June Drinking Companion

Dear St. Anthony please come around, something is lost and cannot be found.

This is one of many prayers said to this great man of Padua, Italy, but at one point like us all, he was just as lost. Anthony was born in Portugal, but like many great saints they rarely remain where they were born. He joined a religious group, eventually leaving to join the newly formed Franciscans and the great Francis of Assisi. His hope and mission was to travel to Morocco, preach the gospel, and be martyred for doing so. On his way to Morocco he became shipwrecked in Italy and began preaching where he landed. In addition to this perceived failure in life, he also lacked confidence in his ability to preach, so legend has it he talked to the fish, until one day he had the confidence to preach tot he people, later in life he would preach to 30,000 people in the 13th century.

Nothing really seemed to be ideal or normal for Anthony, yet he has become a normal and regular miracle worker respected by all people, even those outside of his Catholic system. The patron of those that have lost something, no matter what it is, St. Anthony has an amazing way of helping it come to surface. Legend has it, that he had such a great memory that he never forgot where anything was, thus his patronage. Whatever it was he continues to leave his mark on the world. In addition when we celebrate his feast day June 13 we share the St. Anthony’s bread with the poor, something all Franciscan charisms practice.

From my personal experience, this great saint has pulled a couple miracles for me, most of all influencing my life as my patron and confirmation name I chose. You see I was supposed to be an Anthony or a Vincent when I was born, but because I was born in Iowa my mother felt an Italian name wasn’t best, so went more English in the direction of my Father’s roots. Later in life I would choose Anthony as my Catholic confirmation name, and from here he would help me along my way when I was lost. The pinnacle was the woman God would use to get my attention and bring me home, back to my Catholic faith. Her last name was Vitantonio, which in English is translated to “Life Anthony” or “Life God”. It was one of the many gentle signs God used to show me how everyone was helping in bring me home, and it is what continues to spur my confidence, God will eventually bring everyone home. Thanks to saints like Anthony, all the lost will eventually be found.

In close I’d like to offer a thought I am constantly reminded of, if you feel lost, just ask God for help. Like the book of Tobit which was in all of our Bibles until the 1800’s and is still in Hebrew scripture. In the process just like Raphael, the saints of our Lord are sitting in the presence of His throne asking and waiting to help us, and serve God’s will in our lives. Too often we ignore them. The book of Tobit is a great example of what could happen if we accept the help of a stranger, that could be a heaven sent friend. These are the saints, and they’re all just waiting for you to say a prayer, and ask for a share in the graces bestowed upon them by our Lord. Raise your glasses to these great wing men and women.

One of my happiest and most humbling moments, was when I was able to visit his tomb in thanksgiving in 2018. Padua Italy