ST. ANTHONY MARY ZACCARIA
Anthony was born in Italy in 1502. While he was still young, his
father died. His mother encouraged Anthony in the special love he
felt for the sufferings of poor people. Mrs. Zaccaria sent her son
to the University of Padua so that he could become a doctor. He
was only twenty-two when he graduated.
The young doctor was very successful. Yet he did not feel satisfied.
He realized that he wanted to become a priest. Anthony began to
study theology. He also continued to care for the sick, to comfort
and inspire the dying. He started to use all his spare moments to
read and meditate on the letters of St. Paul in the Bible. He had
read the life of the great apostle Paul many times, and had given
much thought to his virtues. Now Anthony was burning with a strong
desire to become a saint and to bring everyone to Jesus.
After he was ordained a priest, St. Anthony Mary moved to the great
city of Milan. There he would be able to help many more people.
He also started an order of priests. They are the Clerks Regular
of St. Paul. People call them "Barnabites" after their headquarters
at the Church of St. Barnabas in Milan. In imitation of the apostle
Paul, St. Anthony and his priests preached everywhere. They repeated
the words and sentences of Paul. They explained Paul's message with
words that were easy to understand. The people loved and appreciated
this. St. Anthony also had a great love for Jesus in the Blessed
Sacrament. In fact, he started the practice of the Forty Hours Devotion.
St. Anthony Mary was only thirty-seven when he died on July 5, 1539.
Pope Leo XIII proclaimed him a saint in 1897.
"Since we have chosen such a great apostle Paul as our guide and father and claim to follow him, we should try to put his teaching and example into practice in our lives."-St. Anthony (to the Barnabites)
Saint of the day courtesy of the Daughters of St. Paul