Anthony Maria Zaccaria

Infobox Saint
name=Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria
birth_date=1503
death_date=death date|1539|7|5|mf=y
feast_day=July 5
venerated_in=Roman Catholic Church


imagesize=200px
caption=
birth_place=Cremona, Duchy of Milan, (now Italy)
death_place=Cremona, Duchy of Milan
titles=Confessor
beatified_date=January 3, 1890
beatified_place=Rome
beatified_by=Pope Leo XIII
canonized_date=May 15, 1897
canonized_place=Rome
canonized_by=Pope Leo XIII
attributes=Black cassock, lily, Cross, Chalice, Host
patronage=The Barnabite order
major_shrine=San Paolo convent, Milan, Italy
suppressed_date=
issues=
prayer=
prayer_attrib=

Saint Anthony Maria Zaccaria (Italian: Antonio Maria Zaccaria; 1502 – July 5, 1539) was an Italian saint.

Anthony was born in the city of Cremona in the Duchy of Milan. He lost his father at the age of two, and was brought up as an only child by his mother. At an early age, he took a private vow of chastity. He studied philosophy at the University of Pavia, and, from 1520, medicine at the University of Padua. After completing studies in 1524, he practised as a doctor in Cremona for three years.

In 1527, he started studying for the priesthood. Because of his already extensive studies and his Christian upbringing, he was ordained in 1528. Having explored his calling for two years, mainly working in hospitals and institutions for the poor, he became the spiritual advisor to Countess Ludovica Torelli of Guastalla (then the tiny County of Guastalla) in 1530, and followed her to Milan. While there, he laid the foundations of three religious orders: one for men (the "Clerics Regular of St Paul", commonly known as the Barnabites); a female branch of uncloistered nuns, the Angelic Sisters of St. Paul; and a lay congregation for married people, the Laity of St. Paul, originally called the Married of St. Paul, and sometimes referred to in North America as the Oblates of St. Paul. The three foundations met regularly and engaged together in various forms of apostolic action. Their aim was the reform of the decadent society of their day, beginning with the clergy and religious.

The Barnabites' main devotions were the teachings of Saint Paul and emphasis on love for the Eucharist and Christ crucified. Since the order criticized what they saw as abuses in the Roman Catholic Church, Zaccaria soon gained a number of enemies, and as the order's founder, he was twice investigated for heresy, in 1534 and 1537. He was acquitted both times. In 1536, he stepped down as general of the order and went to Vicenza, where he reformed two convents and founded the order's second house.

While in Vincenza, he popularized for the laity the "Forty-hour devotion"--solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for the adoration of the faithful--accompanied by preaching. He also revived the custom of ringing church bells at 3 p.m. on Fridays, in remembrance of the Crucifixion. He left only a few writings: twelve letters, six sermons, and the constitution of the Barnabites.

While on a mission to Guastalla, Italy, in 1539, he caught a fever. Combined with the strict penances he performed, his health waned and he died on July 5, 1539, at the age of 37.

He was buried in the convent of the Angelics of St Paul, the female branch of the Barnabites, in Milan. 27 years after his death, his body was found to be incorrupt. His mortal remains are now enshrined at the Church of St. Barnabas in Milan, Italy. He was honored as a saint by the Barnabites and others, but his cult was not confirmed before January 3, 1890, when Pope Leo XIII beatified him. The same pontiff canonized him on May 27, 1897. His feast day is celebrated on July 5.

In art, he is depicted wearing the black cassock of the order and holding a lily, cross, chalice and/or host.

ee also

*The Incorruptibles, a list of Catholic saints and beati whose bodies are reported to be incorrupt; that is, the bodies did not undergo any major decay after their burial and hence are considered to be under some form of divine protection.

Bibliography

*Marcello Landi, "La presenza della Summa Theologiae di Tommaso d'Aquino nei primi due Sermoni di Antonio Maria Zaccaria" in "Barnabiti Studi" 20 (2003), pagg. 69-81
*Marcello Landi, "Sant'Antonio Maria Zaccaria. Contesto storico-culturale e presenza della Summa Theologiae di san Tommaso d'Aquino nei suoi primi tre sermoni", in "Sacra Doctrina. Studi e ricerche" n. 52 (3/2006), pp. 46-81

External links

* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01588a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: "St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria"]
* [http://www.americancatholic.org/features/SaintofDay/ American Catholic article: "St. Anthony Zaccaria"]
* [http://www.anthonyalive.com/ Barnabite Spiritual Center - Bethlehem, PA: "Spirituality of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria"]
* [http://www.catholic-church.org/barnabites/b42hst24.html St. Anthony Mary's biography page on the Barnabite Fathers' North American website]
* [http://www.saintpetersbasilica.org/Statues/Founders/AnthonyMZaccaria/Anthony%20Zaccaria.htm Founder Statue in St Peter's Basilica]