St. Anthony of Padua
June 13
Hammer of HereticsThe Wonder Worker
“Do you want to have God always in your mind? Be just as he made you to be. Do not go seeking another ‘you.’ Do not make yourself otherwise than he made you.”
Meet St. Anthony
Patron Saint of:
Lost items, the poor, priests, mail carriers, sailors, fishermen, travelers, finding a spouse
Symbols:
Lilies, tonsure, holding a Bible, bread, brown habit, holding the Christ Child
St. Anthony began to dedicate his life as a servant of God in Lisbon. He came from a wealthy family and gave this up to join the Augustinians. He was inspired when the remains of the first Franciscan martyrs were processed through the city he was living in. He quickly joined the Franciscan Order with his heart’s desire to preach to the Moors. Illness prevented this and he was sent to Italy.
He was found to have an extraordinary gift of preaching and teaching. He led his friars and eventually ended up in Padua. After his death, he was canonized in less than a year. He was named a Doctor of the Church in 1946. He has gained a following as the patron for finding lost things.
Why is St. Anthony so often seen in paintings and statues holding the Christ Child? St. Anthony had a mystical vision of the Child Jesus who embraced him. In art, this is reflected in the tender caress that the Baby Jesus gives to the saint.
St. Anthony is also known as the “Hammer of the Heretics” for being a fearless orator and defender of the faith.
St. Anthony’s Bread
The custom of St. Anthony’s Bread goes back to 1263. According to tradition, a mother was consumed with grief when her young daughter fell into a barrel of water on the site of the basilica construction and was drowned. Her mother called upon St. Anthony for his intercession and to restore her child to life. She promised to give the child’s weight in grain in thanksgiving for a miracle. During her anguished prayers, her child rose as if from sleep. This gave rise to the custom of donating alms and food to the poor in return for St. Anthony’s prayerful assistance.
Preaching to the Fishes
St. Anthony’s famous “Preaching to the Fishes” took place near Padua. Anthony, nicknamed “The Hammer of Heretics,” felt a pressing need to preach the Gospel of Christ. To prove the faithlessness of the heretics, he made a point of preaching to some nearby fishes, “creatures without reason.”
St. Anthony went to where the river ran into the sea and began to speak to the fishes in the water. He said, “Listen to the word of God, O ye fishes of the sea and of the river, seeing that the faithless heretics refuse to do so.”
As soon as he said these words, a great multitude of fishes, small and large, came to the bank of the water. It was said that never before had so many been seen in those waters. They poked their heads out of the water to hear his words.
Word of this miracle made its way through the city. The heretics were touched and began to also listen to St. Anthony. When he was done, St. Anthony dismissed the fishes and they returned to the sea. Many in the city were converted that day.
Customs & Traditions to Honor St. Anthony
- When you lose or misplace something, pray to ask St. Anthony to intercede for you and help you find the lost item.
Tony, Tony, come around. Something’s lost and must be found! - Parents of a new baby can place the child under the protection of St. Anthony. It is then custom to make a gift for the poor.
- Bread may be blessed on the feast of St. Anthony and given to family, friends, or those in need.
- A sailor may place a statue of St. Anthony of the mast of the ship to ask for St. Anthony’s protection.
- Decorate small pots planted with sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) to give to family, friends, and neighbors on the feast of St. Anthony. These pots are called manjerico. You can paint the pots with symbols of St. Anthony like a lily, fish, bread, or the Infant Jesus.
- Traditionally on the feast of St. Anthony, lilies are blessed. These lilies are a reminder of St. Anthony’s purity. This practice stems from a miracle discovered in France during the French Revolution. While many churches were destroyed, the faithful flocked to a surviving church on the Feast of St. Anthony, which was decorated with lilies. They remained fresh for months. This gave rise to the tradition of blessing lilies on St. Anthony’s feast day.
- St. Anthony is the patron of written messages sent by mail. People who ask for St. Anthony’s intercession for safe delivery of mail often write the initials SAG on the back of the letter or envelope. This stands for “Saint Anthony Guide.”
- In some places, animals are traditionally blessed on the feast day of St. Anthony.
- St. Anthony is the patron for women in search of a good husband. His feast day is a good day to visit a church or shrine named for St. Anthony to pray for this intention.
- St. Anthony died on a Tuesday. There is an old custom of praying a novena to him on either nine or thirteen consecutive Tuesdays.
Crafts & Activities
St. Anthony Books
St. Anthony Videos & Movies
St. Anthony Art Study
- Who is in each picture?
- What is happening in the picture?
- Do you see any of these symbols:
~ Lilies (purity)
~ Tonsure (humility)
~ Bible (preaching)
~ Bread (charity to the poor)
~ Christ Child (intimacy with God) - What is the mood of the piece?
- What else did you observe and find interesting about these pictures?
St. Anthony Podcasts & Audio
St. Anthony Songs & Music
Feast Day Foods & Recipes
Bread may be blessed on the feast of St. Anthony and given to family, friends, or those in need.
St. Anthony’s Bread – The Bread Monk
Pain Perdu (Lost Bread)
This recipe honors St. Anthony as the finder of lost things. It uses stale bread, which might otherwise be tossed or “lost,” moistening and softening it with eggs and milk and flavoring it with cinnamon and vanilla. The bread is then pan fried in butter. It’s what most of us would call “French toast.” You can have it for breakfast or dessert after dinner on the feast day of St. Anthony, June 13th.
