Just What Is That St. Anthony Bread?

Today most people would say that St. Anthony Bread is one of two things. One is a piece or even a loaf of bread blessed by a Catholic  priest asking God to grant healing and blessing to all those who eat it with faith in the prayers of St. Anthony of Padua and the ever loving goodness of God.The bread is a reminder of the many loaves that St. Anthony gave to the poor of his day. He was always ready to give alms and food to the poor. He is patron of the Poor too.

Another type of St. Anthony bread is really a donation given in thanksgiving for favors received from the dear Saint of Padua.

It seems that in 1263, a child drowned near the Basilica of St. Anthony which was still being built. The mother of the child promised St. Anthony  that if the child was restored she would give the child’s weight in grain to be turned into bread for the poor. Her prayers were answered and the child was raised to life. She promptly kept her promise and was part of the start of a new tradition.
 

Another woman named Louise Bouffier,  was a bakery shopkeeper in Toulon, France. When her shop could not be opened  she called a locksmith  who was prepared to break open her shop door after no key would open it. Bouffier asked the locksmith to try his keys one more time after she prayed and promised to give bread to the poor in honor of St. Anthony if the door would open without force. The door opened and Louise Bouffier built a small shrine in honor of St. Anthony in the back of her shop.

I recommend that you ask the prayers of St. Anthony and when he comes through for you, and he will, you can make a St. Anthony's Bread donation.

To make an offering to St. Anthony Bread in thanksgiving for blessings received, you may send your donation to the Old Mission San Antonio in Jolon California. The address is down below.

St. Anthony of Padua, pray for us!

Mark