St. Anthony of Padua

It is St. Anthony's feast day today... and today it brings back memories of a trip I took not so long ago. With my two dearest friends, we explored the cities of Padua and Venice. It was a relaxing trip but at the same time filled with its own peculiarities as almost every trip that we took was... we travelled to Padua/Venezia one weekend while we were all studying in Austria. Venezia held for us an entire treasure trove of enchantment. The city on the water. It was a wonderment to behold. In almost stark contrast; the city of Padua is nothing that I expected at all. Only 30 minutes from the watery city of glass - is a large and rather metropolitan city which holds a beautiful Church to its Patron, St. Anthony. It was this Church and other sites in Padua, that we visited, making our way through the winding streets. Trying desparately to reach gardens and churches before they closed. Even despite the unexpectedness of the city, there was so much beauty and peacefulness... it is interesting that some of the smallest things such as this feast day, can bring to life one's past expereinces, somehow coming back cloudier in ways while still managing to provoke one's thoughts and bring a smile to one's face. It is the recollection of such memories and the friends that I still hold close to my heart, that fills the forgotten details with ones of warm and fond thoughtfulness.

St. Anthony, come, come around.
For something's lost and must be found.
St. Anthony of Padua - pray for us.