Anthony Mary Zaccaria was an Italian physician and priest who lived during the early sixteenth century. Born in 1502 in Cremona, Italy, he grew up during a time of war, social upheaval, and growing calls for reform within the Church.
He studied medicine at the University of Padua, one of the leading centers of learning of his time. After completing his studies, he returned to Cremona to practice as a physician.
Doctor Anthony saw medicine not merely as a profession but as a form of service. He cared especially for the poor, treating those who could not afford medical care and giving much of his time to those most in need.
His concern extended beyond physical illness. He encouraged the sick, comforted the dying, and sought to bring peace to troubled hearts as well as healing to wounded bodies. He understood that a human life, much like music, can fall out of tune and sometimes needs a patient hand to help bring it back into harmony.
An early story from his life reflects this spirit of generosity. Meeting a poor man with almost nothing to wear, the young Anthony gave away his own expensive silk cloak because he had no money with him to offer instead.
Although he would later leave medicine to become a priest and founder of the Barnabites, he never stopped being a healer. If most physicians carried a bag for the body, Saint Anthony seemed to carry another for the soul.
Let’s keep learning the saints’ way—day by day.
⌨ ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