Anthony Zaccaria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintAnthony Zaccaria CRSP |
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| Confessor
Main Founder of Barnabites Counter-Reformer Soldier Priest |
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| Born | 1502 Cremona, Duchy of Milan (now Italy) |
| Died | 5 July 1539 Cremona, Duchy of Milan |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 3 January 1890, Rome by Pope Leo XIII |
| Canonized | 27 May 1897, Rome by Pope Leo XIII |
| Major shrine | San Paolo convent, Milan, Italy |
| Feast | 5 July |
| Attributes | Black cassock, lily, Cross, Chalice, Host |
| Patronage | The Barnabite order, Angelic Sisters of St. Paul, Laity of St. Paul, Physicians |
Anthony Maria Zaccaria (born in 1502, died July 5, 1539) was an Italian Catholic priest. He was an important leader during the Counter-Reformation, a time when the Catholic Church worked to renew itself.
Anthony Maria Zaccaria founded the Barnabites, a religious order. He also encouraged people to focus on the Passion of Christ (Jesus' suffering and death) and the Eucharist (a special religious ceremony). He helped ordinary people, called the laity, to live a more religious life. Today, he is honored as a saint in the Catholic Church, and his feast day is celebrated on July 5.
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Life of Anthony Maria Zaccaria
Anthony Zaccaria was born in Cremona, Italy, in December 1502. His parents were Lazzaro and Antonia Pescaroli Zaccaria. He was baptized on the same day. His uncle, Don Tommaso Zaccaria, was a canon (a type of priest) at the cathedral.
When Anthony was two years old, his father passed away. His family was noble, meaning they were from a high social class. To teach him kindness towards the poor, his mother made him her almoner. This meant he was in charge of giving money or food to those in need.
Anthony's Education and Early Career
Anthony first went to the Episcopal School near the cathedral. Then, he studied philosophy at the University of Pavia. From 1520, he studied medicine at the University of Padua.
After finishing his studies in 1524, he went back to Cremona. He worked as a doctor for three years. In 1527, he decided to become a priest. He continued his studies in theology (the study of religious faith) in Bologna.
Becoming a Priest and Moving to Milan
On February 20, 1529, Anthony Zaccaria became a priest. He was ordained in the Chapel of Saint Joseph in Cremona Cathedral. He explored his calling by working in hospitals and helping the poor.
He became a spiritual advisor to Countess Ludovica Torelli. She was a noblewoman from Guastalla. In 1530, he followed her to Milan. There, he joined a group called the Oratory of Eternal Wisdom. He met Bartolomeo Ferrari and Giacomo Antonio Morigia there.
Spreading the Faith
Anthony and his friends focused on the teachings of Paul of Tarsus. They especially emphasized love for the Eucharist and for Christ who was crucified. Soon, more people joined their group.
They taught people the basics of their faith. They also gave missions in churches and helped the sick in hospitals. Anthony often preached in churches and on street corners. He is known for bringing back the custom of ringing church bells in Milan at 3:00 p.m. on Fridays. This was done to remember Jesus' suffering and death. Their activities faced some challenges, but the group kept going.
In 1533, Pope Clement VII encouraged their work. Zaccaria and his group moved into a small house near the church of St. Catherine. This is where they began to live as a community.
In 1534, he helped make the Forty-hour devotion popular for ordinary people. This is a special time when the Blessed Sacrament (the Eucharist) is displayed for people to pray to. In July 1535, Pope Paul III officially approved Zaccaria's group.
In July 1537, Zaccaria went to Vicenza with the first missionaries from his group. They opened the congregation's second house there.
Anthony's Final Days
In 1539, Anthony was on a mission in Guastalla. He caught a fever. He also practiced very strict penances (ways of showing sorrow for sins), which made his health worse.
In June, he wrote to some friends in Milan, saying he felt very tired. He felt that his life was ending soon. He wanted to be taken back to Cremona by boat.
Anthony Zaccaria passed away on Saturday, July 5, 1539. He was 36 years old. He died at three o’clock in the afternoon in the house where he was born. His mother and his first companions were with him.
