He is one of the great saints of the Catholic Church, and one of the beloved--even far beyond Catholics themselves. Untold numbers of people turn to him, still, when there is loss. And strangely--at least strangely in the usual ways of the world--those things often quickly turn up. And often they turn up in the most unexpected--even seemingly miraculous ways. Let the stories begin.
Light a Virtual Candle now and write your Prayer to St. Anthony - On December 25, at the end of the Christmas Mass, the Franciscan Friars will place your Prayer at the Tomb of Saint Anthony in his Basilica in Padua. May the light of your candle always shine upon you and your family. Merry Christmas!
I was visiting with my son in Arizona. My wife and I were staying in our travel trailer. My son was at work, the grandchildren were in school and my wife had taken her mother, who was staying with us at the time, to the mall. I decided to go for a ride around the desert and began looking for my truck keys. Now in a travel trailer there are not too many places to put keys. But somehow I had misplaced the keys to the truck. I searched the trailer from front to back and outside along the sandy walkway thinking I might have dropped them when I came into the house the other day. No luck. The dining table is right in front of the door as you enter the trailer; it is small and doesn't hold much. I had taken everything off the table at least twice that I can remember but could not find the keys. I walked outside again and the thought came to mind, "St. Anthony, patron of lost things," and I remembered the little prayer I read: "Tony, Tony, turn around, something is lost and must be found." Upon finishing the prayer I walked back into the trailer. The keys were lying in the middle of the dining table. I almost lost my breath. I reached out and touched the keys; sure enough, they were real. They were not there five minutes ago. I could not have missed them when I cleaned the table; they were on a keychain with a fob to open the doors and there were other keys on the ring also. I could not have overlooked it. Did Saint Anthony hear and answer my prayers? Well, I found my keys or St. Anthony returned them to me. Yes, I do believe.
Want to share your story of St. Anthony’s miraculous help, big or small, in your life? Email your story to us and we will share it on the blog~
All are also invited to click here to light a virtual candle and write your prayers to St. Anthony so that he can intercede for you and your loved ones. Saint Anthony has always been close to his devotees who confidently entrust their hopes to him. Light a Virtual Candle to entrust him with your intention, to thank him or to remember those who are no longer here.
I have a thick gold bracelet with diamonds embedded in it, which I usually wear on special occasions because it is very expensive. Yesterday, I was looking at my jewelry box to see if I could wear something nice and noticed that this bracelet was missing. I looked through my drawers a few times but couldn't remember the last time I wore the bracelet or where I might have kept it. Last night, before going to sleep, I prayed the Rosary, especially to find my bracelet and also prayed to St. Anthony as he has helped me find my lost things before. I was anxious and nervous at the same time because I was scared that I had lost it somewhere outside or it might have been stolen by my helpers at home, knowing that it was an expensive jewelry piece. I prayed to Mother Mary and St. Anthony throughout the night and this morning. Around the afternoon, I had the urge to check my wardrobe, so I decided to go through my clothes. While checking through my last set of clothes and almost in tears for losing my jewelry but still chanting: "St. Anthony, St. Anthony, please turn around; something is misplaced and must be found", my bracelet fell on the ground from one of my clothing. I immediately looked at the fallen jewelry, held it in my hands, and I cried. I thanked Mother Mary and St. Anthony for this miracle because I don't remember placing my bracelet between my clothes; I always keep them in their boxes in my drawers when I am not wearing them. Mother Mary and St. Anthony answered my prayers within 24 hours and helped me find my bracelet in an unexpected place.
Thank you D.T. for your faith-filled story of prayers answered through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Good St. Anthony. Have a St. Anthony story of your own to share? Email it to us and we will post it on the blog~
When I first met my husband he gave me a birthday gift in a jewelers
box, a beautiful, expensive diamond pendant, as that is my birthstone. I
wore it and treasured it for many years until I became a 3rd. order
Carmelite and started wearing my brown scapular along with it. One
morning I woke up and although I found the chain on the floor, the
pendant was missing. It must have flew off while I was changing clothes
in my upstairs bedroom. For a whole YEAR I searched, never throwing away
any vacuum cleaner bags even after I went through them. I was heartsick
and after a year, finally decided it was gone and threw away the closet
full of vacuum cleaner bags. My mom told me to pray to St. Anthony and
though I had given up all hope, I did. Within an HOUR I was walking to
my kitchen in the downstairs when something on the floor glinted up at
me.... and as I picked up my pendant I started crying. What a blessing
to know that even in little earthly things God cares about us! Thank you
St. Anthony!!
This beautiful story is a repost from 2011, the year we started this blog in honor of St. Anthony. If you have a story of St. Anthony's help of your own to share please Email it to us and we will post it on the blog~
On February 11th. The Franciscan Friars of the Basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua, Italy will be celebrating World Day of Prayer for the Sick: a time when they particularly pray for all those who are sick and homebound, for their caregivers and health-care professionals. If you or a loved one is sick or suffering please let them help you, let them intercede with Saint Anthony on your behalf by including you and your loved ones in their prayers at a special Mass in Saint Anthony’s Basilica on February 11th, 2024. All are invited to light a virtual candle and write a prayer to Saint Anthony, entrusting to him the people you love most and invoking on them the grace of healing.
