St. Antoninus, Archbishop of Florence by Francis Xavier Weninger, 1876

St. Antoninus, Archbishop of Florence by Francis Xavier Weninger, 1876

.

The celebrated St. Antoninus, Archbishop of Florence, was born in 1389, in the city of that name. He was the only son of very pious parents, and hence was educated with great solicitude. In baptism he received the name of Antony, but on account of the smallness of his stature, he was called Antoninus or little Antony. In childhood he was so pious that he was entitled the little Saint. He never left the house except to go to school or to Church. In the latter he was always found kneeling, generally before the statue of the blessed Virgin, to whom he was deeply devoted, and to whom he ascribes the grace he received from God to lead a pure life. He early desired to enter the Order of the Dominicans, but the prior, on account of his youth and great delicacy of health, hesitated to admit him, yet did not wish to hurt him by a rufusal. He told him, that when he had learned by heart the Ecclesiastical Law, which he studied at that time, he should present himself again, and he would be admitted. After the lapse of a year, Antoninus returned, saying, that he had studied his task and hoped now to receive the habit. The Father Provincial could hardly credit the assertion of Antoninus, examined him, and found that he had indeed spoken the truth and knew the whole Canonical Law by heart. As this was a convincing proof not only of the ability of the youth, but also of his divine vocation, he was gladly received into the Order.

.

Antoninus soon became a most perfect model of virtue. He was always the first and the last in the choir, and passed the greater part of the night in prayer and devout reading, only when sick did he partake of meat. His bed was a board, and not until he was far advanced in years did he sleep upon a straw mattress. He never divested himself of his garment of hair cloth, and although his constitution was weak and sickly, he never relaxed in his austerity towards himself, not even when he had become Archbishop. While still very young, he was appointed, on account of his great ability and virtues, Prior of monasteries, and later he presided over the Roman and Neapolitan Provinces as provincial, until he was chosen by the Pope Archbishop of Florence. The Saint was deeply grieved when he heard the news, and seeking to flee, he was and taken to Sienna. He used all possible means to avoid this dignity, but he was obliged to obey, as the Pope threatened him with excommunication. Hence it was with weeping eyes that he received the Episcopal consecration; praying to God: "Lord, it is known to thee how unwillingly I take this burden upon myself. As I am, however, compelled to obey Thy Vicar, I pray Thee to rule me also, that I may conform my life to Thy holy will, and do all that Thou demandest of me." He commenced his new functions by the regulation of his residence, which wore the appearance of a cloister rather than that of the palace of a bishop. His household consisted of eight persons, to whom he gave large salaries, while he himself lived no better than he had done in the convent; No mendicant was sent from his door without alms, and he also founded an institution where those might receive aid who were ashamed to beg. His private income he used for the indigent, as he said that it did not belong to him but to the poor.

.

One day, walking through the city, he saw many angels upon the roof of a poor little house. Going into it, he found a respectable widow with three daughters, who lived by the labor of their hands, but who earned scarcely enough to clothe themselves decently and who often had nothing to eat. The Saint not only gave them liberal alms, but thereafter came frequently to their relief. It happened however, that after a considerable time the Saint, when passing the same house, instead of angels, saw devils upon the roof, who seemed to enjoy themselves greatly. He went in and saw mother and daughters not occupied with works, but with visitors and frivolous amusements. He likewise found divers books which served to entertain them. The Saint, from this, easily concluded what the apparition signified. He reprimanded them severely, and admonishing them to return to their former industry, was in future, more circumspect in distributing his charities. Kind as the holy bishop was to the poor, he was also watchful and unwearied in the duties which his functions imposed upon him. Every moment left to him from his prayers and his short rest he devoted to them. He preached sometimes in one place, sometimes in another; and suffered no irreverence, no indecorously arrayed women in the church. Many prevailing abuses, among others playing at dice, he abolished altogether. He lent a most patient ear to the complaints and demands of those under him. Every one had access to him, and no one left him uncomforted. His zeal to keep his flock constant in their faith was truly heroic. He was one day exhorted to relax somewhat in his labors lest his health should suffer. "Prelates of the Church," replied he; "must not think of themselves but of the welfare of those in their charge."