The bishop who had ordained him as a priest led his funeral. Many people from Cremona and nearby towns attended. He was buried in the San Paolo Convent in Milan. In his will, Anthony asked for a chapel to be built in honor of the Conversion of Saint Paul.
Foundations of Anthony Maria Zaccaria
While in Milan, Anthony Zaccaria started three religious groups:
- One for men, called the Clerics Regular of Saint Paul (known as the Barnabites).
- A group for women, called the Angelic Sisters of St. Paul. These nuns were not cloistered, meaning they could go out and work in the world.
- A group for married people, called the Laity of Saint Paul.
These three groups met regularly and worked together to help others. Their goal was to improve society, starting with the clergy (priests and religious leaders) and religious people.
The Clerics Regular of St. Paul (the Barnabites)
The group for men, "The Congregation of the Regular Clerks of St. Paul," was officially approved by Pope Clement VII in 1533. This order spoke out against things they saw as wrong in the Church. Because of this, Anthony Zaccaria made some enemies.
He was questioned twice about his beliefs, in 1534 and 1537. Both times, he was found innocent. In 1536, he stepped down as the leader of the Order. Giacomo Antonio Morigia was chosen as the new Superior. Zaccaria then went to Vicenza, where he helped improve two convents and started the Order's second house.
The Angelic Sisters of St. Paul
On January 15, 1535, Pope Paul III approved the Angelic Sisters of Saint Paul with an official document. On December 25, Zaccaria celebrated Mass for the first time at their monastery in Milan.
On February 27, 1536, Zaccaria gave the habit (the special clothing worn by religious orders) to six new members of the Angelic Sisters. Zaccaria chose Paola Antonia Negri to train the new members on March 4, 1537.
Veneration of Anthony Maria Zaccaria
After Anthony Zaccaria's death, many people said they were healed through his prayers. 27 years after he died, his body was found to be incorrupt, meaning it had not decayed. His remains are now kept at the Church of Saint Barnabas in Milan, Italy.
He was officially declared a saint by Pope Leo XIII on May 27, 1897. His feast day is celebrated on July 5. He is also a patron saint of doctors.
Iconography
In art, Saint Anthony Maria Zaccaria is usually shown wearing the black cassock (a long robe) of his Order. He might be holding a lily (a symbol of purity), a cross, a chalice (a cup used in Mass), or a host (the bread used in Mass).
Writings
Anthony Maria Zaccaria left behind a few writings. These include twelve letters, six sermons, and the rules for the Barnabites.
Letters
Anthony Mary signed eleven letters. Four of these are original handwritten documents. The others are early copies. Three letters were co-signed by Anthony Mary and Angelic Paola Antonia Negri. There is also a twelfth letter that was written by Anthony Mary, even though it only has Negri's signature.
His letters were written between 1530 and 1539. They were not written with a fancy style. They were simple and direct. However, they contain deep spiritual meaning. Anthony Mary himself said, "I have not written one word without some special meaning in it."
Sermons
The original book of his Sermons is kept in the Barnabite Archives in Rome. Anthony Mary used this book when he was a student. Later, as a priest, he wrote talks about the Ten Commandments in it. He planned to write ten sermons, one for each commandment. However, the book only has five complete sermons.
A sixth sermon was part of a planned series on being spiritually lukewarm. The Sermons were meant for noble laymen who were married and had children. They were active members of a group called the Amicizia Oratory. The Sermons show a more careful and elegant writing style than his letters. They also show his strong understanding of the Bible.
Constitutions
The "Constitutions" are the rules for the Barnabite order. No original handwritten copy exists, only an early copy. This document was like a basic outline and was never officially approved as a final set of rules.
The text has 19 chapters. It seems to have been written and rewritten several times. Some parts were definitely written by Anthony Mary himself. These include chapters on "Formation of Novices," "Signs of Deteriorating Religious Life," and "Qualities of a Reformer." Anthony Mary's style, which is more encouraging than strict, can be seen throughout the document.
See also
In Spanish: Antonio María Zaccaría para niños
