Mass Readings: January 17
Saint of the Day
St. Anthony the Abbott (3rd century)
At the age of twenty, Anthony gave his inheritance to the poor and retired to a cell in the mountains, where he lived in solitude for 35 years. He emerged to organize monastic life for the crowds who followed him. He then retired to the desert for 45 more years, leaving only for a short time to fight Arianism and to comfort victims of the persecutions. He is known as the founder of Christian monasticism.
Reflections from the Saints
By dying for others, He immediately banished death for all mankind. The corruption of death no longer holds any power over mankind, thanks to the Word, who has come to dwell among us through his one body.
– St. Athanasius