Where the Lost Things Are: A Meditation on St. Anthony and Souls
4 minute read
It is no secret that we love Feast Days in our home.
Years ago, we began studying the saints with new fervor and it has been a wonderful family bonding experience for all of us.
Over the years, we have each found patrons for whom we have a particular fondness and their friendship has been a source of growth and virtue.
But of all the saints we have loved and studied there is one who is DAILY called upon in this house of absentminded professors and that is: St. Anthony of Padua.
We’ve joked that we really ought to just give him his own bedroom, so closely does he dwell here amidst our forgetfulness and mess.
My daughter has developed a special devotion to him as a result and she and her brother both call upon him regularly when mama can’t find her keys or her phone or whatever other object I’m currently in the habit of losing.
“Dear Saint Anthony, please help mommy find her __________________.
Usually followed by the gleeful proclmation, “Mommy! He said, YES!”
It seems like a silly thing but we usually find whatever object is missing directly after they’ve sought his intercession. This little exercise has planted real seeds of faith in their hearts and they are confident that the saints will hear and answer them.
As Catholics, it is a deeply seated tradition to call on St. Anthony for our lost articles, but I think that we sometimes miss the more meaningful aspects of St. Anthony’s patronage and what it could mean for us on a deeper level.
To read his story is to know that he knew exactly what it felt like to be lost and alone and unsure of his next step. To know his story is to know that he was well into his adult life and his vocation before he really discovered what his special charisms and spiritual abilities were.
St. Anthony, to me, is the perfect saint for those of us who got a later start on their God-chasing journey.
St. Anthony stumbled upon his spiritual calling accidentally. What led him to that place was his hunger for joy, particularly the joy he had found amidst Franciscan brothers. He followed God’s drawing him toward a life of poverty and joy, and in the middle of all of that, he figured out who he was after a superior put him on the spot to give a homily for visiting priests.
He had never so much as spoken in public before that point. That day, one of the greatest preachers of the faith in history was born.
St. Anthony is looking lovingly at those that aren’t sure if they have any special gifts, or how to discover what they are.
At the end of his life, St. Anthony was revered for his homilies and his union with God. So, I’m pretty sure there is more to this patron of lost things than helping us find our jewelry or important paperwork.
Of all the things for which we must implore St. Anthony’s intercession, it is for help with the lost things inside of our souls, and the souls of others, that move his heart the most.
I desperately need his help with my lost items, but I also know that you and I have lost some more intangible things from time to time that need his loving attention. St. Anthony pray for us when:
We’ve lost our self-confidence….
For new parents especially, the lack of sleep, self-care and irregular engagement with adults may be leaving you feeling out of touch and a stranger to yourself and those you love. St. Anthony, pray for us.
We’ve lost peace…
Bills pile up, expenses increase, and we find a heavy knot taking up a permanent residence in our chests. We frown a lot and spend our thoughts wondering, juggling, and fretting about how we will make everything work. We used to smile a lot more and worry a lot less, even when things were tough. Now it feels like frustration and angst are a permanent default in our personalities. St. Anthony, pray for us.
We’ve lost motivation…
The things that matter to us have been pushed aside for immediate tasks and necessities. They whisper at us late at night and during quiet moments. We know we need to make time to do these things and to make them a priority but it just seems so impossible. St. Anthony, pray for us.
We’ve lost our ability to enjoy our family…
The behavioral challenges our children experience combined with the pressures of too many activities or obligations have left little time to look our family members in the eye, to have leisurely conversations, and to just play. We remember a time when this parenting thing was more fun. Now it feels so hard. It’s not that we don’t love and cherish our sweet families, it’s that we are desperate to find more time to just BE with them. St. Anthony, pray for us.
We’ve lost hope for a family member who is on a dark path…
Watching someone walk down a road that will lead to their perpetual spiritual darkness and slavery is a powerless and terrifying feeling. We feel helpless and angry and worn out. We are tired of their drama and wonder why they can’t see that this has got to stop. We are weary in the depths of our souls. We don’t want to admit it, but maybe, we don’t really believe God is going to come. Maybe, we don’t really believe he intends or wants to save this person that is so desperately careening into a brick wall we would give anything to tear down, but can’t. St. Anthony, pray for us.
Pray with me now....
St. Anthony, you are so faithful to help us daily in the little things. But help us to remember that you are not just the keeper of lost keys and socks and backpacks.
More than that, you long to pray for the lost things inside of our souls. You desire to help us find and discover joy and peace again. You desire to help us recover the trust in God that we have lost along the way.
You desire to preach truth and joy to our souls, so efficaciously that we experience conversion anew, through your devout and humble intercession on behalf of the feelings, things, and people we are afraid might be lost for good.
St. Anthony, Patron of the lost things, point us to Jesus once again, and bring us peace.
Lauren Nelson is a teacher, speaker, podcaster, mom, wife, and is a member of the Order of Carmelite Discalced Seculars. She is the creator and founder of
"Gathering Manna: Moment by Moment Spirituality for Moms"
Find her here:
gatheringmanna.heightsplatform.com