St Anthony, The Father of the Monks

St Anthony was born about 251 A.D. Of well-to-do parents in Coma (Kemn-el-Arouse) in the middle of Egypt.

When he was eighteen years of age his parents passed away, leaving him guardian of his younger and only sister, Dious.

Six months later Anthony entered the church to hear the Gospel, in which our Lord speaks to the rich young man, “If you would
be perfect, go sell all you have, give to the poor and come follow me.”
(Matthew 19:21).

He took this advice as a personal invitation addressed to him by God. He sold about 300 acres of fertile land, gave most of the money to the poor keeping only a little for his sister. Then he placed his sister in the charge of a community of virgins.

As a hermit in the desert he lived a long and saintly life that influenced
countless people both in his time and for generations thereafter, even to this day.

Listen to Bishop Abraham as he contemplates on the life of St Anthony and the importance of applying the Word of God in our Lives.