Tag: life

So many of us have them. 

Stories.

How did St Anthony help you.

It seems on its face like superstition. But when you are in the moment. There is no superstition. Just anxiousness or desperation. You see, St Anthony is the patron saint of lost things. He is also patron of many other things including pregnant women, the elderly, the poor, and fisherman! But ever since I can remember my Mom always said if you lose something, ask St Anthony to pray for you. Ask his help! And if my mom or Dad lost something, always we prayed to St. Anthony.

I have many stories of St Anthony and I know you have heard them multiple times. I have two for you today.

When i was around 18 0r 19 I went to NYC on the train. I borrowed my dad’s Long Island Railroad Monthly Pass to take the train on a Friday night. But it was the first of the month and in those days it was a paper pass. I got home that night and when I woke up I realized I had lost my wallet. All my money and Dad’s pass. He was furious. It was a months $$ worth of  travel. I spent the next three days praying that maybe someone on the train would have turned it in. To no avail.  I went to church and knelt in front of the St Anthony statue and begged him for his help.   A day or so later, I’ll never forget,  my Mom called me and said that the mail had come. Someone put the wallet in a mailbox and it was mailed home. Pass and all. Coincidence? Maybe. But I knew St Anthony came through.

I just turned 26 and was in Charleston working for the SBA after Hurricane Hugo. At that time there were no computers. I had a address book, like everybody else. In it, was all the contacts I had in my life. All my business leads, my family and friends, addresses and phone numbers. It also worked as my wallet, holding cash and a credit card.

I had been in Charleston for 3 months and was coming home to Long Island for Christmas. I went to the mall to shop for some gifts. Somewhere that day, I had lost my address book. I freaked out. There was no backup. A disaster.

I searched everyplace. Nothing. 

From the moment I lost it and knew that it was gone, I started asking St. Anthony for his help. Every day. All day, I prayed.

Imagine losing all of your contacts at once, with no hope of getting them back.

The day before I was going home I called my Mom. I hadn’t said anything to my parents about this. She said to me “By the way, did you lose an address book?” 

My heart just froze.

“Yes!!!!! I lost it in Charleston!” Then Mom said “Well, some man called your Grandpa in Florida and said he found it in a parking lot and  it had a phone number for “Gramps” and would it be OK if he mailed it to my Grandpa.” My grandfather of course said yes.

I could not believe it. I was so happy, relieved, thankful. 

When I got home I got the package containing my address book from Gramps!!!!!! Credit card and money too.

Though this particular story is long, its OK. It’s meant to be.

You see, God’s graces come to us in many ways and many times through His saints. Maybe its just a little test of our faith? Little miracles often open our hearts.

My middle name is Anthony. My Grandpa’s name is Anthony. And where did the package come from  Saint Antonio, Tx.