|
Anthony
was born in Egypt in the third century He was orphaned as a
teen and had the responsibility of raising his sister. He heard
a sermon in Church that encouraged him to give away his possessions
to experience the “treasures in heaven” so he donated
his family’s fortune to charity and sent his sister to
a convent. He left his hometown of Memphis and headed to the
desert where he became an ill-groomed hermit living in an abandoned
fort which he barricaded to maintain his solitude. But the devil
found his way in and he fiercely battled the evil one who eventually
succumbed. He was sought out by his friends who eventually broke
his door down and he emerged with healing wisdom. Word got out
and many people came to learn from him and thus was founded
the first monastery. His popularity increased to his discomfort
and he escaped, moving deeper into the desert. Despite his life
of solitude and severe austerities, he lived until the ripe
old age of a hundred and five. Because Anthony had been credited
with the healing of various skin diseases he became associated
with pigs because pork fat had a similar healing effect for
the same ailments. This, in turn, lead to his general association
with animals. He’s also the patron of amputees, basket makers
and weavers, brushmakers, monks, butchers, graveyards,
hermits, and pigs; and he’s invoked against epilepsy and
skin diseases. His feast day is April 4. |
To
order
click on one of
the links below
|
 |
| St.
Anthony the Great
Patron St. of
Pets |
|
