Help for the Lost from St. Anthony

This past month, in the men’s group I belong to, we recounted which saint inspired us the most.  St. Joseph and St. Michael got top honors.

However, just before concluding our discussion, one man in our group said that he has been looking to St. Anthony for inspiration.  He was immediately kidded about finding his keys.  And some quickly quipped, ”Tony, Tony, look around. Something’s lost and must be found!”

But the man remained resolute.  He deflected the jokes and said that he does not look to St. Anthony to help find spare change in the couch, but rather because St. Anthony is the patron Saint of Lost Items.  He then stated that he has lost one of his sons to the secular world and prays that his son will find his way back to the Faith.

Perhaps needless to say, those of us who were kidding him were very quickly humbled.  None of us considered looking to St. Anthony for assistance in such serious matters.

Although many people have relegated St. Anthony to superstitious rhymes, he is in fact a doctor of the church, declared so by Pope Pius XII on January 16, 1946. But in his own time, he was both a noted theologian and a celebrated preacher.

The Life of a Saint

Native to Lisbon, St. Anthony was born in 1195 just 13 years after St. Francis of Assisi.  Given the baptismal name of Fernando, he was part of a very prominent family in Portugal.

At the age of 15 he entered the religious order of St. Augustine.  He studied Augustinian theology for 11 years, and this he would later combine with Franciscan teaching.

In 1220, five martyred Franciscans were carried in solemn procession to the monastery where Fernando lived.  The men were beheaded in Morocco for preaching the Gospel at a mosque in Seville.  Inspired by their sacrifice, Fernando pledged to be a Franciscan.

He asked permission to leave the order of St. Augustine and took the vows of the Franciscan order taking the name of Anthony in honor of the patriarch of hermits.

St. Francis heard of Anthony’s skills as an orator and assigned the young priest to preach in northern Italy.  A few years later, with the special approval and blessings of St. Francis, Anthony became the first teacher of the Franciscan order.

In 1231, Anthony preached a series of Lenton sermons.  Crowds as large as 30,000 came to hear him speak.  After his morning mass and sermon, Anthony would hear confessions. His spiritual work took the entire day which he performed while fasting in constant prayer.

Left exhausted, Anthony died a short time later.  He was only 36 and had been a Franciscan for only 10 years.

Finder of Lost Items

St. Anthony is the known as the patron saint of lost items. The reason stems from an incident with a novice.

Evidently, St. Anthony had a book of psalms that he regularly used.  At this time prior to the printing press, books were very valuable.  Additionally, the book was hand lettered and St. Anthony had many annotations in the margins of the book which he used to teach students in the Franciscan order.

A novice who was leaving the monastery was suspected of stealing the book.  Anthony prayed for the return of his cherished  possession.  Shortly after, the novice returned the book and sought Anthony’s forgiveness.

Seeker of Lost Souls

Anthony was a humble friar who preached the gospels with fearless courage.  Although initially perceived as uneducated, he became one of the great preachers and theologians of his day.

He often engaged with heretics of his time focusing on the truths of the Catholic Church as opposed to preaching to prove he was right.  His compelling preaching brought many souls into communion with the Church.

Perhaps as a testimony to the power of his preaching, 30 years after he died his tomb was opened and all that remained of the saint was his preserved and incorrupt tongue.

In today’s world, his work continues as many people have lost their way.  Many of our brothers and sisters who have wandered from the Faith are truly lost and need to be found.

Among the prayers associated with St. Anthony, the Litany of the Lost is apropos to our time.  May our lost brothers and sisters find themselves and return.

Litany of the Lost

(from the National Catholic Register)

Lord have mercy. (Lord have mercy.)
Christ have mercy. (Christ have mercy.)
Lord have mercy. (Lord have mercy.)

For those of us who have lost our health, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost our peace of mind, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost our housing, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost our financial security, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost a loved one, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost our dreams, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost our talents, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost our initial zeal, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost our sobriety, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost our faith, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost our self-respect, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost our perspective, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost our innocence, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost our independence, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost peace within our families, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost civil peace, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost our trust in others, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost our virtue, St. Anthony, pray for us.
For those of us who have lost our home, St. Anthony, pray for us.
(ADD YOUR OWN PARTICULAR LOSS HERE)  St. Anthony, pray for us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Let us pray. All loving God, You have given us St. Anthony, the patron of the lost, as an intercessor of those who are in need of your mercy. Listen to his voice as he calls out to You on our behalf, and grant those things which will help us grow in Your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.