Gospel Photo of the Week



On Friday, January 17, we celebrate the feast of St. Anthony, Abbot. If you’re thinking to yourself that the name sounds familiar, well you’re right, he is the patron saint of our parish. St. Anthony is also known by several other names including Anthony the Great, Anthony of Egypt and Anthony of the Desert among others. St. Anthony lived during the third and fourth centuries and lived a life in dedication to Christ and the gospel. His biographer, St. Athanasius states that mere knowledge of how St. Anthony lived is a good guide to virtue. St. Anthony was born to wealthy, Christian parents in the year 251 in Upper Egypt. As a child, Anthony gained a reputation for his temperance, faithfulness to church duties and obedience to his parents. Prior to his twentieth birthday, Anthony found himself mourning the loss of both of his parents which left him in charge of a large estate and a younger sister to care for. In light of these new life circumstances he continued seeking out God’s will and fostering a relationship with Christ.

One day while attending Mass, Anthony heard proclaimed in the gospel the words of Jesus “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Taking these words to heart, Anthony did exactly that. Upon hearing these words, he went home and gave away his property and sold his possessions and, except for enough money to care for himself and his sister, gave the proceeds to the poor. With his sister cared for, Anthony placed his trust in the Lord and went off in solitude to live as a hermit, seeking out others that might lead him to living a virtuous life.

For St. Anthony, life as a hermit was a difficult one, his days were filled with manual labor, prayer and pious reading as well as temptations and attacks from Satan himself. Time and time again, Anthony successfully fended off these attacks and was ultimately reminded that Christ had remained by his side throughout it all. In the years to come, St. Anthony would continue his search for grace by moving deeper into the deserts and further into solitude. After twenty years of solitude, St. Anthony emerges from the mountains around the year 305 to open his first monastery where he continued to seek out and lead others to a virtuous life. After a few years of leading the monastery, St. Anthony once again retires to the desert. Anthony died on January 17, 356. St. Anthony is the patron saint of animals, skin diseases, farmers, butchers, basket makers, brushmakers, gravediggers.

St. Anthony of the Desert…pray for us.

Fr. Eric

2019 Diocesan Parish Annual Appeal