O Holy St. Anthony, reach down from heaven and take hold of my hand, assure me that I am not alone. You are known to possess miraculous powers from God, and to be ever ready to intercede for those in trouble. Loving and gentle St. Anthony, reach down from heaven I implore you, and assist me in my hour of need. Join your prayers with mine for (mention your request here). Dearest St. Anthony, lead me with your strength, plead for me in my needs, and guide me to humble thanks for the bountiful blessings I receive from God Our Father. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be...
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.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
St. Anthony - A Helpful Friend To All
St. Anthony greatly impacted my relationship with a Buddhist family from Vietnam who moved next to us in late 2003. Their 5 year old little girl befriended me first, then as I got to know the family and to befriend them more and more, I told them about St. Anthony and how he very reliably helps to find things lost. They thought that the concept was a ridiculous Catholic superstition. I said, "No! It's not superstition at all! It's not MAGIC, of course. And the prayers to St. Anthony have to be made by one sincerely seeking friendship with God. But it works. In fact, it works so well, I usually find the lost thing within 20 minutes or so!" The mother was looking for her cell phone at the time. I said the prayer in front of them. They found it -- in 20 minutes. The Vietnamese family all laughed at the "coincidence."
After that incident, after I prayed to St. Anthony the family found the wad of cash from the father's paycheck, a wedding ring, car keys, the cell phone again. And, as if to verify my words to my new friends, they always found each item within 20 minutes. My neighbor's friends became "spooked" by these events. At one point they asked me to please STOP praying to St. Anthony, because it FRIGHTENED them!
One day the wife tried it on her own. She had misplaced a document she HAD to have, at that moment, so that her grandmother from Vietnam could visit the United States. She called me on the telephone to tell me that St. Anthony had not answered her sincere prayer. I said, "That's not possible." I asked her what she HAD found. She said, "My daughter's homework folder from school." I asked, "Did you LOOK in it?" She yelled to her daughter in Vietnamese. A few seconds later, I heard the daughter yelling in English, "Mommy! Mommy! He was right! I accidentally put the paper in my homework folder!" I heard the mother whispering, "I can't believe it! I can't believe it! I can't believe it!" as she hung up the phone.
Thank you to P.J.D. commenting on The Path Less Taken blog for this wonderful St. Anthony story~
After that incident, after I prayed to St. Anthony the family found the wad of cash from the father's paycheck, a wedding ring, car keys, the cell phone again. And, as if to verify my words to my new friends, they always found each item within 20 minutes. My neighbor's friends became "spooked" by these events. At one point they asked me to please STOP praying to St. Anthony, because it FRIGHTENED them!
One day the wife tried it on her own. She had misplaced a document she HAD to have, at that moment, so that her grandmother from Vietnam could visit the United States. She called me on the telephone to tell me that St. Anthony had not answered her sincere prayer. I said, "That's not possible." I asked her what she HAD found. She said, "My daughter's homework folder from school." I asked, "Did you LOOK in it?" She yelled to her daughter in Vietnamese. A few seconds later, I heard the daughter yelling in English, "Mommy! Mommy! He was right! I accidentally put the paper in my homework folder!" I heard the mother whispering, "I can't believe it! I can't believe it! I can't believe it!" as she hung up the phone.
Thank you to P.J.D. commenting on The Path Less Taken blog for this wonderful St. Anthony story~
Sunday, February 12, 2012
St. Anthony's Email Bag - A Stolen Purse Found
We just received this email from a Saint Anthony -- Lost And Found Blog follower. She emailed us earlier this month asking for prayers, we emailed her a prayer to St. Anthony and then offered up our own prayers on her behalf. Here is her response:
My purse was snatched in New Orleans on Dec. 14, 2011. I already gave up cause I did not hear from anyone (the police) since. On 2/7/11 I read about St. Anthony on your blog and wrote to you. I got your email the next day, 2/8/11. Amazing, on 2/9/11 morning I got a call from New Orleans police department that the suspect was arrested and they will call me later with more details. Thank you St. Anthony.
M.K., Sent from my iPad
We post the Prayer of Thanksgiving to St. Anthony in response to this answered prayer, and for the myriad of other prayers answered through the intersession of our beloved St. Anthony:
Prayer of Thanksgiving to Saint Anthony of Padua
Most loving protector, St. Anthony, what gift can I give you in exchange to show my heartfelt gratitude? With your continued help I will show appreciation to you by being more faithful to God, more constant in my prayer, and readier to do good to those nearest me. I praise God for the esteem in which your name is held throughout the world, for the miracles and wonders which have filled the Church and the world through you, and for the many benefits humanity continues receiving through your gracious intersession. May these intentions convey my great thanks to the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and to our Blessed Mother Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be...
My purse was snatched in New Orleans on Dec. 14, 2011. I already gave up cause I did not hear from anyone (the police) since. On 2/7/11 I read about St. Anthony on your blog and wrote to you. I got your email the next day, 2/8/11. Amazing, on 2/9/11 morning I got a call from New Orleans police department that the suspect was arrested and they will call me later with more details. Thank you St. Anthony.
M.K., Sent from my iPad
We post the Prayer of Thanksgiving to St. Anthony in response to this answered prayer, and for the myriad of other prayers answered through the intersession of our beloved St. Anthony:
Prayer of Thanksgiving to Saint Anthony of Padua
Most loving protector, St. Anthony, what gift can I give you in exchange to show my heartfelt gratitude? With your continued help I will show appreciation to you by being more faithful to God, more constant in my prayer, and readier to do good to those nearest me. I praise God for the esteem in which your name is held throughout the world, for the miracles and wonders which have filled the Church and the world through you, and for the many benefits humanity continues receiving through your gracious intersession. May these intentions convey my great thanks to the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and to our Blessed Mother Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)