Lessons From St. Anthony, Patron of Lost Items and Lost Souls

Celebrating his feast day today, Tina Mayeux reflects on St. Anthony and examines lessons from his saintly life.

Although we might not find that we have much in common with the saints of long ago, it is helpful to examine their lives so we can learn about and imitate their holiness and virtue. Their love for Our Lord and commitment to the Church while on earth continue to instruct and encourage us on our own faith journeys, and we can always ask for their intercession to help us reach the goal of heaven.

One such saint, St. Anthony, whose feast we celebrate today, June 13, is one of the greatest disciples of St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan order. Many are familiar with the tradition of praying to St. Anthony for the return of lost or stolen items. This pious practice originated with the story of the holy Franciscan St. Anthony’s book of Psalms being taken by a novice who departed the community. Realizing his psalter was missing, St. Anthony prayed fervently for the return of the treasured book, which also contained notes he used for preaching and teaching. The wayward novice then, surprisingly, had a change of heart and came back to the community, returning the saint’s psalter to him!

The story of St. Anthony’s quick recovery of his lost psalter has endured through the centuries, firmly establishing him as the patron of those who wish to find lost or stolen items. On numerous occasions over the years, I have experienced the saint’s speedy intercession when it comes to finding a lost toy belonging to one of my children or my own misplaced set of keys. I can’t remember a time when he did not obtain the recovery of the missing item. He is the saint to turn to when you lose things often!

More important than finding lost things, however, is St. Anthony’s ability to rescue lost souls and restore them to the grace of God. During his life, he was an eloquent and persuasive preacher and teacher of the Faith to his fellow Franciscans and to the people of Italy, where he was sent and commissioned by St. Francis to minister. His brilliant, yet humble, preaching converted numerous people to the Church and brought the faithful closer to Christ during his lifetime. Many of his sermons have been preserved through the centuries, and he was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1946.

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At a young age, Anthony desired to become a martyr for Christ. Inspired by the first Franciscan martyrs, whose remains were returned from Morocco to Coimbra, Portugal, where he had entered the Congregation of Canons Regular of St. Augustine, Anthony begged to be released from the order to join the Franciscans. When he obtained permission, he was overjoyed to be able to realize his dream of martyrdom. However, due to an illness, he had to sail back to Portugal from Africa. A storm forced the ship off-course, and Anthony ended up in Sicily, where he was received by the Franciscans there and subsequently sent to Italy.

As often occurs in our lives, St. Anthony’s hopes and dreams did not go exactly according to plan. When he was faced with illness and circumstances that brought him in a different direction from where he had hoped to be, he accepted God’s will with acceptance and humble trust. We can learn from the obedience of St. Anthony and his resignation when things did not go as expected for him. Placing our trust in God, we can accept His will, whatever it may be, for our lives and for that of our families.

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Not only is St. Anthony the patron of lost items, but he is also an important patron for lost souls. #CatholicMom

In true Franciscan fashion, St. Anthony was a tremendous example of poverty and humility, and he is quoted as preaching against luxury, among other things. He was known to have said,

Earthly riches are like the reed. Its roots are sunk in the swamp, and its exterior is fair to behold; but inside it is hollow. If a man leans on such a reed, it will snap off and pierce his soul.

In imitation of the simple and humble St. Anthony, we can strive to detach from material things and focus on the things of heaven instead of placing our trust in temporal goods.

After his death, many miracles occurred through the intercession of this great saint. Even today, he is known as the Wonder-Worker for those who seek his heavenly assistance. He is a powerful intercessor for those who are seeking the conversion of a loved one out of mortal sin and back to communion with the Church. Not only is he the patron of lost items, but he is also an important patron for lost souls, and we can entrust our loved ones who are away from the Church to him with hope and confidence.

Remembering St. Anthony today, we ask him to come to our aid and assist our loved ones and all on earth who are in need.

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