Tag: Antony
How St. Anthony the Abbot defeated the devil
He lived in solitude in the desert, but he wasn’t alone. St. Anthony the Abbot (sometimes called St. Anthony of Egypt or St. Anthony the Great), was inspired by the Gospels to sell all his possessions and live a life of solitude in the Egyptian desert. He established for himself a quiet hermitage away from… Read More ›
You know not the day nor the hour
Abba Anthony heard of a very young monk who had performed a miracle on the road. Seeing the old men walking with difficulty along the road, he ordered the wild asses to come and carry them until they reached Abba Anthony. Those whom they had carried told Abba Anthony about it. He said to them,… Read More ›
St. Antony: Father of Monasticism
Some elders came to St. Antony and asked him, “Which is the greatest of all virtues?” Each one then gave an opinion, some saying that “fasting and keeping of vigils” best help one come near to God; others said “voluntary poverty” and “detachment”; others said “compassion.” Last of all, Anthony gave his reply: “All that… Read More ›
Moderation
A hunter in the desert saw Abba Antony enjoying himself with the brothers, and he was shocked. Wanting to show him that it was necessary sometimes to meet the needs of the brothers, the old man said to him, “Put an arrow in your bow and shoot it.” So he did. And the old man… Read More ›
The Meaning of Scripture
One day some old men came to see Abba Anthony. In the midst of them was Abba Joseph. Wanting to test them, the old man suggested a text from the Scriptures, and, beginning with the youngest, he asked them what it meant. Each gave his opinion as he was able. But to each one the… Read More ›
Temptation of St. Anthony
We know about St. Anthony from a biography written by St. Athanasius called Life of St. Anthony. It says that when people would visit St. Anthony at his desert home, “they heard tumults, many voices, and, as it were, the clash of arms. At night they saw the mountain become full of wild beasts, and him… Read More ›
Silence and Listening
Some brothers were coming from Scetis to see Abba Antony. When they were getting into a boat to go there, they found an old man who also wanted to cross. The brothers did not know him. They sat in the boat, occupied by turns with the words of the Fathers, Scripture and their manual work…. Read More ›
What shall I do in my affliction?
When the holy Abba Antony lived in the desert he was beset by accidie, and attacked by many sinful thoughts. He said to God,’Lord, I want to be saved but these thoughts do not leave me alone; what shall I do in my affliction? Ho w can I be saved?’ A short while afterwards, when… Read More ›
St. Pachomius
Catholic News Agency: St. Pachomius can justifiably be called the founder of of cenobitic monasticism, monks who live in community. Even though St. Antony the Great was the first to go into the desert to live a life of seclusion pursuing evangelical perfection, he lived a heremitic life, that is, a primarily solitary life. Pachomius… Read More ›
On Visions
Some brothers came to find Abba Antony to tell him about the visions they were having, and to find out from him if they were true or if they came from the demons. They had a donkey which died on the way. When they reached the place where the old man was, he said to… Read More ›