Sant'Antonio Zaccaria, Saint of the day for July 5th

(1502-5 July 1539)

The story of Sant'Antonio Zaccaria
At the same time that Martin Luther was attacking abuse in the Church, reform was already being attempted within the Church. Anthony Zaccaria was among the first promoters of the Counter-Reformation. Her mother became a widow at the age of 18 and devoted herself to the spiritual education of her son. He received a doctorate in medicine at the age of 22 and while working among the poor of his native Cremona in Italy, he was attracted to the religious apostolate. He renounced his rights to any future inheritance, worked as a catechist and was ordained a priest at the age of 26. Called to Milan in a few years, he laid the foundations for three religious congregations, one for men, one for women, and an association of married couples. Their goal was to reform the decadent society of their time, starting with the clergy, religious and lay people.

Strongly inspired by Saint Paul - his congregation is called Barnabiti, in honor of that saint's companion - Anthony preached with great vigor in church and on the street, conducted popular missions and was not ashamed to do public penance.

He encouraged innovations such as the collaboration of lay people in the apostolate, frequent communion, the devotion of the forty hours and the sound of church bells on Friday at 15:00. His holiness led many to reform their lives, but like all the saints, he also pushed many to oppose him. Twice her community had to undergo official religious investigations and twice she was exonerated.

During a peacekeeping mission, he became seriously ill and was taken home for a visit to his mother. He died in Cremona at the age of 36.

Reflection
The austerity of Antonio's spirituality and the Pauline ardor of his preaching probably "turn off" many people today. When some psychiatrists also complain about the lack of a sense of sin, it may be time to tell ourselves that not all evil is explained by emotional disorder, unconscious and unconscious drives, parental influence and so on. The old sermons of the "hell and damnation" mission have given way to positive, encouraging biblical homilies. We really need certainty of forgiveness, relief from existential anxiety and future shock. But we still need prophets to get up and tell us: "If we say 'We are sinless', we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1: 8).