Anthony of Padua: The patron saint of lost things
People & History
“Like many of those who regularly prepare sermons, I live in fear of having to preach without preparation. St Anthony reminds us that not only is it possible to survive such an event, but such opportunities may in fact open our eyes to gifts that otherwise would have remained hidden,” says The Rev’d Dr Gemma Dashwood OAM tssf, as St Anthony’s feast day approaches on 13 June
As a professed Franciscan, I was introduced to St Anthony of Padua as part of my novice training many years ago. The story of his life, his commitment to preaching and teaching and the profound effect he had on so many despite living such a short time has inspired me to try to make the most out of every opportunity I am given.
Born as Fernando Martins de Bulhões in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195, St Anthony of Padua achieved much in his short life. Almost a thousand years after his death he is still inspiring millions around the world with his humble, yet passionate, approach to living out a life dedicated to God.
Fernando’s childhood was lived in a wealthy family, and as such he was educated in the local cathedral school. His call into religious orders came early, and at 15 years of age he became a member of the Order of the Holy Cross and joined the nearby Abbey of Saint Vincent. His desire for isolation was also developed early, and to avoid being distracted by his friends and family who would regularly visit him, he requested to be moved further away from his hometown, and so joined the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Coimbra, Portugal.
At 19 years of age he was ordained a priest and was allocated the role of guestmaster, where he was responsible for hospitality. It was upon meeting some members of the newly formed Franciscan Order that he realised that he was being called to the same simple and prayerful life. His calling was strengthened further when those Franciscan brothers were martyred soon after and Fernando sought release from membership of his current order to join the Franciscans. He moved to the Franciscan hermitage in Olivais, Portugal and, inspired by the chapel, which was dedicated to Anthony the Great, he took the same name.
Although Anthony desired to travel widely, his health was too fragile, and he only ventured as far as Italy, where he stayed in the small rural town of Forli. It was there where his talent as a passionate preacher was somewhat accidentally discovered — in 1222 a group of Dominican friars was visiting for the occasion of an ordination. Due to a misunderstanding, no homily had been prepared, and Anthony was allocated the role of impromptu preacher. His powerful homily was delivered with such depth and inspiration that it left a profound impression on all who heard it.
“St Anthony of Padua and St Francis of Assisi” by Friedrich Pacher, circa 1436 (Friedrich Pacher, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Anthony was then sent to Bologna where he met and instantly connected with St Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscans. Anthony was put in charge of the education of upcoming Franciscan friars and in addition he frequently preached both locally and further afield.
Anthony’s legacy as the patron saint of lost items is said to date back to this time in his life, when his precious psalm book was stolen by a novice friar who had decided to leave the order. After fervent prayer from Anthony, the novice not only returned the book, but also renewed his commitment to the order. As such St Anthony’s patronage to lost items can be applied not only to the practical elements, but also to the spiritual.
In 1231 Anthony became unwell with ergot poisoning. He retreated to a small town outside of Padua to recover. Sadly, the return journey was too much for him, and he was taken in at the Abbey of the Poor Clares, an order of enclosed nuns that forms the second of the three Franciscan orders.
Legend has it that Anthony was reading and praying with some brothers when suddenly he stopped, looked beyond his colleagues and stated, “I see my Lord”. He died shortly afterwards, aged 35, on 13 June 1231. It is said that local church bells rang out spontaneously as his spirit departed this world.
Pope Gregory IX canonised Anthony just a year after his death.
“Saint Anthony Preaching to the Fishes” by Francisco de Herrera the Elder, circa 1630 (The Assisi Project)
In typical Franciscan spirit, St Anthony seemed to be able to connect spiritually with animals. Icons and pictures of St Anthony often include him with a fish. This is a reference to a well cited anecdote where he was preaching to a group who were clearly disinterested in what he was saying. Realising his words were not being listened to, he walked down to the nearby river and preached beside the water instead. It is said that scores of fish gathered at the water’s edge to hear him — a sight so unusual that it encouraged those who weren’t initially listening to suddenly pay more attention.
Sometime later, Anthony was in debate with a man who did not believe in the power of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It is said that to solve the debate the man then produced a hungry mule and while he offered it food Anthony held a monstrance containing the blessed sacrament before it. Despite its hunger, the animal lay down in reverence to the blessed sacrament, ignoring the food. A temple dedicated to St Anthony stands in Rimini on the spot where this supposedly occurred.
Today, St Anthony’s passion continues to inspire the faith of people worldwide. Perhaps in this world of technology and time pressures, St Anthony can stand as a reminder of the benefits of isolation and reflection. Perhaps he can also inspire us to trust in the Holy Spirit to help us find our deepest beliefs and to trust in what the Spirit is teaching us.
Our faith allows us to still find relevance in figures such as St Anthony in how we carry out our ministry today. Like many of those who regularly prepare sermons, I live in fear of having to preach without preparation. St Anthony reminds us that not only is it possible to survive such an event, but such opportunities may in fact open our eyes to gifts that otherwise would have remained hidden.
My hope is that all of us, wherever we are on our journey, can continue to be inspired by the life of St Anthony of Padua, whose St Anthony’s feast day is celebrated on 13 June annually.
Editor’s note: The St John’s Cathedral “Mystics, Theologians and God-botherers” series occurs on the first Sunday of each month from February to October during the 6pm Evensong. Each instalment features a guest preacher presenting the life and teachings of one of Christianity’s mystic figures. The Cathedral’s “Saints on a Mission” series, which is hosted by Blair Martin, is held via Zoom and connects the ancient stories and rituals of Feast Days to the world as we experience it today.
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