Saints of the Day & More

Anthony was born in the village of Comas, near Heraclea in Upper Egypt Two Greek philosophers ventured out into the Egyptian desert to the mountain where Anthony lived. When they got there, Anthony asked them why they had come to talk to such a foolish man? He had reason to say that -- they saw before them a man who wore a skin, who refused to bathe, who lived on bread and water. They were Greek, the world's most admired civilization, and Anthony was Egyptian, a member of a conquered nation. They were philosophers, educated in languages and rhetoric. Anthony had not even attended school as a boy and he needed an interpreter to speak to them. In their eyes, he would have seemed very foolish. But the Greek philosophers had heard the stories of Anthony. They had heard how disciples came from all over to learn from him, how his intercession had brought about miraculous healings, how his words comforted the suffering. They assured him that they had come to him because he was a wise man....

Born in the early fourth century Poitiers. It was called the "Athanasius of the West", who was a contemporary. Both had to fight against the same opponent, Arianism. Participated in the theological polemics with speeches and especially writing. Hilary was exiled to Phrygia by the Emperor Constantine, who had aligned with the decisions of the Arian synod of Béziers in the year 356. Contact with the Orient was providential for the bishop of Poitiers. During the five years spent in Phrygia learned and discovered Greek origins, as also the great theological production of the Eastern Fathers, obtaining an important documentation for the book that earned him the title of Doctor of the Church: On the Trinity, whose title De Fide adversus original Arians. It was the most important and profound treatise which had appeared previously on the main tenet of the Christian faith. Despite being banished, not inactive. With the booklet Maxertiam Against Constantius himself violently attacked,...

St. Leucius of Brindisi was in the Early Second Century. Not much is know of Leucius' early life, though it is believed that he was born in Eastern Europe, to Eudecius and Euphrodisia and was given the name of Eupressius at birth. What is known, is that the young Eupressius was educated and spent the formative years of his existence in Alexandria, Egypt. Following the death of his mother he entered monastic life. A heavenly vision, during the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin, would change his name from Eupressius to Leucius. Having already been ordained bishop, Leucius wanted to undertake a missionary apostolate in Brindisi, to liberate the pagans of the misconceptions of Christianity. Leucius left Alexandria to, what was at the time one of the largest ports of the Mediterranean, Brindisi in what is now the southern part of Italy. Leucius first came to notoriety when many pagans in Puglia, heard him preaching the Gospel during a drought. He claimed that if they had faith the r...