St. Anthony of Padua Plaque

Product Description

Our St. Anthony of Padua Plaque (1195-1231) was a Franciscan Friar and Priest born in Lisbon, Portugal, who died in Padua, Italy. He is perhaps best known as the go-to saint when someone or something has gone missing (go to History/Story tab). This solid bronze plaque is the ideal for a birthday, baptism, first communion, confirmation, and St. Anthony’s feast day on June 13th.

A Solid Bronze Wall Plaque

This solid bronze plaque – 6 inches high and 4 inches wide – can be hung with ease on any wall in your study, home or office. This plaque was conceived in an art studio and cast in a foundry in Germany. This plaque is an especially fitting gift for that special “Anthony,” “Antonio,” “Antonia,” “Anton,” or “Tony” in your life!

A Doctor of the Church Who Preached to the Fish?

St. Anthony is depicted on this plaque preaching to the fish. Iconographers struggled to distinguish Saint Anthony from the growing number of Franciscan saints. Since he was such a powerful preacher with such a profound knowledge of scripture and because, according to legend, he had once preached to the fish (out of frustration with the local recalcitrant townspeople), this has become one his best known attributes. in 1946, St. Anthony of Padua – the preacher to fish and patron saint of “lost things” – was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church.

The Patron Saint of Lost Things

Why do some invoke St. Anthony’s help to find lost or stolen things? According to the story, while living in Bologna, Italy, St. Anthony had a book of the Psalms which he valued as of great importance and significance, since it contained all of his notes and comments for teaching his students. A novice who had decided to leave the Order left with St. Anthony’s psalter. When he noticed that his psalter was missing, St. Anthony prayed that it would be found or returned. The thief was moved to bring the psalter back to St. Anthony and to return to the Order. This stolen psalter is said to be preserved to this day in the Franciscan friary in Bologna.

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