Lost, Now Found – Haiku 2025; Thursday Doors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetryTags:, , , , , ,
Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, Veneto, Italy. Licensed image credit: © Dudlajzov | Dreamstime

bronzed portal of saints

preaching the good news to the sea

what was lost, now found

*

Located near the Adriatic Sea and known affectionately as Il Santo (the saint), this Basilica receives an average of 6.5 million visitors a year as a place of pilgrimage—Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, Veneto, Italy, completed in 1310.

The basilica’s iconic facade is a blend of many architectural styles, most notably its eight domes covered in lead and two minaret-styled bell towers.

Its facade is structural both to its building exterior housing and its bricks conceal the basilica’s buttresses… buttresses that can be seen on the interior in frescoed splendor.

Also unmistakable in its facade are the blind arcading (arches with recesses but no doors).

*The featured doors are the central bronze doors designed by the sculptor Camillo Boito and installed in 1895.

The main body of the door has the depiction of four priests canonized as saints: St. Prosdocimus, First Bishop of Padua, St. Daniel The Stylite, St. Francis, and St. Anthony of Padua.

The bas-reliefs on the doors in many places are the symbols of “The four evangelists”: Mark (a Lion); Luke (an Ox); Matthew (an Angel); and John (an Eagle).

The lunette or the arch above the featured doors contains a copy of the original fresco now housed in the St. Anthony of Padua Museum in Padua.

The lunette’s fresco is a depiction of St. Anthony of Padua and Saint Bernardino of Siena presenting one verse in scripture in latin inscribed around a blazing sun: “that every knee should bow, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, in the name of Jesus.” (Philippians 2:10).

Image of the door and a close-up are below:

Central Bronze door, Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, Veneto, Italy. Image credit: Pexels
Detail Central Bronze door, Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, Veneto, Italy. Licenced image credit: © Jasmina | Dreamstime

Trivia #1 and #2:

Saint Anthony of Padua was born in Lisbon. At an early age, his skills at reading and preaching the Bible became evident. He traveled to study and live as a friar and became one of the first teachers in the Franciscan Monks’ First School of Theology.

Many legends have been attributed to St. Anthony of Padua. Two of them go as follows:

First, St. Anthony of Padua was sent to Rimini, Italy, to preach to those who had not yet believed or heard the message of ‘the good news’ of the gospel. Legend has it that when St. Anthony of Padua arrived in Rimini, his efforts at preaching were met with resistance, aka he was either mocked and/or ignored.

St. Anthony of Padua, unbothered, decided, according to the legend, that since he was sent to preach, he would preach to any audience even the sea!

And so, as the story goes, he walked down to the seashore and began to preach to the sea! Suddenly, a great many shoals of fish… or so the legend goes, appeared and calmly floated along, seemingly listening to the preaching of St. Anthony of Padua.

News quickly traveled of this spectacle in the seaside fishing enclave, Rimini, and crowds suddenly began to appear as St. Anthony of Padua continued preaching. Some say his voice’s tone and pitch were remarkable in their clarity and range.

And so, as the crowds began to gather at the seaside and with a great many fish in the sea, St. Anthony of Padua did as he was sent to do and finally preached to the people of Rimini.

And as the legend goes, many were converted to faith in Christ on that day by the sea.

The second legend goes as follows:

Saint Anthony of Padua lived an austere and monastic life. The only item he held was his book, the scriptures in which he had made his handwritten notes.

In those days, books were one of a kind and completely written by hand on costly materials. It took some time to be able to afford one.

As the legend goes, one day, St. Anthony of Padua’s book went missing from his lodging, a small room in a monastic building in Padua.

And so naturally, St. Anthony of Padua prayed for the return of his book.

Shortly thereafter…

The person who had “absconded” with the book and run away from the faith of the Franciscan order felt the sudden urge to return the book to St. Anthony of Padua. According to the legend, the person not only returned the book but returned to the faith and to the monastic life.

News of Saint Anthony of Padua’s book’s loss and its unheard-of return, spread.

Saint Anthony of Padua is the patron saint of the poor, fishing, the elderly, expectant mothers, those seeking a partner (to marry), and help in finding lost things.

Additional information:

Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia, also known as Helen Cornaro, was born in Padua. Helen Cornaro was the first woman in the world to graduate with a Ph.D. (University of Padua, June 15, 1678).

The city of Padua’s famous dessert is Torta Pazientina. It consists of two different types/textures of cake soaked with juices and layered with whipped cream made with heavy cream, egg yolks, and sugar and finally topped with slivers of chocolate and nuts.

In closing, I must not fail to mention that the city of Padua, Italy, is the setting in William Shakespeare’s Taming of The Shrew, Act 1, Scene 1.

Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, Veneto, Italy. Licensed image credit: © Jasmina | Dreamstime

And for more Thursday Doors visit Dan Antion at No Facilities

Ritva Photography

Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

30 thoughts on “Lost, Now Found – Haiku 2025; Thursday Doors”

  2. Besides the featured bronze doors designed by the sculptor Camillo Boito and installed in 1848, and the depiction of four priests canonized as saints—St. Prosdocimus, first Bishop of Padua; St. Daniel the Stylite; St. Francis; and my dear St. Anthony of Padua—I must say it was your haiku, especially the line “what was lost now found,” that immediately caught my attention. St. Anthony has long been one of my favourite saints. Many times, when I’ve misplaced my keys, I’ve called upon his faithful help, and almost without fail—often in two ticks of a duck’s tail—they appear!

    I recall one time, preparing to travel, when I couldn’t find my tiny jewelry purse, the one I always carry on my trips. Panic set in as I searched high and low for my precious Tchaikovsky-painted purse. Then I paused, took a breath, and reminded myself—I am not alone. I whispered a quick prayer to St. Anthony, opened an old travel bag from a previous journey, and there, in the zip compartment, lay my purse exactly where I must have left it.

    I so love this cathedral, with its sculptures of the saints and the four evangelists—the Lion, the Ox, the Angel, and the Eagle—each symbol reflecting their spirit and character. The scripture engraved on the lunette adds such reverence and beauty. And how remarkable that Elena Cornaro Piscopia was the first woman in the world to earn a Ph.D., right there at the University of Padua in 1678. It’s wonderful how these Italian cities preserve their history, passing it lovingly from one generation to the next. Where I live, appreciation of such heritage is, sadly, often divided—filtered through race or class rather than shared as common treasure.

    I digress—but one cannot think of Padua without its confections! Italy’s sweets, chocolates, and desserts are a delight, and that famous Torta Pazientina, unique to the region, sounds utterly divine. And then, of course, Padua as a setting for comedy—what a choice! Shakespeare must have found it an inspiring stage indeed.

    Thank you for sharing this magnificent “door offering.” It was a truly wholesome and uplifting read that brightened my anxious heart. I love how St. Anthony continued to do what he came to do, even when others doubted or ignored him—how he preached, and the fishes listened. Fish, nets, and bread—symbols so deeply tied to the Gospels—speak of nourishment, both earthly and divine.

    Wishing you a blessed Thursday Offering. May your day be as rich and full of grace as the stories these doors tell.

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    1. The highest compliment, I feel, is when someone’s words bring refreshment to the reader. I am humbled by your kind words. Thank you seems a small bit of gratitude for so great a gift.

      You are right about the great help that has been sought more often, perhaps, than there are records of his assistance, of Saint Anthony’s importance in helping to find things.

      And you are absolutely spot on in the message of preaching to the oceans, the fish, and the reminder of the connection to the account of “the feeding of the five thousand.”

      Thank you for your always generous words of support and clarity of insight in your comments.

      May grace abound in every way in your path, this day.

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  3. After reading your haiku, I was drawn to the text to find what had been lost. I enjoyed the information and the history. I have this vision in my head of a man preaching to the sea and the fish gathering. It makes me smile.

    I hope you have a wonderful rest of the day and week, Suzette.

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  5. A magnificent structure with an imposing bronze doors, Suzette! I loved the backstories, especially the loss of the book, which has beautifully been mentioned in the last line of your haiku. Its association with Shakespeare is also amazing.

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  6. The Basilica is justly famous for its beauty. I love the way the arches float.
    And I’ve always liked that story of St Anthony preaching to the fish. There are many wonderful works of art that picture it. (K)

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  7. Your work always seems to arrive like a gentle knock at the door—soothing the right place and warming an anxious heart. I truly admire your discipline and diligence, and how, through them, you offer us daily masterpieces.

    It’s so true: there are countless stories told of St. Anthony coming to the aid of those searching for their lost keys or precious things. I often think these accounts would make a wonderful collection if gathered into a book—pages filled with the quiet miracles of everyday life.

    And yes, the ocean story, the bread and the fish—what an extraordinary account. It ties so beautifully to the feeding of the five thousand, that moment of abundance woven from faith.

    I take such pleasure in reading your work. It not only delights me but helps me grow—expanding my vocabulary, sharpening my phrasing, and encouraging me to craft my own sentences with greater care. Thank you, always, for indulging me with your thoughtful and generous responses.

    And thank you for your blessed wishes. My days are structured a little differently now, shaped in ways that help sustain me, so I often reply later.

    Happy Friday to you. May it unfold with grace.

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    1. Amen to that knock on the door of the heart from writings. I feel the same about your work and words as well.

      You are most welcome I am happy to share posts. But let me say, as I often do, it is truly iron sharpening iron or “Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of… hearty counsel.” Prov 27:9.

      You are most welcome for the blessed wishes. A reply is as time permits the reader, I feel. As I may have mentioned, I feel blogging is as a person pleases; otherwise, where is its joy?

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  9. Thank you, Poet. You are so very kind.
    Thank you for sharing the verse from proverbs with me. I dearly appreciate your genuine counsel.
    Indeed, my pace has slowed down tremendously, but I enjoy the time availed to me. So true, I agree.

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  12. I love how your poem captures the highlights of the church in just a few words. It looks like a beautiful building with a broze door, hidden buttresses, and eight lead domes. And of course, great legends. Maggie

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