Tony, Tony, Turn Around. Something's Lost

St. Antony of Padua is one of those Saints who is known, loved and admired all around the world. He joined the Franciscan Order in 1221, when he was 26 years old. He died at the age of 36. He is typically depicted with the Infant Jesus, to whom He miraculously appeared. Saint Antony was declared a saint less than one year after his death. He is the patron Saint of sailors and fishermen.  When his body was exhumed 32 years after his death, his body was found to be corrupted, yet his tongue was totally incorrupt, so perfect and simple were the teachings that had been formed upon it. He had fervent devotion to Mother Mary and used the Holy Name o Mary to fight against the heretics of his time. His feast is celebrated on June 13th.

St. Antony is commonly referred to as the "finder of lost articles". Those who request his intercession usually pray, "Tony, Tony, turn around. Something's lost and must be found". The reason for invoking Antony's help to find lost items is based on a real life incident from his life. Anthony had a book of Psalms that was very important to him. Besides the value of any book before the invention of printing, the psalter had the notes and comments he had made to use in teaching students in his Franciscan Order. A novice who had grown tired of living religious life left the Order and took Anthony's book with him. Upon realizing his psalter was missing, Anthony prayed it would be found or returned to him. And after his prayer, the thieving novice was moved to return the psalter to Anthony. Not only that, the novice also decided to return to the Order which accepted him back. 

This incident is also a clear example of how we often times miss out on the true purpose behind God's miraculous deeds. Inspired by the event we ask for St. Antony's intercession to find everything from lost wallets to car keys, but we forget that it wasn't just the lost book that was returned when he prayed, a soul was returned! The true miracle wasn't that the novice returned the book, but it was the return of the novice himself. 

The world today is filled with people who are lost - we all have our fair share of afflictions, broken-heartedness, captivity,  and un-forgiveness. Everyday we encounter those who are seeking the truth, the happiness and the comfort. Like the novice, even the faithful encounter days when they feel the urge to leave. When something's lost within us, within our family, and within our community, do we pray? Do we believe that our God can not only return the lost wallet and car keys, but also lead the lost souls to their destination? Let's ask for St. Antony's intercession not just for finding worldly things; he could also intercede for us when we are lost.

St. Antony of Padua, Pray for us.