Anthony, a light of wisdom

Fr. Livio Tonello, director

If there is one aspect of our dear friend Anthony’s life story that never fails to strike us, it is his keen and intelligent gaze. We sense that he is deeply absorbed in God and a careful interpreter of Sacred Scripture, yet also extremely attentive to the events of his time. He has a very sensitive ear for the voice of the poor and all those who do not dare to speak out, but who cry out against injustice and exploitation.

One might say that our Saint calls on all of us, believers and non-believers alike, to use our intelligence and have the courage to think for ourselves. He calls on us not to detach ourselves from what is happening, but to engage with the world in a realistic and passionate way. It is easier to be carried along by popular opinion and the allure of the media. May Anthony help us reawaken our bold attachment to inner freedom, so that we may understand and live life creatively.

It is precisely the unpredictable nature of life that made Anthony an ‘adventurous’ man. The twists and turns of his story and frequent changes of direction led him to explore new paths. Time and again, his plans were thwarted by unexpected events. Yet he was able to keep his gaze fixed on his goal, oriented towards what he believed to be essential and fundamental. In other words, his genius lay in maintaining a dialogue between these two poles: the human need to set goals and the courage to modify them when life demands it. We are perhaps more familiar with those who set themselves no goals, living in a wavering and distracted manner, obstinately remaining attached to objectives that do not take into account the lives of others or the suffering of the world.

May Saint Anthony inspire us to find beauty in knowing how to orient ourselves towards what befits our human dignity, and towards a future that is willing to take risks and step out of its comfort zone for the sake of joy and the lives of others.