Patron Saint to people of Lost Items

[holdencaulfield]

I heard somewhere that St. Anthony of Padua is the Patron Saint to people who have lost items. Is this true, and why if it is?

 

[Tantum_ergo]

“Tony, Tony, turn around,
Something’s lost that must be found.”

That’s the rhyme I grew up with --if something was lost, we asked St. Anthony to help ‘find it.’

The reason? St. Anthony was known for his preaching. . .and for ‘bringing lost souls’ into the Faith, thus ‘finding’ them.

Therefore, since he was so successful at ‘finding’ the lost; we ask his help (through the power given him by God) to find lost objects too.

 

[holdencaulfield]

“Tony, Tony, turn around,
Something’s lost that must be found.”

That’s the rhyme I grew up with --if something was lost, we asked St. Anthony to help ‘find it.’

The reason? St. Anthony was known for his preaching. . .and for ‘bringing lost souls’ into the Faith, thus ‘finding’ them.

Therefore, since he was so successful at ‘finding’ the lost; we ask his help (through the power given him by God) to find lost objects too.

Oh, ok thank you. That helps.

 

[patrick457]

There is an anecdote how a Franciscan novice, tired of the monastic life and seeking a way out, stole his Psalter that was important to St. Anthony (remember this was in the age before the printing press came into being). The novice ran off, also carrying Anthony’s Psalter with him.

Upon finding that his Psalter had disappeared, St. Anthony prayed that the Psalter would either be found or returned to him. Legend says that on the road, the novice saw a horrible devil, brandishing an ax and threatening to trample him underfoot if he did not immediately return the book. Frightened, the novice went back returned the psalter to St. Anthony and returned to the Order, which accepted him back.

Eventually, after St. Anthony went to his Reward, people began asking his intercession to find or recover lost articles. Julian of Spires, O.F.M. a contemporary of St. Anthony’s who composed a Responsory in honor, bears testimony to this in that responsory:

“The sea obeys and fetters break/
And lifeless limbs thou dost restore/
While treasures lost are found again/
When young or old thine aid implore.”

 

[Conservative]

“The sea obeys and fetters break/
And lifeless limbs thou dost restore/
While treasures lost are found again/
When young or old thine aid implore.”

I know the whole song - these lines are sung in between other stanzas - and oh, how I love it !

BTW for OP - there’s another way to keep things from getting lost - or at least getting them there safely. Put S.A.G. (St. Anthony Guide) on back of your envelope before mailing - or whatever you want to reach its destination.

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

I grew up with a family tradition of praying to St Anthony to help find lost items. The following is a true story. One of my nephews was getting married in another state and wanted me to witness the marriage. In order to do so, I had to register with the state, showing the original of my certificate of ordination I could not find it. After praying to St Anthony, I forgot about it and started cleaning out a closet. I had a large stack of papers in one corner, and lifted up part of it to see what was in it, and laying on the top of the remaining stack was my certificate of ordination. I immediately thanked St Anthony for his help. It just confirmed to me all the more that he is indeed the patron of lost articles.
Deacon Ed B

 

[LaLucia]

St. Anthony also protects people who cruise on ships. He has been protecting me for many years.
Recently he decided to make me his helper in finding lost wallets filled with cash and credit cards. In the month of Dec. I found a wallet and returned it to it’s owner. Two months later I found another wallet and again I was able to return it to the owner.
I am thinking that maybe those two persons are in the habit of praying to the saints and this is why I am the chosen one to return the wallets. It happened while I was on a cruise ship each time. I am going on another cruise at the end of this month and if I find another wallet or lost camera or other item I will know that I am St. Anthony’s helper for sure.
I find it really interesting. I will report back if I do find a lost item on the ship again.
St. Anthony’s life story is really interesting.

 

[bluerose]

According to my mother, back in her younger days in Mexico, church statues of St. Anthony, which traditionally depict him holding the Christ Child, were made with a detachable Christ Child figurine. The theory was, you prayed to St. Anthony to help you find a lost item and you, literally, held the Christ Child “hostage” until the item was found.

She said just about every week, the Christ Child would be missing from St. Anthony’s arms and the whole village would storm heaven asking for the return of the lost item and when the Christ Child would reappear in St. Anthony’s arms, everyone would be so happy and offer prayers of thanksgiving.

St. Anthony is my patron (also the patron of barren women–you can look up other posts of mine for the full story on that!) and my husband and son are constantly being reminded when they can’t find something, “Did you ask St. Anthony to help you find it?” They usually say, “No, not yet,” then I hear quiet murmuring, then a few minutes later, “Found it!”

Then I say, “Did you THANK St. Anthony for helping you find it?”

 

[LaLucia]

Hi Bluerose, it is really interesting how St. Anthony who lived many years ago is still with us in spirit to help us out in America and other countries. I think it is amazing.
That is a cute story about taking Jesus away from St. Anthony.
I also love baby Jesus and have held baby Jesus in my arms a long time ago in 1996 during a prayer group. Blessed mother showed up in spirit and put baby Jesus in my arms. It was the best spiritual experience of my life.
My family roots are from Mexico and we do have a strong interest in Saints helping us out in time of need.

It is really interesting that I know for a fact that angels come to visit me but I never see them visually. I have seen visually Mother Mary, Jesus, and have seen some saints in my visions literally.
I know you believe me. This is why I am telling you my experiences.

