Who Was St. Anthony?

Behind St. Anthony’s bold leap was a family that shaped his heart. His parents were wealthy Christians who loved God and the poor, raising him to honor the Lord in a land where faith could be risky. They took him to church as a kid, teaching him the Scriptures and the joy of giving. But when Anthony was around 18 or 20, tragedy struck—both his mom and dad died, leaving him and his younger sister alone. Picture a big house suddenly quiet, with young Anthony now in charge of a little girl who needed him. It was a heavy load, but it set the stage for his next step.

After hearing Jesus’ call in church to give up his riches, Anthony knew he couldn’t stay tied to home. He had to decide what to do with his sister, who was still young, perhaps around 10, and counting on him. Instead of keeping her close or using his wealth to hire help, he made a brave choice. He entrusted her to a group of holy women—virgins living for God—who cared for her like a spiritual family. An Ethiopian story says he hugged her goodbye by the village well, promising, “God will take care of us both,” before turning away. It wasn’t abandoning her; it was trusting God to be her true protector, freeing Anthony to follow his calling.

Losing his parents and leaving his sister marked Anthony deeply. Their faith had lit a fire in him—his dad’s generosity, his mom’s prayers—and now he carried it forward. That goodbye wasn’t the end of family; it was the start of a bigger one, with monks and believers who’d follow his lead. For Anthony, family wasn’t just blood—it was everyone who loved Jesus, a lesson he left for us to hold onto.