Anthony’s father died when his son was
only 10 years old, but the young lad inherited his father’s devotion to Our
Lady of Loreto. As a schoolboy he frequented the local church of the Oratorian
Fathers, joining the religious order when he was 17.
Already
a fine student, he soon gained a reputation in his religious community as a
"walking dictionary" who quickly grasped Scripture and theology. For
some time he was tormented by scruples, but they reportedly left him at the
very hour he celebrated his first Mass. From that day, serenity penetrated his
very being.
In
1621, at age 29, Anthony was struck by lightning while praying in the church of
the Holy House at Loreto. He was carried paralyzed from the church, expecting
to die. When he recovered in a few days he realized that he had been cured of
acute indigestion. His scorched clothes were donated to the Loreto church as an
offering of thanks for his new gift of life.
More
important, Anthony now felt that his life belonged entirely to God. Each year
thereafter he made a pilgrimage to Loreto to express his thanks.
He
also began hearing confessions, and came to be regarded as an outstanding
confessor. Simple and direct, he listened carefully to penitents, said a few
words and gave a penance and absolution, frequently drawing on his gift of
reading consciences.
In
1635 he was elected superior of the Fermo Oratory. He was so well regarded that
he was re-elected every three years until his death. He was a quiet person and
a gentle superior who did not know how to be severe. At the same time he kept
the Oratorian constitutions literally, encouraging the community to do
likewise.
But
age brought its challenges as well. He suffered the humility of having to give
up his physical faculties one by one. First was his preaching, necessitated
after he lost his teeth. Then he could no longer hear confessions. Finally,
after a fall, he was confined to his room. The archbishop himself came each day
to give him holy Communion. One of Anthony’s final acts was to reconcile two
fiercely quarrelling brothers.