.

Being at length exhausted from work, he was seized by a slow fever in the 70th year of his age. Feeling that his end was approaching he divided all he had among the poor, so that when the expenses of his funeral were paid, four ducats were all that was left. Having most devoutly received the holy sacraments, he suddenly cried aloud: "To serve God is to reign." Some of the Canons read a part of the daily prayers of the Church, and the Saint responded as well as he could. At length, kissing and pressing the image of the crucified Christ most fervently to his breast, he expired on the night of Ascension Day, in the year of our Lord 1459. The Almighty had bestowed upon him the gift of prophecy and also the power to restore the sick, and to cleanse man and dwellings from evil spirits. To a surgeon, who one day complained to him that his house was greatly disturbed by evil spirits, the Saint replied that a certain superstitious book which he kept was the cause of it, and advised him to burn it; this was done and all disturbance ceased. Pope Pius II., who was in Florence at the time of the Saint's death, attended his funeral and Nicholas V. hesitated not to say that he believed St. Antoninus had as well deserved to be counted among the Saints during his life, as others whom he had solemnly canonized after their dealth: so great was the estimation in which the bishop was held while he lived.

.

Practical Consideration

.

St. Antoninus allowed no irreverence, no indecorously dressed women in Church. In both these points he acted rightly; for those who are disrespectful in Church, and those who go there immodestly dressed, give evidence that they either do not believe in the God who is present there, or that, instead of reverencing his supreme Majesty, they rather despise him. As far as the first point is concerned, Christian reader, I exhort you to think whither you are going, before whom you will appear, and why you are going, when you enter a Church. Understand it well. You are entering the house of the Great God. You, as a miserable sinner, appear before God as before your Judge. You, as a poor, needy beggar, appear before God, as before the richest and most liberal of all monarchs. You, as a being created to serve God, appear before Him as before your Lord, who is at the same time, Ruler of heaven and earth. You, as a servant, desire to honor your Master, to ask for His graces as an alms, and to beg that your misdeeds may be forgiven.

.

In regard to the second point, may all those whom it concerns be assured that they commit great sin way by their frivolous way of dressing themselves. They give occasion to offences against the Majesty of God, in the very place where everyone ought to honor Him with all the power of his soul. How great a wickedness! Even dresses which are not indecorous, but too elaborate, are not suitable for a human being who appears before God, as a miserable sinner before his judge, or a poor beggar before a great Lord. Listen to what St. Chrysostom said to a vainly dressed woman: "What! are you going to dance in church, and to present yourself before the eyes of men, or to pray God to forgive your sins, and to appease the wrath of your Judge? What need have you to dress yourself so frivolously and with such care? Those are not garments for a beggar," for one who prays for grace and pardon. "How can you seriously repent of your sins, or pray with devotion, if you appear in such an array? Even if you should shed tears during your prayers, you would rather incite others to laughter than edify them. Away with such indecent ornaments."

.

Have you observed in the life of St. Antoninus, where the evil spirits delight to dwell, and with what persons they enjoy themselves? In those houses, where people amuse themselves by reading frivolous, immoral, superstitious, slanderous or other wicked books; where they entertain themselves with sinful gambling and idle company, with laughing and jesting, with impure conversations and songs, or with other such like entertainments; with those who waste the priceless time in the above-named loose manner, there Evil Spirits delight to dwell, there they enjoy themselves. On the contrary, the holy angels love to dwell with those who avail all such things, who occupy themselves according to their station, and who live a pure life. Judge now, whether the evil spirits or the holy angels visit you and your house. If you have a forbidden book in your house, throw it into the fire. Are you addicted to gaming and entertaining vain company; do you spend your time in idleness or unchaste conversations? Reform; otherwise you may rest assured that you prepare a pleasure for the devil. Evil spirits are with you and around you. Endeavor to work according to your station, and to avoid the above-mentioned errors, and you will prepare a joy for the angels: they are with you, and will assist you in your need. "The angels and archangels delight in our industry and our work," says St. Ephrem, "as the devils, on the contrary, rejoice on perceiving that we are indolent and lazy."