Today we celebrate the feast of the founder of monasticism in the Catholic Church – Anthony of Egypt – who was born around the year 250. After his parents died, he distributed his property to the poor and beginning a life of penance withdrew into solitude of the desert. He attracted disciples and labored on behalf of the Church, giving support to believers during the persecution of Diocletian and assisting Saint Athanasius against the Arians. He died in 356.
From the Life of St Anthony by St Athanasius we read:[One day, shortly after his parents’ death, Anthony was on his way to church and he began to think about the gospel passage concerning the rich young man and Jesus advice to him: to go sell everything and come follow him] when he got 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 – and then gave himself to the ascetic life – and practiced great austerity. He did manual work because he had heard the words: If anyone will not work, do not let him eat. 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!
He founded a monastery – which was actually a collection of hermit cells – wrote a Rule of Life – and thus became the foundation upon which all of the monasteries and great monks of the future are founded such as Basil, and Benedict and Francis.
In our first reading today, we see how Saint Paul tells us all to put on the armor of God – which is the Holy Spirit. We must pray always for the gift and the graces of the Holy Spirit in order to be able to withstand the attacks of the mortally wounded, but still persistent evil spirits that roam the world seeking the ruin of souls. We must especially ask for the Spirit to pray for us in his own words – so that nothing is left unguarded.
In the gospel passage, we read of the rich young man, who unlike Anthony of the desert – could not give up his possessions – and thus cut himself off from a huge portion of God’s favor, and blessings, and protection. If we want to be taken with our possessions – God will not prevent it – but he will be sad that our life together will be that much less.
You are my inheritance, O Lord. Help us today, Lord, to truly understand what this means – because if we do – everything falls into place – and our life in you is secure!
Amen.
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