(1502-1539) Saint Anthony was born to Italian nobility, lost his father at two, and received a doctorate in medicine by 22. He worked as a physician, but his passion was teaching catechism to children and the religious formation of young adults. Anthony left a promising secular career and was ordained a priest at 26. Noticing some of the weaknesses and corruption in the clergy that would inspire the Protestant Reformation, Anthony founded the Clerics Regular of Saint Paul, now known as the Barnabites. Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria had a deep devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.

Saint Anthony Mary knew every person was created for more than just getting by. Magnanimity, greatness of soul, is required to become who we were created to be. In recovery, this is the hard work of discovering our defects and learning a new way (Steps 4 through 7).

“Anyone willing to become a spiritual person begins a series of surgical operations in his soul.  One day he removes this, another day he removes that, and relentlessly proceeds until he lays aside his old self” (Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria, “Letter 11,” June 20th, 1539).

Reflection by Brad Farmer