Justin Appel

Dear Friends,

Today is the feast of Saint Anthony of Egypt (251-356), a desert father known today as the father of monasticism, due to his role in organizing an early monastic community, as well as writing a monastic rule. St Anthony emphasized the themes of asceticism and spiritual warfare. Today, to honor this early saint, I will simply list a series of his sayings, which I have found to be challenging and comforting, by turns.

——————

“Reject pride, and consider everyone more righteous than yourself.”

“Many fall, then rise up again into a state of health and virtue; but others fall from virtue into sin. Those who fall then rise up are better from those who rise up then fall.”

“I never preferred my own benefit over that of my brethren… my son, do not hate any body, but love your neighbor as yourself.”

“A wise man asked: ‘How can you be steadfast in this wilderness without any books to nurture you?’ St Anthony answered saying, ‘O wise man, my books are the lives of those who came before me, and when I want to read, I read the word of God.’”

“Once St Anthony was asked, ‘What good work shall I do?’ And he answered. ‘All works are not equal, the scriptures said that Abraham was hospitable, and God was with him. And, Elijah loved quiet, and God was with him. And, David was humble, and God was with him. What therefore you find that your soul desires in following God, that do, and keep your heart.’”

“A brother said to St Anthony, ‘Pray for me.’ The old man said to him, ‘I will have no mercy upon you, nor will God have any, if you yourself do not make an effort and if you do not pray to God.’”

“When the demons see Christians, especially the monks, working joyfully and growing in the spirit, first they fight them with temptation, and by placing obstacles to hinder their growth, trying to inject evil thoughts in their minds; but there is no reason for fear from their temptations because their offenses fail instantly by prayer and fasting, specially if you have had armed yourself with faith and the sign of the cross.”

———————

Of course, I cannot resist mentioning a piece of music that has been in my memory for some time, the Mathis der Maler Symphony by Paul Hindemith (1895-1963). The third movement depicts episodes in the life of St Anthony as painted in the famous altarpiece triptych of Matthias Grünewald: the temptation by Satan, and the meeting of St Anthony and St Paul the Hermit.

These stories are illustrated by means of themes angular and tortuous, as well as by occasional and fleeting moments of musical longing. The movement concludes with a quote of the plainchant “Lauda Sion Salvatorem” with huge “Alleluias” intoned by the brass. This work has other major themes (artistic creativity, etc.) and historical context (artistic life under Nazi rule), but the music remains a powerful tone poem about spiritual warfare.

Yours in Christ,

—Justin