Happy Feast of St. Anthony!

Saint Anthony of Padua, a Doctor of the Church, is the patron saint of lost things. Many churches today will bless bread to make St. Anthony's bread, which issued for offerings made in thanksgiving to God for blessings received through the prayers of St. Anthony. This tradition began when a mother whose child drowned near St. Anthony's cathedral promised to St. Anthony that she would give the poor an amount of corn equal to the child’s weight if the child would live again. The child was restored to her and she kept her promise.

Saint Anthony, great wonder-worker, intercede for us that God may grant us our request if it is for the good of our soul.

Saint Anthony is also the 'Hammer of Heretics." Once, when the townsfolk refused to hear him preach, he instead preached to the fishes, He said to the fishes, "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."  After he spoke this all the fish, big and small, went to the surface to hear his words. He spoke his sermon to them after it was over all the fish began to open their mouths and bow their heads, seeing their reverence, He said to them:

"Blessed be the eternal God; for the fishes of the sea honor him more than men without faith, and animals without reason listen to his word with greater attention than sinful heretics." After witnessing this miracle, all the heretics and townsfolk believed. 

Now let us Pray to this Saint, the "Hammer of Heretics," the 'Finder of lost things.

Prayer to Saint Anthony:

Wondrous Saint Anthony, glorious for the fame of your miracles, you had the happiness of receiving in your arms our blessed Lord as a little child. Obtain for me from His mercy this favor that I desire from the bottom of my heart: (mention your request)

Since you were so gracious to poor sinners, do not regard the lack of merit on the part of him who calls upon you, but consider the glory of God, which will by exalted once more through you, by the salvation of my soul and the granting of the petition that I now earnestly present to you.

As a pledge of my gratitude, I beg you to accept my promise to live henceforth more faithfully according to the teaching of the Gospel and to be devoted to the service of the poor whom you ever loved and still love so much. Bless this my resolution and obtain for me the grace to be faithful to it till death. Amen.

Ta, Ta for Now!