For as long as I can remember, my Mom had a strong devotion to St. Anthony and relied on him to help her find anything that was lost. She would pray in thanksgiving and then drop some cash in the St Vincent de Paul box. As she got older, her dialogue with St. Anthony became more frequent. She was even a little embarrassed by how much she relied on St. Anthony. We teased her that St. Anthony was up there asking the other saints “can someone else take this? It’s Teresa, again”.
St. Anthony was up there asking the other saints
“can someone else take this? It’s Teresa, again”
I lost my beautiful Mom on July 8, 2025 and I miss her so much.
I knew she would go straight to Heaven, because she was the most consistently kind and selfless person I have ever known. And just like in life on earth, she’s continuing to pray for me and our family from Heaven. She’s still trying to make life easier for her people, even now from Heaven and while I miss her so intensely, it’s a consolation, a confirmation that she’s happy up there in Heaven, in the Communion of the Saints.
The truth is, after all that time calling on
St. Anthony, now she’s working with him!
About a month and a half after she died, we were preparing for our youngest to return to school and we discovered that our seemingly annual quest returned. Adam had lost his locker lock and it was kind of a big deal. We went through the same rigmarole the year before and were stuck between the school not accepting a lock purchased elsewhere, and not being able to purchase a new one from the school.
After two weeks of looking everywhere in the house and asking St. Anthony for his help, I finally called out to my Mom in desperation. “Mom, can you help me find this lock?”
30 seconds later, I turned to find the lock, in plain sight, in the middle of the kitchen counter.
A place we had all looked countless times. Thanks, Mom!
After that, we began asking Mom for her intercession…even before we’d seek St. Anthony’s help. Sorry St. Anthony, just trying to give you a break. And you know what? She was ON it! And it was so LIKE her! She spent her days on earth anticipating the needs of those around her and her first impulse always seemed to be finding a way to make life easier for everyone.
Now, she was continuing her kindness, empathy, and generosity, but this time, tapping St Anthony on the shoulder in Heaven, saying “I’ve got this” and smiling with that beautiful smile.
Over the last months of missing my Mom, we have been repeatedly consoled by my Mom’s intercession from Heaven.
It has happened with countless other things; sometimes she has helped us find things in unusual places, before we even realized they were missing! I think maybe she prompted a lady to walk to my house and return my wallet I didn’t even know I had dropped!
That’s the kind of thing my Mom would do. She was always anticipating how she could help others, how she could make life easier for us, and I think she’s spending her time in Heaven continuing the same!
She has found many things over the last months. She secured a place in a course my youngest daughter was waitlisted for. She found a house in the city for my daughter and her husband to live in; and we later discovered that my cousin lived in the very same house 75 years ago!
She has found a couple keys, at least three wallets, two special rings, and those pesky kitchen scissors in a place I’d never put them.
I think she has orchestrated timely requests for books for me to review, just as they became relevant to me.
An extra book was mysteriously included in my book order of My Mom’s Yearbook (I curated), just after I realized I needed one more for her bestie, Fr. Leslie.
After a long search, she found an awesome summer co-op position for my youngest daughter, that has surpassed all of our expectations.
And last week, I’m pretty sure she orchestrated the seamless arrival of our first grandson a day earlier than expected, and prompted the eagerly awaited milk supply. I know these may seem like a stretch, but believe me, we’ve been praying for my Mom’s intercession at every moment and I know she’s so happy to help!
I have friends who are now asking for my Mom’s intercession and she has found things for them as well!
I am continuing to tell others about my Mom’s intercession, and in one particular circumstance, it seems to have stirred up questions (and answered intercession!) that could lead one of my Mom’s closest friends, back to the Faith.
I know my Mom’s smiling up there, because she’s prayed for that most of her life.
And that, my friends, would fit in with my Mom’s particular gifts and motivation; making life easier for her loved ones and prompting others in their Faith, to join her up in Heaven someday.
Speak Your Mind