St. Anthony’s Bread
St. Anthony’s Bread is a devotion to St. Anthony dating back to the 13th century. It is a source of many favors and graces and is of great aid to the poor and needy.
History of St. Anthony’s Bread devotion
According to the most ancient chronicles, while the great basilica was being built, a child of Padua fell into a barrel of water and was drowned. The child’s mother called on St. Anthony for help and promised she would donate the child’s weight in grain for the poor if her child was restored to life. While the mother was praying, her child arose as if from sleep.
This miracle gave rise to the pious practice of giving alms to the poor as a petition or in return for favors received through St. Anthony’s intercession.
Where St. Anthony’s Bread got its name
The practice received its present name from a favor received by a pious girl named Louise Bouffier at Toulon in France in the last century. She promised loaves of bread for the poor in exchange for St. Anthony’s help. Her shop later became a center of devotion to St. Anthony; the alms of those whose favors were heard were given to the numerous poor families of the city.
The Franciscan Order encourages this act of charity to the afflicted and those in want everywhere. It is a laudable method of sacrifice and of thanksgiving to St. Anthony.
How to contribute to St. Anthony’s Bread
You can take part in this traditional method of prayer to St. Anthony by sending your offering, however small, in honor of him. It will be used to help the poorest of the poor.
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