Based on the 2019 ISTD Brief 'Lost', this publication is an exploration into the relationship between the Irish people and St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost items. Ireland is a traditionally Catholic country, and although many may not practice the faith, threads of our religious heritage run through our everyday lives in passing remarks and rituals.

The aim of this project is to collate a collection of stories, methods, prayers, and rhymes that are used by the people of Ireland in the hopes of bringing back a lost or stolen item, as well as to examine why this age-old cultural phenomenon came to existence, and stayed in the minds of a modern society.

All of the stories, repetitions, and prayers in this publication were kindly submitted by friends, family, and strangers who reached out to tell of their own personal experiences. 

Several spreads from this publication reference leaves from early printed bibles and prayer books.

A lot of prayer is based on call-and-response, and I used references from missals, missalettes and prayer books to emphasise the participation involved in religious ceremonies. This may involve a simple answer to statement, or a visual interpretation of the vocal nuances of a group praying in unison.