 

[LaLucia]

BlueRose, I have a story to tell you and others here because I know you will believe this story.
I have a friend who sometimes doubts that God really loves her. She blames God when someone dies in her family. She is so afraid of death for herself personally. She wants to live as long as she can.
This is a true story. She was driving up to Big Bear mountain one day with a friend. It was starting to get dark and all of a sudden everybody driving up the mountain stopped their cars to look at a super bright light that appeared to them. A super large angel appeared to them all. A lady from another car ran to hold my friend’s hand. She asked my friend if they were going to die. My friend said, “I don’t know”. My friend heard the angel say, I am Angel Gabriel, NEVER DOUBT! then he started to disappear. As he disappeared he left behind a beautiful blue/green light in the sky.
There were several witnesses there. My friend tried to report it to the newspapers but they were not interested.
I wish I had been there to see Angel Gabriel.
I never doubt in God and maybe that is why I wasn’t there to see him. Even when my adult son died I didn’t blame God or doubt God. My belief in God is very strong.

 

[brotherhrolf]

I lost my glasses Saturday and had spent 45 minutes going back and forth about the house retracing my movements of the night before. I did indeed pray for St. Anthony’s help and said to myself “OK, this is in his hands”. Since I can’t drive w/o my glasses, I had to postpone my errand. So back to the computer I went and lo!, there on the floor behind my chair, were my glasses. Thank you, St. Anthony. (Oh, yeah, I had looked behind the chair earlier.)

 

[Conservative]

According to my mother, back in her younger days in Mexico, church statues of St. Anthony, which traditionally depict him holding the Christ Child, were made with a detachable Christ Child figurine. The theory was, you prayed to St. Anthony to help you find a lost item and you, literally, held the Christ Child “hostage” until the item was found.

She said just about every week, the Christ Child would be missing from St. Anthony’s arms and the whole village would storm heaven asking for the return of the lost item and when the Christ Child would reappear in St. Anthony’s arms, everyone would be so happy and offer prayers of thanksgiving.
,

Bluerose, that’s an interesting twist on a story I’d heard that other ethnic groups do. I’ve heard that some turn the statue of St. Anthony upside down and tell him they won’t turn him right-side up until he answers their prayer. I don’t like that - it seems irreverent. But I like yours more !

My Italian friends are going to hate me - but how many of you know that St. Anthony was not Italian? He was born in Portugal. I’m not sure where he was headed (Africa perhaps) but a storm took him to Italy, which he loved and stayed there till he died. Thank you St. Anthony for the many graces you bestow !

 

[holdencaulfield]

According to my mother, back in her younger days in Mexico, church statues of St. Anthony, which traditionally depict him holding the Christ Child, were made with a detachable Christ Child figurine. The theory was, you prayed to St. Anthony to help you find a lost item and you, literally, held the Christ Child “hostage” until the item was found.

She said just about every week, the Christ Child would be missing from St. Anthony’s arms and the whole village would storm heaven asking for the return of the lost item and when the Christ Child would reappear in St. Anthony’s arms, everyone would be so happy and offer prayers of thanksgiving.

St. Anthony is my patron (also the patron of barren women–you can look up other posts of mine for the full story on that!) and my husband and son are constantly being reminded when they can’t find something, “Did you ask St. Anthony to help you find it?” They usually say, “No, not yet,” then I hear quiet murmuring, then a few minutes later, “Found it!”

Then I say, “Did you THANK St. Anthony for helping you find it?”

That’s a nice story. I like that practice.

 

[patrick457]

Bluerose, that’s an interesting twist on a story I’d heard that other ethnic groups do. I’ve heard that some turn the statue of St. Anthony upside down and tell him they won’t turn him right-side up until he answers their prayer. I don’t like that - it seems irreverent. But I like yours more !

My Italian friends are going to hate me - but how many of you know that St. Anthony was not Italian? He was born in Portugal. I’m not sure where he was headed (Africa perhaps) but a storm took him to Italy, which he loved and stayed there till he died. Thank you St. Anthony for the many graces you bestow !

I don’t think they will. I mean, Anthony’s birth name is Ferdinand Martins de Bulhões (He took the name António after St. Anthony the Great to whom his hermitage is dedicated).

Also, he was not actually at first a Franciscan. He was originally an Augustinian (he entered the Order against his parent’s wishes); while in Coimbra in 1219, he met five Franciscans on their way to Morocco to preach the Gospel. A year later, news reached him that the five Franciscans were killed (martyred).

This led our friar to contemplate these friar’s bravery, and with his superior’s permission, he was transferred to the Franciscan order and took the name which he is to be more known.

He also tried to sail in Morocco with another friar, intending to die by preaching the Gospel yet on the way he fell ill so he decided to go back home. On the return trip to Portugal, his ship was driven by storm upon the coast of Sicily and he landed at Messina. From Sicily he made his way to Assisi and sought admission into a monastery in Italy, but met with difficulty on account of his sickly appearance. He was finally assigned, out of pure compassion, to the rural hospice of San Paolo near Forlì, Romagna, Italy, a choice made after considering his poor health. There, he became the Kitchen Friar.

 

[LaLucia]

St. Anthony is also the saint of sailors and people who love to cruise on ships. I plan to cruise at the end of the month of March and I know he will keep me safe from the ocean storms. He has always kept me safe at sea.
Maybe I will find another lost wallet or item and be able to return it to the rightful owner. Luci