Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua

Few of us remember St. Anthony of Padua for his preaching, but many of us have invoked his help to find something we lost.  As the saying goes:  “Whether young or old his aid implore,  your treasures lost are soon restored.”

It began like this. A novice who had grown tired of living the Franciscan way of life decided to depart. When he left he also took Anthony’s book of Psalms. Upon realizing that his Psalter was missing, the saint prayed it would be found. Legend has it that a ferocious looking beast stopped the novice in his flight and sent him fleeing back to the Franciscans where he returned Anthony’s treasure and also refound his own vocation. I believe Anthony rejoiced more over the return of the novice than over his Book of Psalms.

Our best treasures are not things, but people. Our work as Christians means prayer and example, to be light, salt, and good leaven for the world that those who are lost may be found, and if w