June 13th of every year marks the feast day of Padua's most famous saint and one of the most revered and honored saints in the world - St. Anthony. Known as Il Santo (the saint) in Padua, St. Anthony was a great speaker and is the patron saint of lost things. His life story is also one that is able to lift spirits and restore faith when it is lost. His story teaches us that while we might face many hurdles in life, in the end it's all a part of God's plan. Today, his feast day is when people all over the world honor his miraculous self and maintain traditions done in his honor.
The ceiling of the Basilica De San Giacomo on Lake Como, Italy
In my family, St. Anthony's feast day is a pretty big deal. Preparation for the feast day begins nine Tuesdays earlier with the novena to St. Anthony. On the feast day we fast and visit the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua in Cincinnati Ohio. We attend the mass, pray, light a candle or two and receive St. Anthony's Bread (yes, that's what its called) passed out by the franciscan friars. Sometimes this bread is baked by the friars themselves or donated by a bakery or individuals who wish to bake the bread and donate it for St. Anthony.
So what exactly is St. Anthony's bread?
The bread is blessed by the church on the feast day of St. Anthony and given to the congregation. This is a tradition upheld in many churches around the world. Where this tradition began is surrounded with speculation because of the various stories about its origin.
One story originated in Toulon, France with a woman named Louise Bouffier who owned a small bakery. Once day she could not open the bakery door and neither could the locksmith, who finally suggested to break open the door. When the locksmith went to get his tools, Bouffier prayed to St. Anthony to help open the door and in return she would bake bread for the poor of Toulon. When the locksmith returned, she asked him to try and open the door one last time. When he did, the door opened with ease, as though nothing was wrong. Fulfilling her promise to St. Anthony, she baked bread and distributed it among the poor of Toulon. After hearing about the miracle that happened to Louise, her friends began praying to St. Anthony and baking bread for the poor whenever their prayers were answered, thus starting the tradition of St. Anthony's Bread.
There are many other tales of St. Anthony helping those in need. I can't count the many times I have asked for favors or help finding lost items and he came through! So next time you are stuck in a rut and need help, call upon St. Anthony to lend a hand or help you find something. Here is a little rhyme my grandmother taught me to say whenever I loose something and, believe it or not, I still say it. Now I am passing it on to you:
"Saint Anthony, Saint Anthony,
Please come around,
I have lost my ______
and it can't be found!"
To read more about St. Anthony and his life, click HERE!