8-10 slices of stale bread
1/2 cup of milk
3 eggs
1 tsp of vanilla
Dash of cinnamon
Butter for pan frying
Powdered sugar
Whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon. Soak the slices of bread for two minutes and then flip, soaking again for two minutes. Heat pan and melt butter. Fry the soaked slices in the butter until golden brown, flipping once to cook the other side. Serve sprinkled with powdered sugar.
St. AnthonyPrayers
The Miraculous Responsory in Honor of St. Anthony
This prayer is often called the “Si quaeris” from the first words in Latin. It is attributed to St. Bonaventure, who is said to have written it when the tongue of St. Anthony was found to be incorrupt in 1263, as St. Anthony’s remains were transferred to the Basilica in Padua.
If you ask for miracles,
Death, error, all calamities,
The leprosy and demons fly,
And health succeeds infirmities.
The sea obeys, and fetters break,
And lifeless limbs you do restore;
While treasures lost are found again
When young or old your aid implore.
All dangers vanish at your prayer,
And direst needs do quickly flee,
Let those who know your power proclaim—
Let Paduans say—these are of you.
The sea obeys, and fetters break,
And lifeless limbs you do restore;
While treasures lost are found again
When young or old your aid implore.
To Father, Son may glory be,
And Holy Spirit eternally.
The sea obeys, and fetters break,
And lifeless limbs you do restore;
While treasures lost are found again
When young or old your aid implore.
Pray for us, blessed Anthony,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray: Almighty God, you have given St. Anthony to your people as an outstanding preacher and a ready helper in time of need. With his assistance may we follow the Gospel of Christ and know the help of your grace in every difficulty. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing of St. Anthony’s Bread
Heavenly Father, we praise you and give you glory for the gift of bread,
fruit of the earth, work of human hands and source of our daily nourishment.
Bless this bread in honor of St. Anthony.
Teach us to share all your gifts with the poor, the forsaken and the hungry.
All praise be to you through Jesus Christ, our Savior,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Blessing of Lilies in Honor of St. Anthony
O God, Who art the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, the Lover of spotless purity, the Giver of all grace and everlasting life, sanctify by Thy holy benediction these lilies, which in thanksgiving, and in honor of St. Anthony, Thy Confessor, we present for Thy blessing.
Enrich them with such power, that to whatsoever disease they may be applied, or in whatsoever home they may be kept, or on whatsoever person they may be borne with devotion, through the intercession of Thy servant, Anthony, they may cure every sickness, repel the attacks of Satan, preserve holy chastity, and bring peace and grace to all who serve Thee. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Chaplet of St. Anthony
These chaplets prayers were written by St. Bonaventure.
- St. Anthony, who raised the dead, pray for those Christians now in their agony and for our dear departed.
~ Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be - St. Anthony, zealous preacher of the Gospel, fortify us against the errors of the enemies of God and pray for the Pope and the Church.
~ Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be - St. Anthony, powerful with the Heart of Jesus, preserve us from the calamities which threaten us on account of our sins.
~ Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be - St. Anthony, who drives away devils, make us triumph over their snares.
~ Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be - St. Anthony, lily of heavenly purity, purify us from the stains of the soul and preserve our bodies from all dangers.
~ Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be - St. Anthony, healer of the sic, bure our diseases and preserve us in health.
~ Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be - St. Anthony, guide of travelers, bring to safe harbor those who are in danger of perishing and calm the troubled waves of passion which agitate our souls.
~ Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be - St. Anthony, liberator of captives, deliver us from the captivity of evil.
~ Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be - St. Anthony, who restores to young and old the use of their limbs, obtain for us the perfect use of the senses of our body and the faculties of our soul.
~ Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be - St. Anthony, finder of lost things, help us to find all that we have lost in the spiritual and in the temporal order.
~ Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be - St. Anthony, protected by Mary, avert the dangers which threaten our body and our soul.
~ Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be - St. Anthony, helper of the poor, help us in our needs and give bread and work to those who ask.
~ Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be - St. Anthony, we thankfully proclaim thy miraculous power, and we beseech thee to protect us all the days of our life.
~ Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
-
St. Anthony: The Wonder-Worker of Padua -
The Saints Collection St. Anthony Flickering LED Prayer Candle, Prayer in Englis... -
St Anthony of Padua Statue Figurine (4 Inch), Laminated Prayer Card, Saint Antho... -
George S. Chen Imports SS-G-205.09 Saint Anthony Holy Figurine Religious Decorat... -
SAINT Anthony of Padua Scented Candle with Prayer, Prayer Coin, and Holy Oil, Sa...
-
BC Catholic St. Anthony of Padua Statue, Blessed Figure, Religious Inspirational...
-
SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA WITH JESUS CHILD OVAL SHAPE MEDAL - 100% MADE IN ITALY - ... -
Saint Anthony of Padua: His Life, Legends, and Devotions -
St Anthony Pendant - Laminated Saint Anthony Prayer Card, The Lord's Prayer... -
St Anthony Medal - with Laminated St Anthony Of Padua Prayer Card, The Lord'...
