Biography of Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria

Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria

Also known as

• Antonio Maria Zaccaria
• Antony Zaccaria

Profile

Born to a patrician family. His father Lazzaro died when Anthony was two, and his mother, Antonia Pescorali, widowed at age 18, devoted herself to her son. He studied medicine at Padua, Italy, receiving his doctorate at age 22. Work as a physicians to the poor in Cremona, Italy, he felt called to the religious life. He bequeathed his inheritance to his mother, worked as a catechist, and was ordained at age 26; legend says that angels were seen around the altar at his first Mass.

Noted preacher and an excellent administrator. In Milan, Italy he established the congregations, the Society of Clerics of Saint Paul (the Barnabites) for men religious, and the Angelics of Saint Paul for un-cloistered nuns. Helped introduce the Forty Hours' Devotion. These groups helped reform the morals of the faithful, encouraged laymen to work together with the apostolate, and frequent reception of Communion. While on a peace mission, Anthony became ill and died at his mother's house; tradition says that in his last moments he had a vision of Saint Paul the Apostle.

Born

1502 at Cremona, Lombardy, Italy

Died

• 5 July 1539 of natural causes at Cremona, Lombardy, Italy
• buried at Saint Paul's Convent of the Angelics at Milan, Italy
• body found incorrupt in 1566

Canonized

27 May 1897 by Pope Leo XIII

Readings

That which God commands seems difficult and a burden. The way is rough; you drawback; you have no desire to follow it. Yet do so and you will attain glory. - Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria