O holy St. Anthony,
gentlest of Saints,
your love for God and charity for his creatures
made you worthy, when on earth,
to possess miraculous powers.
Miracles waited on your word,
which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety.
Encouraged by this thought,
I implore you to obtain for me
[request].
The answer to my prayer may require a miracle;
even so, you are the Saint of Miracles.
O gentle and loving St. Anthony,
whose heart was ever full of human sympathy,
whisper my petition into the ears of the sweet Infant Jesus,
who loved to be folded in your arms;
and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours.
Amen.
CATHOLIC TRADITIONAL; CURRENT FORM 19TH-20TH CENTURY AD
Prayer to St. Anthony
Also known as St. Anthony Prayer ยท Prayer for Lost Things
About this prayer
St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231 AD) is one of the most popular saints in the Catholic Church and one of the fastest canonized: he was declared a saint less than a year after his death. He is the patron saint of lost things, lost people, the poor, and travelers. The association with finding lost things comes from a story, recorded in Franciscan sources, in which a novice who had taken Anthony's psalter without permission returned it after Anthony prayed for its recovery. The brief petition most widely known today ('Tony, Tony, come around; something's lost and must be found') is a popular folk form; the more formal prayer given here is the traditional devotional version. St. Anthony's feast is celebrated on June 13.
When it's said
The Prayer to St. Anthony is said in private petition when something is lost, when a difficult situation requires resolution, or as a general prayer for intercession. Novenas to St. Anthony are held on Tuesdays in many parishes. His feast day (June 13) is celebrated with particular devotion in Portuguese, Italian, and Brazilian Catholic communities.
Notes on the text
St. Anthony is typically depicted holding the Christ child, a reference to a vision reported in Franciscan sources in which the Infant Jesus appeared to him. The prayer addresses him as 'Saint of Miracles,' a title reflecting his reputation for miraculous intercession during his lifetime and after his death.
Source
Traditional Catholic prayer, 19th-20th century English form. Public domain.
Last reviewed: May 2026 against primary source.