic of Saint Anthony to two very different parts of the world. Fr. Mario Conte is visiting Australia and Singapore, delivering various sermons in the process. At the same time, Fr. Paolo Floretta is making a pilgrimage of his own in Canada.

Click here to visit the Franciscan Friar's website and view their respective programs and schedules with St. Anthony's relics.

St. Anthony Quote - If We Want To Have Our Own Way

"For if we want to have our own way always, aren't we really seeking our reward here below in the things of this life? Let us couple patience and long-suffering in the spirit of meekness and faith, and so bring forth fruit in patience."

-St. Anthony of Padua

Prayer to St. Anthony for Emotional Healing

St. Anthony, dear friend and heavenly guide, be present to me now, and let me know your compassion. Pray to our dear Lord for me, that I may experience calmness and peace in my emotions. Help me to grow in faith and hope. Protect me from all that displeases God, and obtain for me serenity of mind and spirit. I place all my confidence in you, St. Anthony, and I pray for mercy, grace, and God's gentle goodness. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be...

How Generous Of St. Anthony

Allow me to say from experience that St. Anthony’s prayers for lost things are powerful. Here’s an example:
Saturday night was my very last ballet performance ever. I was back stage getting ready for our final number – a black light dance wherein all of the dancers wore white gloves, white socks, and white masks – when suddenly I felt the hushed silence of sheer panic fill the dressing room. One of the other dancers in the number was missing a sock. Since black light dances are dependent on having each dancer being completely identical (and thus, unrecognizable), this simply wouldn’t do. The only option was to find that sock. The moment I found out what was wrong, I began begging St. Anthony for his prayers and asking Jesus from the bottom of my heart to heed our prayers, while simultaneously tearing the dressing room apart searching for the missing sock. Meanwhile, the number before ours was in full swing – we had about a minute and a half for this miracle to happen. With a solid 50 seconds to spare, I spotted the sock in the least logical place imaginable, several feet away from where we were all expecting it to be. We still have no idea how it got there. And I have no doubt that the the only reason I found it was because of the tenderness of God aroused by he prayers of St. Anthony on our behalf.
Yes, I realize it was only a sock. But how sweet that our Lord cares for us so much as to even help us find our lost socks, our car keys, a parking space. And how generous of St. Anthony to spend his heaven faithfully praying for such humble things.

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

A Daily Prayer To Saint Anthony

We recommended this short prayer be said to Saint Anthony daily:

May he intercede for us, O Lord, Your holy confessor St. Anthony, upon whom, adorned with heroic virtues, You did bestow the gift of miracles, even unto working prodigious signs and wonders. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sancte Antoni, ora pro nobis~

Saint Anthony Quote - Earthly Riches Are Like The Reed

"Earthly riches are like the reed. Its roots are sunk in the swamp, and its exterior is fair to behold; but inside it is hollow. If a man leans on such a reed, it will snap off and pierce his soul."

-St. Anthony of Padua

Prayer To St. Anthony For Peace Of Mind

Most dear and faithful servant of Christ, blessed St. Anthony, to whom God has granted such favors that, through thy intercession, lost temporal goods are recovered, pray for me that I may acquire and preserve peace of mind, with light and knowledge to discern good from evil and truth from error, so that being delivered from all evil scruples, darkness and uneasiness of mind and conscience, I may faithfully serve my God and Savior, Who is worthy of all honor and glory, with peace of mind, purity of conscience, and justice of life. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be...

Saint Anthony's Brief - A Powerful Prayer Against The Powers Of Evil

Thousands make a practice of wearing on their persons a copy of the famous Brief of St. Anthony, in order to gain his powerful protection against dangers to soul and body.

Tradition from the 14th. century relates that a woman in Lisbon, Portugal, was tempted by the devil to take her life. She had a dream in which she heard comforting words from St. Anthony, and on awakening discovered this prayer. She used this prayer, known today as "St. Anthony's Brief [or Blessing]," to overcome temptations. The Church once incorporated this prayer against the powers of evil in its ritual for an exorcism. I myself recently purchased this cross with St. Anthony's Brief inscribed on the back.

If you are interested in purchasing this powerful sacramental for yourself or a loved one, click here they are inexpensive and made in the Holy Land~

If you would like a free printable version of the St. Anthony's Brief used above, click here visit to CatholicTradition.org