The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee honored St. Anthony of Padua, patron saint of lost and stolen items, on his feast day Monday, informing parishioners of his nickname and how he got it.

“Today we honor St. Anthony of Padua, a 13th century Franciscan priest,” the diocese posted on Facebook. “While today he is most commonly known as the patron saint of lost items, in his own day he was known as the ‘Hammer of Heretics’ for the powerful witness of his life and his preaching.” 

St. Anthony was born in Portugal to wealthy, religious parents. He became a Franciscan friar when he was about 25, Britannica says. He was headed to Morocco where he was to preach to the Saracens, but he got sick en route and was advised to return home. On the way back to Portugal, gales blew his ship off course. Anthony ended up in Sicily, where he began to teach theology. 

“He fully dedicated himself to preaching boldly as a missionary in France, Italy and Spain,” the diocese said.

He passed away in 1231 and was canonized in 1232. Pope Pius XII, seven centuries later, declared Anthony a Doctor of the Church, according to Britannica. 

He became the patron saint of lost things because he once lost something. He prayed that God would return his missing psalter, and God answered his prayer, the diocese said.

For that reason, St. Anthony usually receives prayers from a person who is searching for items that have been lost or stolen, StAnthony.org confirms. Artistic renderings of him often show Anthony holding a book, a lily or a young Jesus in his arms.

“Doctor of the Church” is a select title that a pope can bestow upon a person who has made significant and lasting contributions to the Church, Crossroads Initiative explains. It lists the three requirements for the title as a “holiness that is truly outstanding, even among saints,” “depth of doctrinal insight,” and “an extensive body of writings which the church can recommend as an expression of the authentic and life-giving Catholic Tradition.” 

To date, 36 people have been granted this title.

“St. Anthony, please pray for us, that we may be brought back to God when we lose our way,” the diocese posted.