From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
July 5th - Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria
(1502-1539)
=C2 Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria was founder of three religious societies dedicated to Saint Paul. Saint Anthony worked tirelessly for the
conversion and repentance of sinners, spread devotion to the Blessed
Sacrament, and encouraged frequent Eucharistic participation. His
devotion to Our Blessed Mother and the teachings of Saint Paul guided
his work and the religious communities he founded--communities still
in existence today. In his short life, Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria
modeled true devotion and love of Jesus, especially the crucifixion.
"Unfurl your flags for Jesus Crucified is about to send you to
proclaim everywhere the vital energy of the Spirit."
Born in Cremona (near Milan), Italy, Saint Anthony lost his father at
the age of two and was raised by his pious mother. She was devoted to
his upbringing, instructing him in the ways of faith from an early
age. With her guidance, and the grace of the Holy Spirit, Anthony
demonstrated great piety as a child. He took a private vow of chastity
before his twelfth birthday, and frequently was observed giving away
his possessions, food, and clothing to the poor and needy.
His gifted mind allowed him to excel at scholastic endeavors, and he
studied both philosophy and medicine, eventually practicing as a
doctor for 3 years. During that time Anthony felt more and more called
not to the healing of men's bodies, but of their souls, and eventua=
lly
pursued theological studies. Drawn to the priesthood, Anthony was
ordained in 1528, at the age of 26, and served the
community--particularly those in hospitals and in need--for two years.
Saint Anthony moved to Milan, following the Countess Ludovica Torelli
of Guastalla, one of his spiritual advisees. Once in Milan, Saint
Anthony founded 3 religious orders: one for men, known as the Clerics
Regular of Saint Paul (the Barnabites); a branch of uncloistered nuns,
the Angelic Sisters of Saint Paul; and a lay congregation for married
people, the Laity of Saint Paul, sometimes referred to in North
America as the Oblates of Saint Paul. The 3 foundations met regularly
and engaged together in various forms of apostolic action. Their aim
was the reform of the decadent society of their day, beginning with
the clergy and religious.
He wrote to the members of his orders: "Do not think that my love for
you or the good qualities you are endowed with, may have me desire
that you be just little saints. No, I greatly desire that you become
great saints, since you are well equipped to reach this goal... All
that is required is that you really mean to develop and give back to
Jesus Crucified, in a more refined form, the good qualities and graces
He has given you."
The main devotion and teachings of the orders founded by Saint Anthony
were those of Saint Paul, with an emphasis on love for the Eucharist
and the suffering of Christ crucified. Dedicated to reformation of the
clergy, Saint Anthony earned himself enemies within the church, and
was twice accused of heresy (both times acquitted). So humble, he
refused to serve as superior of his orders, instead traveling,
reforming convents and monasteries, and extending the membership of
the laity.
From another of Saint Anthony's letters: "You are my crown and my
glory, so much so that some day I will make our holy Apostle Paul feel
envious of me on account of you. In fact you are not inferior to his [spiritual] daughters in your great desire to suffer for Christ, in
your total contempt of worldliness and self-denial, and in your
striving to lead people to a spiritual renewal and to Jesus Crucified
who is despised so much."
Saint Anthony is also known for popularizing the exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament, known as the Forty-hour devotion. He also is said
to have originated the ringing of church bells at 3:00 p.m. on
Fridays, in recognition of the hour of the crucifixion of Christ.
Saint Anthony caught the plague in 1539, while on a mission to
Guastalla, Italy. Despite his sickness, he continued to minister to
the ill, as well as engage in the strict penances and mortification he
had begun early in life. He died peacefully at age 37, and was buried
in the convent of the Angelics of Saint Paul in Milan. His incorrupt
body was translated to the Church of Saint Barnabas in Milan. He is
survived by the legacy of the orders he founded, as well as several
letters written in service of the Lord.
by Jacob
Saint Quote:
Reading the lives of the Saints is a great means to preserve piety.
--St. Philip Neri
<><><><>
Veni, Sancte Spiritus (Come, O Holy Spirit); a Sequence:
excellent for recitation at Holy Mass:
I.=C2 =C2 Come, O Holy Spirit, and send out a ray of your heavenly li=
ght.
II.=C2 =C2 Come, Father of the poor, come, giver of gifts, come, light=
of our hearts.
III.=C2 Come, kindly comforter, sweet guest of our soul and sweet freshn=
ess.
IV.=C2 =C2 Rest in hardship, moderation in the heat, relief in pain!
V.=C2 =C2 O most blessed light, fill the innermost hearts of those wh=
o
believe in you.
VI.=C2 =C2 Without your divine power there is nothing in man, nothing =
that
is harmless.
VII.=C2 Wash what is unclean, water what is arid, heal what is wounded.
VIII. Bend what is stiff, warm what is cold, guide what has gone astray.
IX.=C2 =C2 Give to those who believe in you and trust in you your seve=
n sacred gifts.
X.=C2 =C2 Give the reward of virtue, give the end of salvation, give
lasting happiness!
The author of this sequence, which dates to the beginning of the
thirteenth century, is probably Stephen Langton.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)