St. Anthony Poverty

Poverty and misfortune are multivalent concepts with several complex meanings that substantively contribute to people's definition and experience of life. It deceptively contributes to people’s assumption of self-worth, their perceived state of being, and quality of living. A person who does not experience a form of poverty or misfortune cannot become a strong and faithful Christian. As demonstrated by the life of St. Anthony, humility, detachment from the world, and devotion through poverty and misfortune on earth, once firmly established, makes a foundation for wisdom that is necessary to live a Christian life focused on the eternal and not the temporal.
As Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in 313, it granted Christians religious
freedom and permitted them to recover their possessions (Burns 3/7/17). Although the Church was in peace with the empire, it did not mean that threats to their faith were vanquished. When the imperial government was no longer a direct threat, the Devil devised subtle strategies to lure Christians. There were ample opportunities for them to lust for power, wealth, fame, or pleasure and abandon their faith through the cultural norms of the time. Comparable to the present, Christianity is more widely accepted but must endure the temptations of a consumer society through the promotion of material comfort. This is not to say that the material world itself is evil (as this would be heretical or Manichean in nature) but distracts Christians from imitating Christ. Jesus, was a poor man on earth, although He could have had all the riches of the world if He desired it. We know by His own life that He knew what it meant to suffer poverty, and not become attached to earthly pleasures. As demonstrated in Early Christianity Reader, it is necessary that Christians are “poor in spirit” and are detached from things of the world. The lives of the saints emphasize the importance of being dependent on God and placing trust in Him – and not possessions, as one cannot worship both God and the comfort associated with material items.
St.
Anthony was born to a noble family attributed for their great wealth. Although he lived comfortably, he demonstrated humility and modesty in not seeking more than what he needed or the pleasures of food. When he became an adult, his parents died and left him with the care of his unmarried sister. In 285, he decided to follow the words of Christ who had said: “If you would be perfect, go, sell, what you possess and give to the poor, and will have treasure in heaven.” (Matthew 19:21, Athanasius, 3). Anthony gave his wealth to the poor and needy and placed his sister with a group of Christian virgins. He made the desert his home; continually having to overcome great obstacles in his attempt to achieve sainthood. By giving all his wealth to the needy and leaving the world voluntarily, he desired to prove his love to God and his readiness to make every effort to live in unity with God. The life of poverty, he had believed, would assist him to gain a life on earth that is close to the Lord. In his poverty, he drew strength from the teachings of St. Paul “When I am weak, then I am strong.” During which, he said, “the soul’s intensity of strong when the pleasures of the body are weakened” (Athanasius, 6). He believed those who primarily seek pleasure from the world can lose sight of what is eternal. By making oneself more reliant upon God and not the material, one can better live a life centered on a love for Christ alone and disregard for anything that distracts from
God.
St. Anthony’s encounter with demons can be compared to the misfortunes or difficulties that befall Christians. As he battled raging demons and endured temptations, he demonstrated that his immense pain or the threat of death was not enough to separate him from Christ, but drew him closer through prayer. During which, he declared “Here I am-Antony! I do not run from your blows, for even if you give me more, nothing will separate me from the love of Christ.” (Athanasius, 9). For this, the Lord did not forget him – but came to his aid when he heard a voice call out “I was here, Anthony, but I waited to watch your struggle. And now, since you persevered and were not defeated, I will be your helper forever…” (Athanasius, 7) Upon hearing this, he was strengthened both physically and spiritually, no longer feeling the pain he once bared. St. Anthony’s experiences demonstrate how the making of a strong Christian entails overcoming difficulties and offering them up to God as a sign of love and devotion to Him. In doing so, such a Christian glorifies God’s name in the face of his enemy and in return is blessed eternally.
Of course, the lack of many worldly possessions doesn’t automatically make someone detached from things; it doesn’t mean they have embraced poverty or their dependence on God.
A life of poverty and living a life of service to the poor can be done by anyone and does not need to be literal poverty, as there are stories of saints who possessed much material wealth and served the needs of others with this wealth. Those with responsibilities or vocations can live as faithful Christians by focusing on what is eternal and not temporal through detachment and purity. The spiritual deprivation of worldly distractions as well as maintaining a steadfast heart during tribulation is an important component of living as a strong Christian. Athanasius reminds readers “…the Lord, who bore flesh for us, and gave to the body the victory over the devil, so that each of those who truly struggle can say, it is not I; but the grace of God which is in me.” (5) The spirituality of Anthony emphasizes fearlessness before the plans of the devil because the battle has already been won by Christ who conquered death. Trusting in the victory already won by the Lord and not one’s own power, the struggle of a Christian is not waged in fear but in courage and joy. The recognition of the powerlessness of the devil before Christ to overcome all things are an important component of a fortified
faith.