Prayer to St Anthony for Love
St. Anthony of Padua is known for helping people find lost objects, but he has also long been asked to intercede in matters of the heart, for those hoping to find a faithful spouse and for couples praying for healing in a relationship. Popular devotion sometimes describes this as "finding what's lost" in another sense: a lost connection or a lost sense of hope in love. These prayers ask for St. Anthony's intercession in a relationship, trusting that God's timing and will are better than our own. Pray them for yourself or for someone you love who's waiting.
These prayers can be said in a single sitting before a first date, after a breakup, or on behalf of a friend. Choose a one-line petition for a quick moment in the car, or set aside time for the longer prayer. For a structured practice across nine consecutive days, you can also bring this intention to the St. Anthony Novena.
A Prayer to St. Anthony for Love
St. Anthony, gentlest of saints, I ask your intercession in matters of the heart. Pray that God would lead me to the love He has for my life, in His timing and according to His will. Help me trust Him while I wait. Amen.
A Prayer for a Faithful Spouse
Lord, through the intercession of St. Anthony, I ask for a faithful, God-honoring spouse, if it is Your will for my life. Prepare my own heart in the meantime, and help me trust Your timing over my own. Amen.
A Prayer for Healing in a Relationship
St. Anthony, pray for the relationship I hold in my heart. Ask the Lord to heal what has been strained, restore trust where it's been broken, and guide us both toward His will, together or apart. Amen.
A One-Line Prayer to St. Anthony for Love
St. Anthony, pray for me in matters of the heart. Amen.
A Longer Prayer to St. Anthony in Matters of the Heart
St. Anthony of Padua, you who devoted your whole life to loving God faithfully, I ask your intercession in this part of my life that feels uncertain. Whether I am hoping to find someone to love, or working to heal love that already exists, I bring it before God through your prayers. Ask the Lord to guide me toward what is truly good for me, not simply what I want in this moment. If there is someone meant for my life, let our paths cross in His timing, and prepare both of our hearts to recognize it when it comes. If I am meant for a season of waiting, give me patience and peace in it, rather than anxiety about what I cannot control. Where there is an existing relationship that needs healing, ask God to soften both hearts, restore honest communication, and rebuild trust that has been damaged. Above all, help me hold this desire for love with open hands, trusting that God's plan for me is good, even when His timing is not my own. Pray with me, St. Anthony, and lead me toward a love that honors Him. Amen.
Scripture to pray
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud... It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.— 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.— Jeremiah 29:11
Frequently asked questions
Can you pray to St. Anthony for love or a relationship?
Yes—alongside his patronage over lost things, many Catholics ask St. Anthony's intercession in matters of the heart, whether searching for a spouse or seeking healing in an existing relationship: "St. Anthony, pray that God would lead me to the love He has for my life, in His timing and according to His will. Amen."
What is the prayer to St. Anthony for finding a spouse?
A common form asks: "Lord, through the intercession of St. Anthony, I ask for a faithful, God-honoring spouse, if it is Your will for my life. Prepare my own heart in the meantime, and help me trust Your timing over my own. Amen." It pairs the request with trust in God's timing rather than a demand for a quick answer.
Is there a novena to St. Anthony for love or a relationship?
You can pray the St. Anthony Novena for love by bringing your relationship intention to its traditional nine-day devotion. To pray it, choose any prayer from this page and say it once daily for nine consecutive days, keeping your intention in mind each time. Conclude the ninth day with a prayer of thanksgiving for whatever has shifted, even if the outcome itself has not yet arrived.
Is it okay to pray for a specific person to fall in love with you?
Catholic pastoral guidance welcomes bringing a specific person before God in prayer, provided the petition seeks God's will and the true good of both individuals. Christian prayer respects human freedom and never attempts to force or manipulate someone else's feelings. You can ask God to bless that person and reveal His purpose for the relationship, trusting His timing whether your lives move forward together or apart.