January 17 2020 - St. Anthony of the Desert - "Do you wish to be perfect?"

Most of what is known about the life of Anthony is from his biography written by St. Athanasius. Anthony was born in the year 251 in upper Egypt to wealthy parents.  Attending Mass one day he heard the words of the Gospel, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor.  You will then have treasure in heaven” Anthony told his disciples in later years, that it was as though Christ had spoken the words directly to him.  For he was inspired to take these words quite literally.

Anthony gave away some of the family estate to his neighbors, sold the remaining property, donated the funds to the poor, placed his sister with a group of Christian virgins for her education, and became the disciple of a local hermit in the desert, and devoted himself to God.   Though he had not sought it, a group of hermits grew around him, and he became their spiritual father, or an “abbot”, thus beginning monasticism as it is known today.

“Do you wish to be perfect?” That’s a question which reaches down to the root of our existence, doesn’t it? It’s a question every human person is faced with. Do I wish to be perfect and will I do what needs to be done in order to achieve perfection. For some people the answer is no. They don’t care perfect, they don’t want anyone telling them their not already perfect. They don’t want to give up their moral imperfections because of the effort involved, they don’t want to exert themselves to grow in virtue or to nurture spiritual gifts.

For Christians however, the answer must always be yes. I do wish to be perfect, Jesus show me the way. For many Christians, the way of perfection lies in putting our faith into practice in our private life, in our family life, and in our social life. We practice patience at work, and forgiveness, and even learn to embrace our sufferings in union with the Lord.

For some Christians, the way of perfection leads them to the desert, or to the monastery. Perfection leads them to an intense prayer and mortification and detachment from earthly pleasures—what the world considers important.

Not all of us can or should go out to the physical desert, but there certainly needs to be something of that openness to the desert in each of us, that detachment, even mistrust of material comforts, and the willingness to overcome all weakness of the flesh by learning strength of the spirit in deep communion with God.

May St. Anthony inspire us and aid us with his heavenly intercession in seeking the perfection for which we were made, in uniting our lives ever more fully to Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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To God the Father Almighty we direct the prayers of our heart for the needs and salvation of humanity and the good of His faithful ones.

For the holy Church of God, that the Lord may graciously watch over her and care for her.

For the peoples of the world, that the Lord may preserve harmony among us.

For all who are oppressed by any kind of need, that the Lord may grant them relief and move Christians to come to the aid of the suffering.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, for all monastics and hermits, and that all Christians may seek the perfection for which they were made.

For our beloved dead, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for X, for whom this Mass is offered.
O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.