June 13th is the feastday of one of the Church’s greatest Saints - Saint Anthony of Padua. In addition to "Hammer of Heretics", he is also known as the "Wonder-Worker". The following is one of many stories that helps explain why.

In 1729, Antonio Dante left the port of Spain and began his journey to South America. This Spanish merchant was on his way to begin a business in Lima, Peru. Antonio's wife remained in Spain. During his absence she wrote to him several times. As time went by she began to worry more and more. For although she continued writing, she received no reply to her letters.

She was in such anguish that she took one of her letters to the church of Saint Francis, in Oviedo. Inside was a large Statue of Saint Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) with an outstretched hand. With a trusting faith, the weary wife placed her letter in the hand of this great Saint. She told him, "Saint Anthony, I pray thee, let this letter reach him and obtain for me a speedy reply."

The following day, she returned to the church, only to find her letter still in the statue’s hand. In her frustration, she began to weep. This caught the Brother Sacristan’s attention, who kindly listened to her sad story. When she had finished, he told her that already he had tried to remove the letter but couldn’t. He asked her if she would try to take the letter from the hand.

The wife did try and was easily able to release the letter from the statue's grasp. She looked and saw that this was not the same letter that she had brought to the church the day before. This letter was from her husband. As soon as she saw this, there fell from the statue's sleeve three hundred gold coins. This naturally attracted some attention and several other friars soon came over to the statue. Everyone waited as the letter was opened. It was dated July 23, 1729:

My dear wife,

For some time I have been expecting a letter from you, and been in great trouble at not hearing from you. At last your letter has come, and given me joy. It was a Father of the Order of St. Francis who brought it to me. You complain that I have left your letters unanswered. I assure you that when I received none I believed you to be dead. So you may imagine my happiness at the arrival of your last one. I answer by the same religious, and send you three hundred gold crowns, which will suffice you for your support until my approaching return. In the hope of soon being with you, I pray to God for you, and I commend myself to my dear patron Saint Anthony, and ardently desire that you may continue to send me tidings of yourself.

Your most affectionate, Antonio Dante.

Ever since this miraculous event, people have been placing their mail under the powerful protection of Saint Anthony. A most common and popular tradition is the writing of S.A.G. (for “Saint Anthony Guide”) on the top of the envelope. So now when you see S.A.G. you know how it got started.