St. Anthony the Great
quotes from Anthony the Great:→
Anthony the Great (251 – 356), was a Christian monk from Egypt, revered since his death as a saint. He is known as the “Father of All Monks” due to his importance among the Desert Fathers and to all later Christian monasticism. The biography of Anthony’s life by Athanasius of Alexandria helped to spread the concept of Christian monasticism. He is often erroneously considered the first Christian monk, but according to his biography and other sources, there were other ascetics before him. Anthony was, however, among the first known to go into the wilderness (about AD 270), which seems to have contributed to his renown. Accounts of Anthony enduring supernatural temptation during his sojourn in the Eastern Desert of Egypt inspired the “Temptation of St. Anthony” in Western art and literature. Most of what is known about Anthony comes from the Life of St. Anthony, which was written in Greek around 360 by Athanasius of Alexandria. It depicts Anthony as an illiterate and holy man who through his existence in a primordial landscape has an absolute connection to the divine truth, which always is in harmony with that of Athanasius as the biographer.
Extant Works:
Sayings of the Desert Fathers:
On Self-Reflection & Sovereignty of God:
“When the same Abba Anthony thought about the depth of the judgements of God, he asked, ‘Lord, how is it that some die when they are young, while others drag on to extreme old age? Why are there those who are poor and those who are rich? Why do wicked men prosper and why are the just in need?’ He heard a voice answering him, ‘Anthony, keep your attention on yourself; these things are according to the judgement of God, and it is not to your advantage to know anything about them.'” –Sayings of the Desert Father: Anthony the Great 2
On the Necessity of Sanctification:
“He also said, ‘Whoever has not experienced temptation cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.’ He even added, ‘Without temptations no-one can be saved.'” –Sayings of the Desert Father: Anthony the Great 5
“Abba Anthony said, ‘I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world and I said groaning, “What can get through from such snares?” Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Humility.'” –Sayings of the Desert Father: Anthony the Great 7
“He also said, ‘Some have afflicted their bodies by asceticism, but they lack discernment, and so they are far from God.'” –Sayings of the Desert Father: Anthony the Great 8
On Works & Salvation:
“He also said, ‘Our life and our death is with our neighbor. If we gain our brother, we have gained God, but if we scandalize our brother, we have sinned against Christ.'” –Sayings of the Desert Father: Anthony the Great 9
On Good Works & Salvation:
“The brethren came to the Abba Anthony and said to him, ‘Speak a word; how are we to be saved?’ The old man said to them, ‘You have heard the Scriptures. That should teach you how.’ But they said, ‘We want to hear from you too, Father.’ Then the old man said to them, ‘The Gospel says, “if anyone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.”‘ (Matt. 5.39) They said, ‘We cannot do that.’ The old man said, ‘If you cannot offer the other cheek, at least allow one cheek to be struck.’ ‘We cannot do that either,’ they said. So he said, ‘If you are not able to do that, do not return evil for evil,’ and they said, ‘We cannot do that either.’ Then the old man said to his disciple, ‘Prepare a little brew of corn for these invalids. If you cannot do this, or that, what can I do for you? What you need is prayers.'” –Sayings of the Desert Father: Anthony the Great 19
On Persecution:
“Abba Anthony said, ‘A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying, ‘You are mad, you are not like us.”‘ –Sayings of the Desert Father: Anthony the Great 25