Anthony Collection

Feast Day: August 11

Patron of: Eye Disease, Laundry, Television

Born to a wealthy Italian family in 1194, St. Clare was one of the first followers of St. Francis of Assisi. Wanting a life of poverty and refusing to marry anyone but Jesus Christ, she eventually built a following that is known today as the “Poor Clares.” In 1241, during the Crusades, armies came to attack the order. Though feeble with ill health and age, Clare rose to meet the armies with the Blessed Sacrament and prayed to God to protect her sisters. The armies fell back, as if dazed, and retreated. Toward the end of her life, Clare became too ill to attend Mass but, miraculously, a vision of the Mass appeared on her wall and, though it was several miles away, she was able to hear it. Because of this vision, she is the patron saint of television and eye ailments.

Born in Lisbon, Portugal, St. Anthony became a Franciscan Friar. After a mix-up of who was going to give a homily, St. Anthony delivered an eloquent and moving homily. News spread of his preaching and he was ultimately nicknamed “the Hammer of Heretics.” Once when attempting to preach to a group of heretics, they would not listen, so he turned to the river and preached to the fish. While the people ignored his message, the fish all listened to the word of God. He’s well known as the patron of lost things because a novice who left the Order stole a valuable book of his. Realizing it was lost, Anthony prayed for its return, and the thief returned the book and rejoined the Order!