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Saint Anthony of Padua, patron saint of lost and stolen articles, was a powerful Franciscan preacher and teacher.

Seasonal Features
St. Anthony of Padua
Send a St. Anthony e-Greeting!

New! ‘Two saints—Francis and Anthony’
In Francis and His Brothers: A Popular History of the Franciscan Friars, Franciscan scholar and historic Dominic V. Monti, O.F.M., tells the inspirational story of Francis of Assisi and his followers, including St. Anthony, the saint called this “Ark of the Covenant” and “Hammer of Heretics.”

Anthony of Padua: The Italian Years
While the saint’s dream was to become a missionary to the Muslims in Morocco, a mighty wind swept the ship badly off course and it landed in Sicily, where he was to begin a journey to Assisi and then to the Italian city of Padua.

Anthony of Padua: The Portugal Years
To the people of Portugal, the saint that most of the world calls Anthony of Padua is better known as Anthony of Lisbon, as that country is the place of his birth in 1195 and where he began his ministry.

Five Favorite Hideaways of St. Anthony
A lifelong admirer of St. Anthony believes that the hidden treasure, which this saint sought above all else, is God.

St. Anthony Shrine
Join us for daily Catholic prayer, tour the National Shrine of St. Anthony and Friary in Cincinnati, find a biography and pictures of St. Anthony of Padua, send a St. Anthony e-card, make a St. Anthony novena, post online prayer requests and donate to help Franciscan ministries.

Why St. Anthony Holds the Child Jesus
Do you know why he is potrayed this way?

Getting to Know Him: A Closer Look at St. Anthony
Listen to the author portray St. Anthony.

Who Is St. Anthony?
Leonard Foley writes of St. Anthony of Padua, patron saint of lost and stolen articles, a Franciscan preacher and teacher.

Devotion to St. Anthony of Padua
Learn why St. Anthony is asked to intercede with God for the return of things lost or stolen.

St. Anthony, the Contemplative
Anthony of Padua often felt a profound longing to step aside from the bustle of his active life and seek the face of God in silent contemplation.

Readers’ Stories of St. Anthony’s Help
Click here to share your story with us!

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Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi: Mystical ecstasy is the elevation of the spirit to God in such a way that the person is aware of this union with God while both internal and external senses are detached from the sensible world. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi was so generously given this special gift of God that she is called the "ecstatic saint." <p>She was born into a noble family in Florence in 1566. The normal course would have been for Catherine de' Pazzi to have married wealth and enjoyed comfort, but she chose to follow her own path. At nine she learned to meditate from the family confessor. She made her first Communion at the then-early age of 10 and made a vow of virginity one month later. When 16, she entered the Carmelite convent in Florence because she could receive Communion daily there. </p><p>Catherine had taken the name Mary Magdalene and had been a novice for a year when she became critically ill. Death seemed near so her superiors let her make her profession of vows from a cot in the chapel in a private ceremony. Immediately after, she fell into an ecstasy that lasted about two hours. This was repeated after Communion on the following 40 mornings. These ecstasies were rich experiences of union with God and contained marvelous insights into divine truths. </p><p>As a safeguard against deception and to preserve the revelations, her confessor asked Mary Magdalene to dictate her experiences to sister secretaries. Over the next six years, five large volumes were filled. The first three books record ecstasies from May of 1584 through Pentecost week the following year. This week was a preparation for a severe five-year trial. The fourth book records that trial and the fifth is a collection of letters concerning reform and renewal. Another book, <i>Admonitions</i>, is a collection of her sayings arising from her experiences in the formation of women religious. </p><p>The extraordinary was ordinary for this saint. She read the thoughts of others and predicted future events. During her lifetime, she appeared to several persons in distant places and cured a number of sick people. </p><p>It would be easy to dwell on the ecstasies and pretend that Mary Magdalene only had spiritual highs. This is far from true. It seems that God permitted her this special closeness to prepare her for the five years of desolation that followed when she experienced spiritual dryness. She was plunged into a state of darkness in which she saw nothing but what was horrible in herself and all around her. She had violent temptations and endured great physical suffering. She died in 1607 at 41, and was canonized in 1669.</p> American Catholic Blog Sisters pray a lot. They work at working together. They try their hardest to live simply – sometimes without much choice, due to real poverty. All of them embrace simplicity as a radical commitment to Gospel values, and offer that faithful witness to the rest of us.

 
PICKS OF THE WEEK
The Month of Mary

Discover daily insight into truths about the Mother of God.
Sober Intoxication of the Spirit
Learn about how the first Pentecost affected Jesus's followers.
When the Spirit Comes in Power

Catholic evangelist Peter Herbeck describes the work of the Holy Spirit in the personal lives of Christians.
In the Footprints of Francis and the Sultan

In 1219 during the Fifth Crusade, Francis took it upon himself to cross battle lines and reach out to Muslims.
For Mothers (and Fathers!)

Author Curtis shares personal stories and advice for helping your children find God's voice amid the messages that target them.

 
CATHOLIC GREETINGS
Friendship
Catholic Greetings e-cards help you connect with long-distance friends.
Sympathy
Our faith reminds us that those who believe in the Lord will never die.
Graduation
If you’re not able to attend the graduation in person, send an e-card expressing your affection and pride.
Ordination Anniversary
Use Catholic Greetings to acknowledge your pastor’s ordination or pastoral anniversary.
Happy Birthday
Make the most of God’s graces and blessings throughout the coming year.



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