Today is the Feast Day of St. Antony
Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Saint Antony the Abbot, revered as Antony of Egypt, Antony the Great, or the Father of All Monks, is a notable figure in Christian history, particularly in monasticism. Born into affluence in 251 AD in Coma, near Heracleopolis Magna, Egypt, he opted for an ascetic life after his parents' demise.
At 20, a church gospel reading dramatically altered his life. The words of Jesus in Matthew 19:21, urging a man to sell his belongings and follow Him, resonated deeply with Antony, leading him to renounce his wealth for a life of poverty and strict self-discipline.
Antony began his ascetic journey near his home but later sought deeper isolation in the desert around 285 AD, embarking on a hermitic life. His desert years were marked by fervent prayer, fasting, manual labor, and battles with demonic forces, as frequently described in his life stories.
Despite his seclusion, Antony's sanctity became renowned, drawing followers seeking spiritual direction. Unintentionally, he fostered one of the earliest Christian monastic movements. He guided these disciples, forming a community of hermits living independently yet near him, sporadically gathering for worship.
Famed for his wisdom and teachings, Antony was consulted by many, including Emperor Constantine and his sons. His few surviving letters are some of the oldest monastic writings.
Saint Athanasius documented his life in Vita Antoni (The Life of Antony), significantly influencing monasticism's spread and Antony's philosophies. His influence extended to key Christian monastics, like Saint Augustine.
Saint Antony died in 356 AD at 105. His feast day, January 17th, commemorates him, and he's often invoked against skin ailments, known as "Saint Antony's Fire." His legacy continues to inspire, particularly in monastic and contemplative Christian circles.
From the Life of Saint Antony by Saint Athanasius, bishop
Saint Antony receives his vocation
When Antony was about eighteen or twenty years old, his parents died, leaving him with an only sister. He cared for her as she was very young, and also looked after their home.
Not six months after his parents’ death, as he was on his way to church for his usual visit, he began to think of how the apostles had left everything and followed the Savior, and also of those mentioned in the book of Acts who had sold their possessions and brought the apostles the money for distribution to the needy. He reflected too on the great hope stored up in heaven for such as these. This was all in his mind when, entering the church just as the Gospel was being read, he heard the Lord’s words to the rich man: If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor – you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me.
It seemed to Antony that it was God who had brought the saints to his mind and that the words of the Gospel had been spoken directly to him. Immediately he left the church and gave away to the villagers all the property he had inherited, about 200 acres of very beautiful and fertile land, so that it would cause no distraction to his sister and himself. He sold all his other possessions as well, giving to the poor the considerable sum of money he collected. However, to care for his sister he retained a few things.
The next time he went to church he heard the Lord say in the Gospel: Do not be anxious about tomorrow. Without a moment’s hesitation he went out and gave the poor all that he had left. He placed his sister in the care of some well-known and trustworthy virgins and arranged for her to be brought up in the convent. Then he gave himself up to the ascetic life, not far from his own home. He kept a careful watch over himself and practiced great austerity. He did manual work because he had heard the words: If anyone will not work, do not let him eat. He spent some of his earnings on bread and the rest he gave to the poor.
Having learned that we should always be praying, even when we are by ourselves, he prayed without ceasing. Indeed, he was so attentive when Scripture was read that nothing escaped him and because he retained all he heard, his memory served him in place of books.
Seeing the kind of life he lived, the villagers and all the good men he knew called him the friend of God, and they loved him as both son and brother.
Let us pray
Father, you called Saint Anthony to renounce the world and serve you in the solitude of the desert. By his prayers and example, may we learn to deny ourselves, and to love you above all things.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.