St. Anthony Bread
“St.Anthony Bread” is a term used for offerings made in thanksgiving to God for blessings received through the prayers of St. Anthony. It is used to support the poor. Mlle. Louise Bouffier, a woman greatly devoted to St. Anthony, seems to have been the one who started the practice of “St. Anthony Bread.” She had a small shop in Toulon, France. One morning, she found it impossible to open the shop door. Since the safety lock seemed broken, she called a locksmith, and he, after trying all the keys on his ring, gave up in despair, saying the only thing to do was to break open the door .

While the locksmith went after other tools, Mlle. Bouffier prayed fervently to St. Anthony that the door might be opened without force. She promised, if her request be granted, to distribute a certain number of loaves of bread to the poor in his honor. She then begged the locksmith, who had returned, to make another effort with his keys. As soon as he did, the door came open without the slightest difficulty. As a result of this and other favors granted through the help of St. Anthony, his clients increased so rapidly that Mlle. Bouffier, together with her friends founded the work of charity called “St. Anthony Bread.”
 

Prayer On Giving St. Anthony Bread
O Glorious Wonder-worker, father of the poor,
who by a miracle did discover the heart of a miser
buried in his gold, and who was endowed with a
heart ever ready to help the distressed and
afflicted, you ensure a hearing for our prayers by
offering them yourself to the Lord; accept in token
of our gratitude the alms which we offer you for
the relief of your poor and sick children. May this
alms do good to those who suffer and to ourselves.
Come to their aid and to ours with your accustomed
kindness; help us in our temporal needs, but
still more in our spiritual necessities now and at the
hour of our death. Amen.

Blessing St. Anthony Bread
Heavenly Father, we praise you and give you
glory for the gift of bread, fruit of the earth, work of
human hands and source of our daily nourishment.
Bless this bread in honor of St. Anthony.
Teach us to share all your gifts with the poor, the
forsaken and the hungry.
All praise be to you through Jesus Christ our Savior
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever
and ever. Amen.

Table Prayers In Honor Of St. Anthony Before Meals:
Father, you filled St. Anthony of Padua
with a great love for the poor.
By feeding the poor he gave glory to your name.
May we be thankful for the food on this table,
and always reach out to those in need.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

After Meals:
Father, St. Anthony fed bread to the poor,
and proclaimed your glorious name.
As we offer you thanks for this meal,
may we be inspired by St. Anthony
to proclaim your name without hesitation,
and to feed those who are hungry.
May you be praised and blessed,
now and for ever. Amen.

The Lilies Of St. Anthony
In Franciscan churches lilies are sometimes blessed in a solemn and beautiful ceremony on the
feast of St. Anthony, June 13. The lilies commemorate the purity and piety of St. Anthony and recall
the fragrance of his great charity for the poor. As the prayer indicates, the lilies are kept in the home
or carried on one’s person, as a sacramental against sickness and temptation and to bring purity, good
health, and peace.

 

Blessing St. Anthony Lilies Reading Mt. 6, 24-33
Learn from the lilies of the field
Father, you provide for the birds
that neither sow nor reap,
and take care of the wild flowers
that neither work nor spin;
you bestow spiritual gifts
upon your faithful sons and daughters
and reward their fidelity with eternal salvation.
Bless these lilies in honor of St. Anthony.
Grant health of mind and body,
holiness, happiness and peace
to those who receive these blessed lilies,
and seek to observe the gospel values of your
Son, who lives and reigns with you for ever.
Amen.