If you want to Find a Lost Item attend Mass Monday at 7:00 pm to pray to St. Anthony

Celebrate St. Anthony of Padua at a Special Mass Monday, June 13 at 7:00pm at St. Michael’s Church. Come to remember a special human who gave us hope and clues on how to live in life. A free social will be held after Mass in Quaremba Hall sponsored by Our Lady Help of Christians Sodality. Do you recall someone telling you to pray to St. Anthony to find what you have lost? People around the world remember Anthony of Padua in novenas and as the saint who finds lost objects. But did you know that he is also honored as a great homilist, spiritual guide, and teacher of God’s word? St. Anthony was born in Portugal in 1195 and joined both the Augustinian and Franciscan Friars and spent years at the Franciscan headquarters in Padua, Italy. Have you ever been asked to give a speech at a large ceremony without preparation ? This happened to St. Anthony and this one event launched his prolific career as a great public homilist. The story goes that St. Anthony was a guest at an ordination where the superior asked for a volunteer to lead the ordination ceremony but everyone declined. In their emergency they then imposed on their guest St. Anthony, who they thought only able to read the Missal and Breviary, and allowed him to speak whatever the spirit of God might put into his mouth. St. Anthony, compelled by obedience, spoke at first slowly and timidly, but soon engaged the astonished crowd with his elegance and knowledge of the Holy Scripture. With that moment began Anthony's public career as an orator and he was later preaching to crowds numbering over 30,000 people. St Anthony was a favorite disciple of St Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscans. He performed many well documented miracles while alive and later the miracles continued at his funeral in 1232 and his tomb. He is buried at Sancta Maria Mater Domini Church outside the walls of the town of Padua. Due to the great devotion to the saint he was canonized just a year after his death. The St. Michael’s Church Community has always had a special dedication to St. Anthony of Padua. A relief of St. Anthony is designed into the west rear altar of St. Michael’s Church and is pictured below .