The Life of St. Anthony #booknotes

The Wisdom of Exploring the Extreme

The Life of Anthony is a short treatise on St. Anthony of Egypt written by another Saint known as Athanasius. He basically collected the stories and sayings of Anthony into a primer that could be used to educated people about his work and life.

Anthony's life was truly extreme. His habit of not washing and spending most of his days in a cave are not something I could connect with. However, there is wisdom in a lot of the extremes. I'm thankful for what I have learned.

Highlights: (Points from the text written in my own words)

• Pg 20 - Possessions are not worth worrying about because you cannot taking them with you. Gather things that you can; wit, prudence, justice, temperance, courage, understanding, love, kindness to the poor, faith inChrist, freedom from wrath, hospitality. You will keep those in the land of the meek-hearted "Kingdom of Heaven" (I love this phrase)

• Pg 31 - Only fear God, despise the demons but do not fear them. A good life and faith in God is a great weapon. Demons fear spiritual disciplines and the Fruits of the Spirit.

• Pg 34 - You will be judged not on your knowledge or learning, but on whether or not you kept the faith/commandments

• Pg 40 - Satan complains to Anthony about Christian blaming him for the sins they do on their own. This was a really wild story.

• Pg 45 - Perfection of the Christian is achieved through matyrdom

• Pg 49 - Anthony asks the wild animals not to harm his garden and they listen. (This would be handy in my garden)

• pg 50 - Alone in the inner mountain. I need to find times of being alone in the inner mountain

• pg 51 - Focus on working hard

• pg 53 - Point 55 on this page lays out a way of life that I'd like to follow.

  • Pray Always

  • Avoid vainglory

  • Sing songs before sleep and on awaking

  • Hold in your heart the commandments of the Scripture

  • Be mindful of the work of the Saints

  • Meditate continually on the Apostle's word, 'Let not the sun go down upon your wrath Eph 4:26'

  • Try your own selves and prove your own selves 2 Cor 13:5

  • Examen each night

• Pg 55 - Healing belongs to God alone. God may have used Anthony to heal people, but he was always quick to point out it was God’s work alone.

• Pg 57 - A question that shouldn't be asked; why did God heal one and not another?

• Pg 64 - Visions from God are the solace of a disciplined life. Interesting concept

• Pg 64:67 - When someone gives you advice, wisdom, or knowledge that is helpful for your practice let them know right away.

• Pg 66 - Against the Arian Heresy. He really didn't like the Arian's.

• Pg 78 - The sign of the cross weakens magic and witchcraft? Something to explore.

• Pg 83 - Live as if dying daily. He lived to over 100 years old, so this is really saying something.

Actions based on what I learned:

1. Less focus on possessions

2. Schedule time to be in the “Inner Mountain”

3. Combine prayer with fasting

4. Incorporate psalms into my prayers when waking and before I go to sleep

Next Book? Gregory of Nyssa: The Life of Moses