St. Anthony Responsory (Si Quaeris) for Lost Things

St. Anthony of Padua is famous as the saint to call on when something is lost, whether keys, documents, a wedding ring, or even lost faith or peace. The devotion goes back to a story from his own life: a novice who took Anthony's precious book of psalms returned it after the saint prayed for it. The Si Quaeris ("If you seek") is the classic hymn in his honor, written in the thirteenth century by Julian of Speyer.

Pray it whenever you have lost something, or for any need, since the hymn praises Anthony's help in every kind of trouble. Many people say it as a nine-day or thirteen-Tuesday devotion. The traditional English version and the closing prayer are given below.

The Prayer

If then you seek 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, while treasures lost are found again when young and 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, while treasures lost are found again when young and old thine aid implore. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. The sea obeys, and fetters break... V. Pray for us, blessed Anthony. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. May the votive commemoration of blessed Anthony, Thy Confessor, be a source of joy to Thy Church, O God, that she may always be fortified with spiritual assistance and merit to possess eternal joys. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sources: Si Quaeris Miracula by Julian of Speyer (13th century); traditional 19th-century English rendering and collect, public domain.

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