January 17 + Saint Anthony the Abbot

Born in Egypt in 251 AD, the life of Anthony will remind many people of Saint Francis of Assisi. At age 20, Anthony was so moved by the Gospel message, “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor,” that he actually did just that with his large inheritance. He is different from Francis in that most of Anthony’s life was spent in solitude. He saw the world completely covered with snares and gave the Church and the world the example of a lifestyle without common pleasures, great personal mortification and prayer. But no saint can be completely antisocial and Anthony drew many people to himself for spiritual healing and guidance.

At 54, he responded to many requests and founded a sort of monastery of scattered cells. Again, like Francis, he had a great fear of “stately buildings and well-laden tables.”

At 60, he hoped to be a martyr in the renewed Roman persecution of 311, fearlessly exposing himself to danger while giving moral and material support to those in prison. But at age 88, he was fighting the Arian heresy — “The mule kicking over the altar” denied the divinity of Christ.

Anthony is often associated in art with a T-shaped cross and a pig. The cross and the pig are symbols of his valiant warfare with the devil — the cross his constant means of power over evil spirits, the pig a symbol of the devil himself. Anthony died in solitude at age 105.

In an age that smiles at the notion of devils and angels, a person known for having power over evil spirits must at least make us pause. Anthony’s hermit life reminds us of the absoluteness of our break with sin and the totality of our commitment to Christ. Even in God’s good world, there is another world whose false values constantly tempt us.