When things are lost!
Today is the feast day of Saint Anthony of Padua.
Has anyone ever encouraged you to pray to Saint Anthony when you were looking for a lost item?
Shortly before my 16th birthday, my parents bought a home in Long Island. That first summer, I went to the park with my siblings. When I returned home, I realized I had lost my bracelet. This bracelet was an important gift given to me by three of my girlfriends from my Catholic school days. I was heartbroken. My mother said, “Pray to Saint Anthony.” Of course, I rolled my eyes, but because the bracelet was very important to me, I decided to give it a go. “Ok, Saint Anthony. If you’re real and this stuff works, please find my bracelet.” Two days later, a boy from the neighborhood who I never met before knocked on our door with the bracelet in hand. “Does anyone here own this bracelet,” he asked. I looked at my mom who gave the standard Mom answer, “I told you.”
From that moment forward, I called upon Saint Anthony for anything that was lost – mostly my phone and my keys!
In 2023, I visited Padua, Italy. I was determined to visit the basilica in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony’s given name was Fernando. He was born in Lisbon, Portugal and became a friar of the Franciscan Order. He struggled with trying to find his way and purpose in life. He and his best friend fell in love with the same girl. In an argument over the girl, the best friend challenged Fernando to a sword fight. Fernando did not want to fight with his friend. Throughout the fight he was simply defending himself. However, during the roughness, his friend was accidentally killed. Fernando was devastated. Despite the mutual love for this girl, Fernando decided to become a priest hoping to make things right with God. He blamed himself every day for the death of his friend. As a priest, Fernando’s name was changed to Anthony. It was one of Anthony’s fellow Franciscans that grounded him to the reality and the immense love of God. Anthony’s Franciscan friend lost his wife and son to the plague. He blamed himself for not protecting his family. But this friend submitted to God’s plan. Despite his heartache, he smiled and laughed and encouraged all those around him, especially Anthony. Through both of these men, we learn of the importance of forgiving ourselves and submitting to God’s plan.
As a Franciscan, Saint Anthony lived in a time where nobility had all the wealth and everyone else struggled daily for survival. During this time, Anthony met a young mother with two small children. Her husband had been unjustly thrown into jail for an unpaid debt. After much prayer and discussion with his Franciscan friend, Anthony came up with an idea that would help free all those in jail. Anthony organized priests and other abled bodied people to labor in various roles to earn the funds needed to pay the debts of those in jail. His success upset the nobility. To stop him from his work, the nobility invited Anthony to the palace for dinner. They offered him broth that was poisoned. Anthony surmised this and confronted them about it. He then prayed over the broth and ate it and was not affected at all by the poison. This was the first miracle noted. In another instance, Anthony was called upon because a young girl had drowned. Anthony held the girl in his arms and prayed over her. The girl suddenly came back to life.
I do not know how Saint Anthony became the patron saint of lost things. There is so much more to learn from his life. After only eleven months following his death, Saint Anthony was canonized making him the fastest saint to receive this status.
Following my trip to Padua in 2023, I posted a blog featuring the city of Padua and the beautiful basilica. Click here to read the blog and see all the beautiful pictures.
Saint Anthony, pray for us – especially when we can’t find things!
I am currently working on Book #5 and Book #6 and will be traveling again with two friends to three national parks in August. The adventure continues – stay tuned!
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