Anthony the Abbot, Ascetic

Anthony lived in an out-of-the-way place, a desert in Egypt, where he spent his time in prayer and meditation on the mysteries of God. When people came to him for wisdom, he reminded them that faith is not something to be proved but it is a gift which comes to us from God. His life of fasting and prayer was an example for many. “If you think me wise,” he once said, “become what I am, for we ought to imitate the good... become what I am, for I am a Christian." Anthony reminds us to pay attention to what God wants in our lives. He followed the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit into the monastery. Like him, we must also listen carefully and follow God’s will.