St. Anthony of Padua is the patron saint of lost things. For eight centuries Catholics have asked his help in finding lost keys, wallets, rings and documents, and also lost faith, lost peace and lost people. Many pray the old rhyme, “Tony, Tony, look around; something’s lost and must be found,” or the more traditional responsory Si quaeris.
Below: why St. Anthony is the finder of lost things, the traditional prayers, a short prayer you can say right now, and a few practical tips for the search.
A quick prayer to St. Anthony
St. Anthony, St. Anthony, please come around.
Something is lost and cannot be found.
Or, written for this page:
St. Anthony, friend of the poor and finder of what is lost,
help me to find (name the object).
Calm my mind, guide my steps,
and if it is not found, give me peace. Amen.
Why is St. Anthony the patron of lost things?
St. Anthony (1195–1231) had a precious book of psalms with notes he used for teaching his friars, in an age when every book was copied by hand. A novice who was leaving the order took it with him. Anthony prayed for its return; the novice, troubled in conscience, came back with the book and asked to return to the order. The psalter is said to be preserved in Bologna. After Anthony’s death, people began asking his help to find what they had lost, and the favors attributed to him made the devotion universal.
The traditional responsory (Si quaeris)
This medieval hymn in his honor includes the promise that “treasures lost are found again”:
If, then, you ask for miracles,
Death, error, all calamities.
The leprosy, and demons fly,
And health succeeds infirmities.
The sea obeys, and fetters break;
And lifeless limbs thou dost restore;
Whilst treasures lost are found again,
When young or old thine aid implore.
All dangers vanish at thy prayer,
And direst need doth quickly flee;
Let those who know, thy power proclaim,
Let Paduans say: These are of thee.
The sea obeys, and fetters break;
And lifeless limbs thou dost restore;
Whilst treasures lost are found again,
When young or old thine aid implore.
To Father, Son, may glory be,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
The sea obeys, etc.
V. Pray for us, blessed Anthony.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Other saints invoked for lost things
| Saint | Invoked for | Feast day |
|---|---|---|
| St. Anthony of Padua | Lost objects, lost faith, lost people | June 13 |
| St. Jude and St. Rita | Lost causes | October 28; May 22 |
| St. Phanourios | Lost objects (especially in the Greek tradition) | August 27 |
Practical tips while you search
- Pray first and slow down. Panic makes us look in the same place five times.
- Retrace your steps from the last moment you are sure you had it.
- Look where it should be, then where it shouldn’t: pockets, cars, bags, under cushions, in the refrigerator.
- Ask someone else to look: fresh eyes help.
- Give thanks when you find it, perhaps with an alms for the poor, the custom called St. Anthony’s Bread.
A prayer for someone who is lost
St. Anthony is also invoked for those who are lost spiritually, or missing. Written for this page:
St. Anthony, you brought back the novice who had left with your book.
Pray for (name), who has wandered far from God (or is missing).
Guide him (her) home safely, and give our family hope while we wait. Amen.
If a person is missing, contact the police immediately.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the patron saint of lost things?
St. Anthony of Padua, whose feast is June 13.
Does praying to St. Anthony really work?
Countless people have found lost items after asking his prayers. The saints do not work by magic: they intercede with God, who cares about the small things of our lives. Pray with trust, and keep looking.
Is there a novena to St. Anthony?
Yes: see the St. Anthony novena and the 13 Tuesdays.
More prayers to St. Anthony and the saints
- The St. Anthony prayer
- The St. Anthony novena
- Patron saint of lost causes
- Patron saints: the complete list
Texts and sources
- Si quaeris: F. X. Lasance, With God (1911), Various Other Devotions, public domain (Wikisource).
- The short rhyme is a popular traditional prayer; the other prayers were written for this page.
- Life: Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “St. Anthony of Padua.”