You've probably prayed, “Tony, Tony, come around. Something’s lost that must be found” — but did you know St. Anthony wasn't even named Anthony at birth? And that's just the beginning of what might surprise you about this beloved saint.
St. Anthony is the patron of finding lost things, so most of us have thrown up a prayer for his help at one point or another.
But even if we’re asking for his help every day, how well do we actually know this super familiar saint?
His feast day, June 13, is the perfect time to test your St. Anthony trivia.
You can find the answers at the bottom. When you’re done, let us know your score!
St. Anthony Trivia
1Anthony was the name he took when he entered religious life. He was given a different name at birth. What was his name originally?
2Where did young St. Anthony grow up?
3St. Anthony lived during which dramatic century? (Think Crusades and cathedral building!)
4How old was he when he first entered religious life?
5What religious order did he enter first?
6St. Anthony didn’t find a specific lost item during his lifetime. Instead, when something of his went missing, he prayed and got it back. What precious item went missing—and became the reason we ask his help to find lost things?
7His “lost” item didn’t technically get lost. How did it go missing?
8St. Anthony is typically shown in stained glass, statues, etc., with another person. Who is it?
9Today you can see what part of his body in the basilica of Padua?
10Fill in the blank: St. Anthony is known by the nickname “Hammer of _____.”
Answers
1. His birth name was Fernando Martins
2. He grew up in Lisbon, Portugal
3. He was born in 1195 and lived most of his life in the 1200s (the 13th century)
4. He entered a monastery at age 15
5. He first entered an Augustinian monastery, (Pope Leo XIV’s order!), but ended up leaving and joining the Franciscans instead
6. St. Anthony’s psalter, a prayer book containing the psalms
7. A young novice got cold feet about religious life and decided to leave — but not empty-handed. He took St. Anthony's precious psalter with him. When St. Anthony prayed for its return, something amazing happened. Not only did the book come back, but so did the young man, recommitting to his vocation!
8. He is typically depicted holding the Child Jesus in honor of a mystical vision he had
9. His tongue
10. Heretics
What’s your score?
9-10 correct: St Anthony Authority
7-8 correct: Trivia Whiz
5-6 correct: History Nerd
Under 5: St. Anthony still loves you!
