Saint Anthony of Padua who just recently celebrated his feast day has manifested his powerful intercession when his own relic was stolen. Known for being the Patron saint of lost things, Saint Anthony heard the prayers of the faithful parishioners of the church dedicated to him in Long Beach california and interceded for them to find his own relic. In the Catholic tradition, relics are part of a saint’s body or belongings that are revered as sacred or holy. Relics reminds the faithful of the Saint’s heroic virtue and holy life while living on earth. With the help of the unceasing prayers of the distraught parishioners, heaven was bombarded with prayer intentions and soon the relic was found and returned to the church undamaged.

The 780 year old relic of Saint Anthony is encased in a gold and silver reliquary and is rarely displayed to the public only on special occasions according to the pastor of St. Anthony Church, Fr. Jose Magana. According to police report, the relic was stolen by a heavy built woman who was seen attending five masses a day before the thievery. The next day, before the morning mass, parishioners and pastor were stunned to learn that the reliquary was missing from the cabinet. Surveillance camera showed the woman’s identity leaving Saint Anthony’s church that morning and that witnesses testified that the same woman was overly curious about the relic that she once was asked to step away from the relic when she got too closed to it.

Police officers scoured the neighborhood with sketches and leads and soon found the relic displayed in the living room of the 41 year old commercial burglar named Maria Solis. Solis has been temporarily released from Police custody due to unverified medical condition but will soon face charges once investigations are complete. Aside from facing possible criminal and civil lawsuit the woman will also need to seek confession because what she did is sacrilegious.

The relic was returned by Police officers to St. Anthony church after giving a brief press conference on the steps of the Parish. Fr. Jose Magana credited the quick return of the relic not only to the Police officers but also to parishioners who tirelessly pray to St. Anthony to return his relic back to the church.

the stolen relic of St. Anthony of Padua

The cabinet where the relic was stolen by Maria Solis

artist sketch of 41 year old Maria Solis

Fr. Jose Magana places the relic on the table after it was found

Police officers return the relic to the Church