St. Anthony of Egypt
The temptation of St. Anthony in the desert.
I completely forgot that today is the feast of St. Anthony of Egypt. I attribute it to the pain meds I have had to take today for a continuing health problem I have.
St. Anthony, celebrated as the patriarch of Christian monasticism, and the inspiration of all monks, was born around the year 250. He left society, after selling all he possessed and went into the desert to live the ascetic life in solitude. He attracted disciples whom he organized into the first cenobitic communities of monks.
His temptations are intriguing, indicating the way of the solitary is one of combat with the spiritual forces of evil. The Vita, written by St. Athanasius, details his combat with the demons, a subject fascinating painters throughout the ages. An excerpt from Athanasius’ account of the life of St. Anthony:
” But those of his acquaintances who came, since he did not permit them to enter, often used to spend days and nights outside, and heard as it were crowds within clamouring, dinning, sending forth piteous voices and crying, ‘Go from what is ours. What do you even in the desert? You can not abide our attack.’ So at first those outside thought there were some men fighting with him, and that they had entered by ladders; but when stooping down they saw through a hole there was nobody, they were afraid, accounting them to be demons, and they called on Antony. Them he quickly heard, though he had not given a thought to the demons, and coming to the door he besought them to depart and not to be afraid, ‘for thus,’ said he, ‘the demons make their seeming onslaughts against those who are cowardly. Sign yourselves therefore with the cross, and depart boldly, and let these make sport for themselves.’ So they departed fortified with the sign of the Cross. But he remained in no wise harmed by the evil spirits, nor was he wearied with the contest, for there came to his aid visions from above, and the weakness of the foe relieved him of much trouble and armed him with greater zeal. For his acquaintances used often to come expecting to find him dead, and would hear him singing, ‘Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered, let them also that hate Him flee before His face. As smoke vanishes, let them vanish; as wax melts before the face of fire, so let the sinners perish from the face of God;’ and again, ‘All nations compassed me about, and in the name of the Lord I requited them.’ ” - New Advent
St Anthony, pray for us that we may be freed from every enchantment proffered by the world, the flesh, and the devil. By your prayers, make us worthy of the promises of Christ. Pray with us when we pray, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and may those that hate you flee before your Holy Face.” Amen
