Prayer cards have long been a cherished tradition in Catholic devotional practice, offering the faithful a tangible connection to the saints. These small yet powerful tokens serve as reminders of our heavenly intercessors and the virtues they embodied during their earthly lives.

Among the most popular and widely recognized prayer cards are those dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua, the beloved patron saint of lost items. For centuries, Catholics around the world have turned to St. Anthony in moments of frustration and worry when something important has gone missing, reciting the familiar plea: “St. Anthony, St. Anthony, please come around; something is lost and can’t be found.”

The Life of St. Anthony of Padua

St. Anthony was born Fernando Martins de Bulhões in 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal, to a wealthy and noble family. At the young age of 15, he joined the Augustinian Canons Regular, where he dedicated himself to prayer and study of the sacred scriptures.

His life took a dramatic turn when he witnessed the return of the remains of five Franciscan friars who had been martyred in Morocco. Deeply moved, Fernando received permission to join the Franciscan Order, taking the name Anthony, and set sail for Morocco to spread the Gospel. However, illness forced him to return to Europe, and his ship was blown off course to Sicily.

For a time, Anthony lived in humble obscurity at a small hermitage in Montepaolo, until his extraordinary knowledge of scripture and gift for preaching were accidentally discovered. Once his talents became known, Anthony was commissioned by St. Francis himself to teach theology to the friars.

Anthony quickly became renowned throughout Italy and France for his powerful preaching, profound knowledge of scripture, and holiness of life. His sermons attracted crowds so large they could not fit in the churches, forcing him to preach in public squares. He was particularly effective in combating heresies and bringing wandering souls back to the faith, earning him the title “Hammer of Heretics.”

After years of tireless preaching and travel, Anthony’s health began to fail. He died on June 13, 1231, at the young age of 36 in Padua, Italy. So numerous were the miracles attributed to his intercession that he was canonized less than a year after his death—one of the fastest canonizations in the Church’s history.

The Patron Saint of Lost Items

The tradition of invoking St. Anthony’s help in finding lost items dates back to an incident in his own lifetime. According to the beloved story, a novice once borrowed Anthony’s precious psalter (prayer book) without permission. When the novice decided to leave the community, he took the treasured book with him.

St. Anthony prayed fervently for the return of his book, which contained his notes and commentaries for teaching. The story goes that the novice had a frightening vision that convinced him to return to the community and give back the stolen psalter.

From this incident grew the tradition of asking St. Anthony’s intercession when something has been lost. Over the centuries, countless people have testified to the efficacy of his intercession in helping them find missing items, from keys and wallets to important documents and even lost opportunities.

His reputation as a finder of lost things has spread well beyond Catholic circles, making him one of the most universally recognized and invoked saints in the Christian world.

Symbolism in St. Anthony’s Prayer Card

Traditional prayer cards of St. Anthony, like the ones shown above, contain rich symbolism that reflects his life and sanctity:

The prayer text on the card typically invokes St. Anthony’s special charism as the finder of lost items and asks for his intercession in both material losses and spiritual matters. The wording often includes requests for:

• Help in finding physically lost objects
• Guidance in moments of confusion or disorientation
• Assistance in recovering lost relationships
• Aid in rediscovering one’s faith or spiritual path
• Grace to accept when some things remain lost

The Prayer to St. Anthony for Lost Items

This prayer acknowledges St. Anthony’s special power to help find lost things while also recognizing the spiritual dimensions of loss and recovery. It reminds us that sometimes the greatest wisdom comes in accepting loss and focusing on what truly matters.

Many Catholics also recite a simple rhyming verse when they’ve lost something:

This familiar rhyme has been passed down through generations and is often one of the first prayers children learn.

How to Use St. Anthony’s Prayer Card in Devotional Practice

Prayer cards like the St. Anthony card featured above have been a meaningful part of Catholic devotional life for centuries. Here are some ways to incorporate them into your spiritual practice:

Beyond the practical use of finding lost items, devotion to St. Anthony can remind us of his other virtues worth emulating: his love of scripture, his eloquent preaching of God’s word, his humility despite his great learning, and his care for the poor and marginalized.

St. Anthony’s Feast Day and Traditions

St. Anthony’s feast day is celebrated on June 13th, the anniversary of his death in 1231. In many Catholic communities, especially those with Portuguese or Italian heritage, this day is marked with special devotions, processions, and the blessing and distribution of “St. Anthony’s Bread.”

The tradition of St. Anthony’s Bread originates from a promise made to the saint in 1263 when a child drowned near his basilica in Padua. The mother promised that if her child was restored to life, she would give to the poor an amount of wheat equal to the child’s weight. When the child was miraculously revived, she fulfilled her promise, and the practice of giving bread to the poor in St. Anthony’s honor was born.

Today, many churches distribute small loaves of blessed bread on his feast day, and donations are collected for the poor—a fitting tribute to a saint who himself was devoted to serving those in need.

Starting Your Own Prayer Card Collection

Prayer cards like this St. Anthony card are part of a rich tradition of Catholic devotional art. Starting a collection can be a meaningful way to learn about the saints and develop a deeper prayer life:

Consider organizing your collection by feast days, patronages, or historical periods. Display cards seasonally or keep them in a special album or prayer book for personal use.