Saint Anthony of Padua, Patron of lost things

St. Anthony of Padua is one of the Catholic Church’s most popular saints.

St. Anthony of Padua, patron saint of lost and stolen articles, was a powerful Franciscan preacher and teacher.

The reason for invoking St. Anthony’s help in finding lost or stolen things is traced back to an incident in his own life. As the story goes, Anthony had lost a book of psalms that was very important to him. Besides, the value of any before the invention of printing, the psalter had the notes and comments he had made to use in teaching students in his Franciscan Order.

A novice who had already grown tired of living religious life decided to depart the community. Besides going away, he also took Anthony’s psalter. Upon realising his psalter was missing, Anthony prayed it would be returned to him. And after his prayer the thieving novice was moved to return the psalter to Anthony and also to return to the Order, which accepted him back.

 

Si quæris miracula

mors, error, calamitas,

dæmon, lepra fugiunt,

ægri surgunt sani.

 

Cedunt mare, vincula,

membra, resque perditas

petunt, et accipiunt

juvenes, et cani.

 

Pereunt pericula,

cessat et necessitas;

narrent hi, qui sentiunt,

dicant Paduani.

Done