DEVOTION TO ST. ANTHONY
Cynthia Montemayor
One of the most important sites of St. Anthony’s devotion in Macau is the Church of St. Anthony, a historic church located in the heart of the city. Built in the 17th century, the church is ideal for those who aspire to find a peaceful and quiet place to pray in the tumultuous and chaotic world of today. Located at Santo António Square, St. Anthony’s church is one among the three oldest churches in Macau. The church houses the beautiful image of St. Anthony, who, according to Portuguese custom, is the patron saint of marriages. For this reason, the church is traditionally a favored spot for holding wedding ceremonies among local Catholics in Macau.
St. Anthony is revered across the city for his miraculous and powerful intercessions on behalf of the faithful. His feast day, on June 13th, is celebrated in Macau with great fanfare, with a procession, high mass, and other religious ceremonies honoring this great saint. Locals and Catholic tourists often come to the church to pray to St. Anthony, seeking his aid in finding lost items, healing the sick, and securing good fortune.
The association of St. Anthony with finding lost things comes from a story about an incident that took place in a monastery in Italy. The story recalls that Anthony had a highly treasured book containing his notes and commentaries. A novice (a person who has entered a religious order and is under probation, before taking vows) who decided to leave the monastery took the book and went away with it. Books then were handwritten and thus highly valuable. Having only one copy, it’s not likely Anthony could get a replacement. So, he was understandably distressed about the loss. St. Anthony prayed for the book to be returned and for the novice to come back to the monastery. The novice returned the book, begged for forgiveness and was accepted back into the monastery. That’s why the church venerates St. Anthony as the patron saint for lost things. But St. Anthony doesn’t just intercede for the recovery of material items. If you feel you’ve lost your faith, hope, salvation and other spiritual goods, you can also pray to the saint. Remember that Anthony not only prayed for his treasured book to be returned but also that the lost soul of the novice would come back to his faith. You can pray to St. Anthony for yourself or on behalf of another person.
Beyond the church, devotion to St. Anthony can be seen across Macau. Many households maintain small shrines or statues of the saint, and businesses often display his image to seek his blessing. Over the centuries, this devotion has become woven into the cultural fabric of Macau, transcending its origins and taking on a uniquely local character.
Today, the devotion to St. Anthony remains a central part of the religious life of Macau’s Catholic community. As the city continues to evolve, this timeless tradition endures, a testament to the enduring power of faith and the special place that St. Anthony holds in the hearts of the Macau faithful.
Follow
