Lost and Found

Being found by the intercession of St. Anthony of Padua

06/13/2022

Lk 10:1-9 The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.'"

Today, June 13, is the feast day of another one of my many patron saints. Some of us need more than one patron saint because we keep getting lost and need lots of shepherds. Let me share a few fun facts about this extraordinary saint and perhaps he will become one of your favorite saints, too. Firstly, he was a contemporary of St. Francis of Assisi, and joined the Franciscans shortly after they were founded. That is, he lived in the 13th century – he died in 1231 – and Francis put him in charge of the novices to train them in preaching and teaching.

The thirteenth century was a veritable season of saints, with the world blessed by the likes of St. Francis, St. Anthony, St. Dominic, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bonaventure, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Albert the Great, to mention some of the more well-known. If I had a chance to live in any century of human history, I would pick the 13th century in order to meet these great saints.

The second notable thing about St. Anthony was his gift of preaching. In fact, when his body was exhumed from the grave 30 years after his death, only his tongue was perfectly preserved. It is on display in the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, if you want to see it. Preaching is an important talent for all priests to possess. Why? Well, what are the two things people always complain about in church? They bemoan the poor preaching and the so-so singing.

Preaching and singing may not be the most important part of the Mass, but they are nonetheless critical to help people enter more fully into the mystery of the Mass. They are like good appetizers that whet our appetite for the main course, the Holy Eucharist. Today, pray to St. Anthony to help poor preachers like me to not put people to sleep when we pound the pulpit.

A third fun fact about St. Anthony, and the one most people turn to him for, is he is the patron saint of lost items. Quite often someone will misplace their keys, or their cell phone, or their wallet. And the first thing we do is ask for St. Anthony’s intercession. This tradition began when St. Anthony himself lost one of his prayer books, the Psalter, or the Book of Psalms. Actually, a Franciscan friar had taken it with him when he decided to leave the monastery for good.

St. Anthony prayed for the book’s return. A few days later the former friar came back to return the book but he also retuned to the religious life in the monastery. You see, St. Anthony didn’t just want his book back; he wanted his brother back. In other words, St. Anthony’s intercession is not really to help you find your keys or your phone or your wallet. What is really lost is you and me; we are the lost sheep that Jesus, the Good Shepherd is trying to find.

This finding of the lost is why we read from Lk 10:1-9 as our gospel this morning. St. Luke wrote: “The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.” So, yes, keep praying to St. Anthony for lost items. But realize one thing: he is praying for the return not so much of lost things but of lost people, the lost children of God’s family, meaning me and you.

By the way, have you ever noticed the beautiful statue of St. Anthony of Padua in our church? It is easy to miss because it is right by the main doors of the church, and when we walk into church, we should be looking, first and foremost, for Jesus. But I think it is providential and perfect that he is perched by the doors of the church. Why? Because every time someone walks through the doors and into the church, St. Anthony’s prayer are answered and the lost sheep is found.

"Dear St. Anthony, please come around: something is lost and it cannot be found.” And that something lost is me.

Praised be Jesus Christ!