Prayers of the Saints - Feast June 13

Prayer to St. Anthony of Padua

Q: What is the traditional prayer to Saint Anthony?

The Responsory Si quaeris miracula, from the rhymed Office written within a few years of his death. It is sung at his basilica in Padua on Tuesdays.

The most traditional prayer to Saint Anthony is not a rhyme about lost keys. It is a medieval chant, Si quaeris miracula (“If you seek miracles”), written by a friar who knew him, and sung in his basilica at Padua to this day. This page gives its Latin words, unchanged, with a plain-words summary, its source, and honest notes on how to pray it.

Saint Anthony of Padua in a Franciscan habit, holding a lily, an open book before him - El Greco — Saint Anthony in the Franciscan habit, holding the lily of his purity, an open book before him - El Greco's portrait. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

St. Anthony of Padua Full Prayer Library Saints & Blesseds

The Responsory of Saint Anthony

The words are the original Latin, unchanged, followed by a short plain-words summary so you can follow what you pray. The summary is ours and is not a translation of the prayer.

Si quaeris miracula (If You Seek Miracles)

Si quaeris miracula,
Mors, error, calamitas,
Daemon, lepra fugiunt,
Aegri surgunt sani.

Ant: Cedunt mare, vincula:
Membra resque, perditas
Petunt et accipiunt
Iuvenes et cani.

Pereunt pericula,
Cessat et necessitas:
Narrent hi, qui sentiunt,
Dicant Paduani.

Ant: Cedunt mare, vincula...

Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.

Ant: Cedunt mare, vincula...

V. Ora pro nobis, beate Antoni,
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.

In plain words (a summary, not a translation): death, error, calamity, leprosy and demons flee, and the sick rise healed. The sea and chains give way; young and old ask for what was lost, and receive it. Dangers pass and need ends, and those who have known this say so. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Pray for us, blessed Anthony, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Purpose: Praise and petition: it thanks God for favors the faithful credit to Saint Anthony and asks his prayers. Its verses name the sea, chains, lost possessions, and the sick.
How to pray: Slowly, as a chant or recited aloud. The Ant. line is a refrain, repeated after the verses as it is sung. If Latin is new to you, read the plain-words summary first, then pray the Latin, or pray the summary in your own language.
When & how long: Sung at his basilica in Padua every Tuesday, and fitting on his feast, June 13, or any day. About three minutes.
Source & tradition: Latin responsory from the rhymed Office of Saint Anthony, composed within a few years of his death in 1231 and attributed to the Franciscan friar Julian of Speyer. Medieval chant, traditional text, in the public domain. Sometimes credited to Saint Bonaventure; that attribution is not supported, and this page does not rely on it.
Spiritual fruit: Trust in the communion of saints: the Church’s old way of asking a friend in heaven to pray with us. It is a devotional prayer of intercession, not a formula that guarantees a result.

Closing Prayer (Collect) for His Feast

Oremus:
Ecclesiam tuam, Deus, beati Antonii Confessoris tui commemoratio votiva laetificet, ut spiritualibus semper muniatur auxiliis et gaudiis perfrui mereatur aeternis. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

In plain words (a summary, not a translation): we ask God that his Church, gladdened by the remembrance of blessed Anthony, may always be guarded by spiritual help and come to enjoy eternal joys, through Christ our Lord.

Purpose: The liturgical prayer that closes the Responsory: it asks that the Church be protected by spiritual help and come to eternal joy.
How to pray: Said after the Responsory, with the sign of the cross at the end.
When & how long: Whenever the Responsory is prayed; under a minute.
Source & tradition: The collect of the old Mass and Office of Saint Anthony, as printed with the Responsory at preces-latinae.org. Traditional liturgical prayer in Latin, public domain.
Spiritual fruit: Joy and protection are asked of God, not promised by the prayer. The tradition treats it as the Church’s thanks for a saint’s life.

How to Pray with Saint Anthony

1. Start with God

The Responsory is a prayer of praise before it is a request. Begin by thanking God for Saint Anthony, then ask for what you need.

2. Name what is lost

People pray it for lost objects, lost health, and lost people. Say the intention plainly before you begin and keep it short.

3. Keep Tuesdays

Padua sings the Responsory on Tuesdays. A weekly habit carries further than a single desperate prayer.

4. Give thanks

When a favor comes, thank God first and Saint Anthony second. Many people mark it with a gift to the poor, a custom of gratitude and never a payment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the traditional prayer to Saint Anthony?

The Responsory Si quaeris miracula, from the rhymed Office written within a few years of his death. It is sung at his basilica in Padua on Tuesdays.

Is there a special prayer for lost things?

The traditional prayer is the Responsory above, which names lost things found among its verses. The short rhymes in circulation are popular custom rather than a Church text, so this page does not reproduce them.

Did Saint Anthony write this prayer?

No. It was written by a friar after his death, in his honor. Julian of Speyer is the author most scholars name.

Does the prayer promise a miracle?

No. It praises God for favors the faithful have received and asks for more. Nothing in the tradition guarantees an outcome.