St. Anthony of Padua, Patron of Lost Things

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Feast day: June 13  ·  1195 – 1231  ·  Patron of lost things and missing persons

“Tony, Tony, turn around — something’s lost and must be found.” Generations of Catholics have prayed some version of that rhyme to St. Anthony of Padua, the Franciscan friar invoked the world over as the patron of lost things. But the saint of misplaced keys was also one of the greatest preachers the Church has ever known.

Who was St. Anthony?

St. Anthony was born in Lisbon in 1195 and first became an Augustinian canon, but the sight of the bodies of the first Franciscan martyrs stirred him to join the new order of St. Francis of Assisi and give his life to preaching. He proved an extraordinary preacher — learned, fearless, and so compelling that crowds filled the squares of Italy and France to hear him. His command of Scripture was so complete that a later pope called him the “Ark of the Testament.”

He died near Padua in 1231 at only thirty-six, and was canonized within a year — one of the fastest canonizations in history. In 1946 he was declared a Doctor of the Church. The association with lost things comes from a story of his own life: a novice took Anthony’s prized psalter, and after the saint prayed for its return, the thief was moved to bring it back.

Patron saint of lost things and missing persons

St. Anthony is the patron of lost and stolen things, missing persons, and the recovery of what seems beyond reach — whether a material object or something deeper. He is also a patron of the poor: the “St. Anthony’s Bread” tradition of giving alms in thanksgiving for his help has fed the hungry for centuries. Catholics ask his help in finding not only car keys and wedding rings but lost faith, lost peace, and people who have wandered away.

The Prayer to St. Anthony

The traditional prayer asking St. Anthony’s help in finding what is lost:

St. Anthony, perfect imitator of Jesus, who received from God the special power of restoring lost things, grant that I may find what has been lost [mention your petition]. At least restore to me peace and tranquility of mind, the loss of which has afflicted me even more than my material loss.

To this favor I ask another of you: that I may always remain in possession of the true good that is God. Let me rather lose all things than lose God, my supreme good. Let me never suffer the loss of my greatest treasure, eternal life with God. Amen.

Frequently asked

What is St. Anthony the patron saint of?

St. Anthony of Padua is the patron of lost and stolen things, missing persons, and the recovery of what seems beyond reach. He is also invoked as a patron of the poor and of travelers.

When is the feast day of St. Anthony?

June 13, the day of his death in 1231. He was canonized less than a year later and named a Doctor of the Church in 1946.

Why do Catholics pray to St. Anthony for lost things?

The tradition comes from his own life: when a novice took his psalter and Anthony prayed for its return, the man was moved to bring it back. Ever since, the faithful have asked his help in finding what is lost — material or spiritual.

What is the prayer to St. Anthony for lost things?

The traditional prayer above ('St. Anthony, perfect imitator of Jesus…') asks both for the return of what is lost and for the deeper grace never to lose God. Many also pray a simple short invocation when something goes missing.

More saints: St. Jude · St. Francis · all saints & prayers