After St Paul, father of the anchorites or hermits, the Christmas Cycle honours St Anthony, father of the cenobites, who live in common.When he was eighteen he retired into the Egyptian desert and led the life of a hermit. The devil, in order to frighten him and drive him from the solitude would appear to him in the most hideous shapes; "but the Lord made him formidable to his foes: one word from his mouth reduced these prodigies to nothingness." (Epistle)
His holiness soon attracted souls desirous to see the divine Kingship of Christ more perfectly confirmed in themselves. As a new lawgiver, he gave them "the doctrine and rule of faith that he had received from God in prayer" (Epistle).
St Anthony, the first of Abbots, instituted monastic life in common, by which are formed noble souls always ready, like their father in God, to receive the Lord when he shall come to take them from this world (Gospel). Wherefore today's mass is that of the common of Abbots.
He also strenuously fought against Arianism and with St Athanasius who honoured him with his friendship, he successfully defended the dogma of the divinity of Christ. He died in 356 at the age of 105 years.
Let us show forth by the perfection of our lives that we share in the divinity of Jesus.
Os justi meditabitur sapientiam, et lingua ejus loquetur judicium: lex Dei ejus in corde ipsius. * Noli aemulari in malignantibus: neque zelaveris facientes iniquitatem.
The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgement: the law of his God is in his heart. * Be not emulous of evildoers: nor envy them that work iniquity.(Psalm 36:30-31 and 1 from the Introit of Mass)
May the intercession of the blessed Abbot Anthony, we beseech Thee, O Lord, commend us unto Thee, that what we cannot have through our own merits, we may obtain through his patronage.
From the Catholic Encyclopaedia on St Anthony: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01553d.htm
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