MIRACULOUS MIRACLES^™

Prayer — Prayers of the Saints

Si quaeris miracula

If Thou Seekest Miracles (Si quaeris miracula)

Probably Friar Julian of Speyer, c. 1232–1240; indulgenced by Pius IX, 25 January 1866

The responsory of St. Anthony, written within a decade of his death: death, error, calamity, leprosy and demons flee; the sea obeys; fetters break; and lost things are found.

The Prayer · Multiple Versions

English · Original

If then you ask for miracles,
Death, error, all calamities,
The leprosy and demons fly,
And health succeeds infirmities.

The sea obeys, and fetters break,
And lifeless limbs thou dost restore;
Whilst treasures lost are found again,
When young or old thine aid implore.

All dangers vanish at thy prayer,
And direst need doth quickly flee.
Let those who know thy power proclaim —
Let Paduans say — These are of thee.

The sea obeys, and fetters break, etc.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
The sea obeys, and fetters break, etc.

V. Pray for us, blessed Anthony.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.
O God, may the votive commemoration of the blessed Anthony, thy Confessor, be a source of joy to thy Church, that she may always be fortified with spiritual assistance, and deserve to enjoy eternal rewards. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Latin

Si quaeris miracula,
Mors, error, calamitas,
Daemon, lepra fugiunt,
Aegri surgunt sani.

Ant. Cedunt mare, vincula:
Membra resque perditas
Petunt et accipiunt
Iuvenes et cani.

Pereunt pericula,
Cessat et necessitas:
Narrent hi, qui sentiunt,
Dicant Paduani.
Ant. Cedunt mare, vincula, etc.

Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.
Ant. Cedunt mare, vincula, etc.

V. Ora pro nobis, beate Antoni.
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.

Oremus.
Ecclesiam tuam, Deus, beati Antonii Confessoris tui commemoratio votiva laetificet, ut spiritualibus semper muniatur auxiliis et gaudiis perfrui mereatur aeternis. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

When the Prayer is Said

On 13 June; on Tuesdays; when something is lost.

History & Background

Anthony died at Padua on 13 June 1231, aged thirty-six, and was canonised eleven months later — one of the fastest canonisations in history, because the miracles at his tomb were too many and too public to argue with. This responsory was written within the decade, probably by Friar Julian of Speyer, and it is simply a list of what people were getting: the leprosy healed, the sea calmed, chains broken, withered limbs restored, lost property recovered.

It has sometimes been attributed to St. Bonaventure, but it is not in the canon of his works. Its last line is a challenge to anyone who doubts the catalogue: let those who know repeat the theme, let Paduans say.

Pius IX indulgenced it with its versicle and prayer in 1866. Both texts are the Raccolta's of 1910.

Indulgences Attached

One hundred days, and plenary once a month, for saying the responsory with its antiphon, versicle and prayer — Pius IX, 25 January 1866 (Raccolta, 1910, no. 358).

Related Saints

St. Anthony of Padua

August 15, 1195 – June 13, 1231

All Prayers