Working With ST Anthony

Working with St.
Anthony of Padua
St. Anthony of Padua is one of the Catholic Church’s most popular saints, as well as one of New
Orleans’ most popular saints. He was a powerful Franciscan preacher and teacher and is widely
recognized as a miracle worker. He is usually depicted holding a lily, a book and/or the baby
Jesus in his arms. Nearly everywhere, St. Anthony is asked to intercede with God for the return
of things lost or stolen. Those who feel very familiar with him may pray, "Tony, Tony, turn
around. Something's lost and must be found."
Saint Anthony of Padua lived from 1195 until 1231 AD. His feast day is June 13, which is the
anniversary of his death. His color is brown and because he was buried on a Tuesday and many
miracles occurred at that time, Tuesday is his celebrated day. It is customary to pray a Novena to
him on thirteen consecutive Tuesdays.
In New Orleans, it is said that Marie Laveaux always kept a statue of St. Anthony in her front
yard and when she was “doing a work” she would turn the statue upside down. The upside down
position of the statue of St. Anthony let people know she should not be disturbed at that point in
time. When she was done with her work, she would turn him right side up again and availed
herself to visitors.
St. Anthony is well known for his numerous miracles. His most famous miracle could well be his
sermon to the fishes. When a crowd refused to listen to him, he apparently turned his back on
them and standing on the shore, began preaching to the fish in the lake. It is said that the fish
responded by lifting up their heads from the water so they could hear him better. This event no
doubt caught people’s attention.
Patronage
Saint Anthony of Padua is the Patron Saint of lost things, as well as against shipwrecks, poor and
oppressed people, barren women, starvation, American Indians, boatmen, elderly people,
expectant mothers, fishermen, harvests, horses, mail, mariners, pregnant women, sailors,
swineherds, travel hostesses, travelers and watermen.
In some countries, Saint Anthony is prayed to by travelers and vacationers for a safe journey,
particularly over the seas. Thus, he is the patron saint of sailors and fisherman in Spain, Italy,
France and Portugal. According to some stories, sailors keep a statue of Saint Anthony on the
mast of the ship, and appeal to him for safety while at sea.
St. Anthony is traditionally invoked for help with finding lost things because of an incident that
occurred in his own life. According to legend, Anthony had a book of psalms (Psalter) that was
very important to him. The Psalter had the notes and comments he had made to use in teaching
students in his Franciscan Order. A novice who had grown tired of living a religious life decided
to leave the community. In addition to going AWOL, he took Anthony's Psalter! When Anthony
realized his Psalter was missing, he prayed for its safe return. Soon after Anthony's prayer, the
thief felt compelled to return the Psalter to Anthony, as well as return to the Order which
accepted him back.
Oral tradition has a much more colorful version of this story. In this version, the novice was
stopped in his tracks by a ghastly devil wielding an ax and threatening to crush him if he did not
return the book immediately. According to AmericanCatholic.org, “in Christian tradition a devil
would hardly command anyone to do something good. But the core of the story would seem to
be true. And the stolen book is said to be preserved in the Franciscan friary in Bologna.”
St Anthony is best known among conjurers as the patron of lost things, as well. He is invoked
when a person is lost. Many people call upon him to help them reconcile with a lost lover and to
help find a mate. Because Saint Anthony finds lost people, his aid can also be requested when
praying for someone who is severely struggling, and who seems to be a lost soul. Call his name,
visualize your lost item and explain to him how important it is for you to find it, and sincerely
ask for his aid. You will find your missing object, especially when reciting the following prayer.
Prayer to Find What Is Lost

St. Anthony, when you prayed, your stolen book of prayers was given back to you. Pray now
for all of us who have lost things precious and dear. Pray for all who have lost faith, hope or
the friendship of God. Pray for us who have lost friends or relatives by death. Pray for all who
have lost peace of mind or spirit. Pray that we may be given new hope, new faith, new love.
Pray that lost things, needful and helpful to us, may be returned to our keeping. Or, if we must
continue in our loss, pray that we may be given Christ’s comfort and peace. Amen.
Offerings
 Cigar
 Whiskey and white rum
 White candles
 Brown candles
 Red Candles
 Lilies
Yo git St. Anthony, yeah a brown candle…

Yo git a cigar – see lak dat you got [I was smoking a cigar]
Yo git ‘bout a little whiskey glass of whiskey see ‘cause St. Anthony
He’s a saint he laks cigahs and he was a good-time man…
An yo wake up de nex mawnin’ an yo’ see de glass dry an’ de cigah half smoked.
(Algiers, Louisiana) Hyatt, Hoodoo-Conjure-Witchcraft-Rootwork, Vol 2.
Work 1
If there is someone who is angry with you or who does not trust you and you wish to heal that
relationship, you can appeal to St. Anthony to help. Hang an image of St. Anthony on the wall
and directly underneath it, set a brown candle in a white saucer. Write a petition on a piece of
plain brown that has your name and the target’s name written three times underneath yours. As
you write the names, say “I desire you (state the person’s name) to come to me in peace.” Place
the petition under the saucer and light the candle. Knock three times before his image and tell St
Anthony to find that person and bring them to you in peaceful, reconciliatory state of mind.
When he answers your petition, be sure to thank him publicly for his help.
Work 2
St. Anthony can also be invoked for cases of justice. Use a red candle for this work and offer him
some red flowers, a cigar and a glass of white rum. Write your petition to St. Anthony and set it
before an image of him. Knock three times and call out his name, and tell him what you want.
Then take the petition and wrap one of the red flowers and a piece of camphor in it and tie it
closed with a red string. Take the paket along with some white rum and bury it in your front
yard. Pour some rum on the ground over the burial spot. When he answers your petition, be sure
to thank him publicly for his help.

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Working with St.

Prayer to Find What Is Lost

Yo git St. Anthony, yeah a brown candle…

(Algiers, Louisiana) Hyatt, Hoodoo-Conjure-Witchcraft-Rootwork, Vol 2.

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