St. Anthony Novena for Lost Things: 9-Day Prayer (Full Text)
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The St. Anthony novena for lost things asks the Franciscan Doctor of the Church to intercede when items are missing — keys, wallets, documents, or peace of mind. Catholics pray for nine days (or use the short rhyming prayer immediately); many report finding items during the novena.
Who Do Catholics Pray To?
Saint Anthony of Padua (1195–1231) was a Franciscan friar and Doctor of the Church, famed for preaching across Italy and France. Devotion to him for lost things arose when a novice stole his psalter and returned it after Anthony prayed. His feast is June 13 — among the most popular saint days in U.S. parishes.
What Is a Novena?
A novena is a nine-day prayer rooted in the time the apostles and Mary spent in prayer between the Ascension and Pentecost (Acts 1:14). The word comes from the Latin novem, meaning nine. Unlike a single spontaneous prayer, a novena builds sustained trust over consecutive days.
Why Pray This Novena?
Lost keys, wallets, passports, or wedding rings trigger panic in millions of households. Catholics pray to Anthony not for magic but for intercession. Many find the item during the novena; others receive peace even if it is never recovered.
How to Pray — Step by Step
- Name the lost item specifically on day one.
- Begin any day, or nine days before June 13.
- Pray daily with the Sign of the Cross.
- Retrace steps and search while praying.
- Offer thanks or alms when the item is found.
St. Anthony Prayer for Lost Things
St. Anthony, St. Anthony, please come around; something is lost and must be found. St. Anthony, perfect imitator of Jesus, who received from God the special power of restoring lost things, grant that I may find [what is lost]. At least restore peace of mind, which afflicts me more than the material loss. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
For legal documents or deeper crises, combine this novena with professional help. When situations feel impossible, many also pray to Saint Jude. St. Anthony, pray for us.