This saint angered heretics by making many converts; they knifed him with daggers…

                          April 9 --- Blessed Antony of Pavoni

Blessed Antony was born in 1326 in Savigliano, Italy. At 15, he was accepted at the monastery in his home town and was ordained in 1351. 

From the onset of his priesthood , he engaged in combating the heresies of the Lombards.  In 1360, Pope Urban V appointed him inquistor-general of Lombardy and Genoa and he became one of the youngest men to hold that office.

The task was monumental to say the least since it entailed  verbally dialoguing with men who were learned in twisted and subtle heresy. 

During the 14 years, Antony held this position, he accomplished much by his preaching and more by his virtue. In 1368, Blessed Antony was charged with the construction of a new abbey. 

Through the grace of God, he succeeded in building an edifice worthy of being a House of God and in escaping the common criticism of heretics who always took the opportunity to charge that Catholic monasteries were built as houses of luxury. 

Certainly, Blessed Antony's life was a constant reproach to these heretics because he lived in a consistent state of poverty, which convinced the poor that his intentions were always for the greater honor and glory of God.  Angered by Antony's pure example and the loss of so many conversions to heresy,  seven heretics surrounded him with daggers, sending his soul to its eternal reward.

For centuries, men have complained of what they considered "excesses" in the Catholic Church.  These men have difficulty when the faithful chose to honor God in the way He should be honored.  Paradoxically, today more money is spent on buildings which are more like giant warehouses and nothing is said about "excess".  Is it that these men really don't like a splendid and elevated structure which truly brings man's heart and mind to God?  True love wants the very best for the beloved and when the Beloved is God then only the very best will do.  Let us ask Blessed Antony to pray for us so that we may always strive to give the very best to God in our life.  This may engender the wrath of men but what really matters is the love of God.