Memorial of St. Anthony the Great

In the Book of Lamentations, chapter 3, the Prophet writes, “It is good to bear the yoke, [to serve the Lord], from one’s youth.”  St. Anthony the Great was about eighteen years old when his parents died.  How good and how beautiful it is to serve the Lord not only in one’s youth but throughout life into a ripe old age.  St. Anthony was 105 years old when he died, having lived for eighty-five years as a hermit.    

In our community we have seen many monks who served the Lord from their youth into old age, like Fr. Daniel Lenihan who also died at the age of 105.  How good and how beautiful it is! May the example of St. Anthony the Great inspire other young people to bear the yoke from their youth into a ripe old age.