St. Antony the Great

Desert Father and founder of Christian monasticism. Set ablaze by a single voice of the Gospel to sell all and embrace the monastic life.

Chapter I: On the Excellence, Necessity, and Fruit of Sacred Scripture — A young man of nobility and wealth, set ablaze by the Gospel command "sell all you have"; embraced monastic life
"A single voice of the Gospel was able... to set ablaze the great Antony"
Chapter II: On the Object and Breadth of Sacred Scripture — Anthonys were called "oracles, temples, and arks of the testament" for knowledge of Scripture
"Origens, Anthonys, and Vincents were called oracles, temples, and arks of the testament."
Chapter V: On the Dispositions Required for This Study — As reported by Athanasius, said a pure soul can know more than demons
"St. Anthony, as reported by Athanasius: If anyone, he says, is held by a desire of knowing even future things, let him have a pure heart"
Chapter V: On the Dispositions Required for This Study — Listed among unlettered men taught loftiest mysteries by holiness of life
"this holiness of life taught Francises, Anthonies, and Pauls — unlettered men"

Verse 31: And God Saw All Things That He Had Made, and They Were Very Good — Quoted: his book is the nature of things created by God
"when someone asked St. Anthony how he could live in the desert without books, he replied: "My book, O Philosopher, is the nature of things created by God,"

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