St Anthony Mary Zaccharia

Here is a saint who could very well be the patron saint of all the doctors, nurses and paramedics helping with the Covid-19 pandemic. Queen Elizabeth just awarded the highest honor, the George Cross, to the members of the National Health Services. It is the same honor given to Malta during Word War II in 1942, and the George Cross was thereafter incorporated within the Maltese flag. But going back 500 years, at the same time that Martin Luther was attacking abuses in the Church, a reformation within the Church was already being attempted. Among the early movers of the Counter-Reformation was Anthony Mary Zaccaria. He was born in 1502 in Cremona, Italy. His mother became a widow at 18, and devoted herself to the spiritual education of her son. He was educated at the University of Padua and received a medical doctorate at 22. While working among the poor of his native Cremona in Italy, was attracted to the religious apostolate. He renounced his rights to any future inheritance, worked as a catechist, and was ordained a priest at the age of 26. Called to Milan in a few years, he laid the foundations of three religious congregations, one for men, one for women, and an association of married couples. Their aim was the reform of the decadent society of their day, beginning with the clergy, religious, and lay people. Greatly inspired by Saint Paul—his congregation is named the Barnabites, after St Barnabas, the faithful companion of that St. Paul—Anthony preached with great vigor in church and street, conducted popular missions, and was not ashamed of doing public penance. He encouraged such innovations as the collaboration of the laity in the apostolate, frequent Communion, the Forty Hours devotion, and the ringing of church bells at 3:00 p.m. on Fridays. His holiness moved many to reform their lives, but as with all saints, it also moved many to oppose him. Twice his community had to undergo official religious investigation, and twice it was exonerated. While on a mission of peace, he became seriously ill and was brought home for a visit to his mother. He died at Cremona at the age of 36 on July 5, 1539. He was beatified in 1890 and canonized in 1897, both done by Pope Leo XIII. St Anthony Mary Zaccaria is the patron of surgeons and doctors.