Saint Anthony the Abbot, born in the year 251, is generally considered the “Father of Christian Monasticism” or the “Father of All Monks.” Although he was not the first person to ever live as an ascetic or a hermit, his extreme dedication to listen, follow, and live the words of God attracted disciples far and wide. Stories about this Christian monk from Egypt, his preaching, prayers, and exemplary solitary life in the wilderness quickly spread that even some Greek philosophers visited him to hear his arguments on Christianity. But Saint Anthony had always been a wise man. His goal was not to argue about Christianity, his mission was to live it; not only to know, but to do. He was firm about the Christian faith because as he said, faith was created by God. He always taught people that only in living in holiness and sacrifice can one become a true follower of Christ. That was what he did- he lived in constant prayer, fasting, and did manual labor in the desert, away from the noise of the village. There he suffered and endured many supernatural temptations, which only brought him closer to God.
When his popularity began to grow, he moved from one desert to another because he feared he might feel too proud or that people would start worshiping him instead of God. Wherever he went, his friends would later find him, wanting to join him in prayer or listen to him. Saint Anthony the Abbot lived up to the age of a hundred five years. Despite his monastic and hard life in the wild, he died a strong and highly-spirited man who offered his whole self to God. It was his friend, Saint Athanasius, who wrote the biography of his life, and that helped further spread the idea of Christian monasticism in other parts of the world.
Saint Anthony the Abbot, pray for us.
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