July 5 is Feast of 40-Hour Founder

Today is the Feast of St Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Apostle of Eucharistic Devotion.

From Aleteia

By Annabelle Moseley, STD, TOCarm

Let St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria’s feast day be a reminder to increase acts of devotion for the Eucharist

You may not have heard of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria. But you’ve probably heard of the gift he gave the Church: the public 40-Hour Devotion to the Eucharist. Interestingly, his last name, “Zaccaria” is derived from the Hebrew name “Zechariah” and means “God remembers.”

St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria lived his life in a holy way that, in turn, daily, remembered God. Once you know more about this wonderful Eucharistic saint, you’ll want to add him to your team of heavenly patrons.

St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria was born into a noble family of Cremona, Italy. After his mother was widowed at just 18 years old, she devoted herself to his education. She had her son distribute the alms she set aside for the poor, so he would learn compassion firsthand. Once, young Anthony saw a half-naked beggar and gave this beggar his very own silk cloak.

His desire to help others led Anthony to become a medical doctor at 22 (he is a patron saint of physicians!) and became a doctor of the soul via the priesthood at age 26, renouncing the inheritance his standing as a nobleman would have afforded him.

St. Anthony Mary was part of the Counter-Reformation movement in the Church aiming to reform the decadence of the day. St. Anthony Mary was greatly devoted to St Paul and founded the Barnabites, named for the famous companion of St. Paul, St. Barnabas. He also established a community of Sisters, called the Angelicals, and, uniquely, he established a confraternity for fathers of families.

Notably, when Anthony became a priest, there was a miraculous occurrence at his first Mass, witnessed by those present. A multitude of angels and a supernatural light surrounded St. Anthony Mary beginning at the moment of consecration until he had consumed the Host. Fittingly, this saint was an ardent promoter of frequent, pious reception of Holy Communion. He became a wonderful preacher and was known for his humility, unashamed of making acts of public penance, such as carrying a cross through the streets. He was devoted to the Passion of Christ and instituted the tradition of tolling church bells at 3:00 p.m. on Fridays.

In 1534, St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria requested the authorization to solemnly expose the Blessed Sacrament in the Cathedral of Milan for 40 hours and to do the same in all the churches of Milan. He was thus the originator of the public 40-Hour Devotion to the Eucharist. (The devotion existed privately before that.) You may perhaps feel called to ask your pastor about allowing this devotion at your parish if it does not have it already.

As St. Anthony Mary eloquently teaches us:

The surest proof then, of your return to God is that you go back to receive this food. Go back, my friends, go back to receive this Sacrament. Nothing can make you holier than this Sacrament, for in it is the Holy of Holies.

St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, pray for us!