Birthplace: Portugal
Date of Birth and Death: 1185-1231
Feast Day: June 13th

Notable: Patron of the Poor, “Finders of Lost Things”
Life:

Anthony was born in Portugal in 1185. At the age of 15 he entered an Augustine monastery but left for another in Coimbra. There seeing the bones of Franciscan martyrs and was inspired to be like them giving his life to spread the Gospel.

He joined the Friars Minor order and travelled to Morocco but he became ill and had intended to return to Portugal but a storm threw his ship off course to Italy. Arriving in Padua, he lived a quiet and unassuming life but a chance opportunity to speak at an ordination revealed a talent for preaching and his life changed forever.

As a gifted and magnetic speaker, Anthony drew large crowds to hear him preach, crowds so large that the meetings had to be held outdoors. His speeches caused enemies to reconcile,thieves to confess and heretics to convert. He became known as the wonder worker.

The story of how Anthony’s favorite prayer book was stolen by a novice monk and through his prayers, an angel compelled thenovitiatee to return the book have made St. Anthony the Finder of Lost Things to whom people pray to intercede on their behalf to God when they are searching for lost articles.

Prayer:

Dear Saint Anthony,
you are the patron of the poor and the helper of all who seek lost articles.
Help me to find the object I have lost so that I will be able to make
better use of the time I will gain for God’s greater honor and glory.
Grant your gracious aid to all people who seek what they have lost -
especially those who seek to regain God’s grace.