Man first leaves aside the exterior world and enters his own interior world,
and only then from there he ascends to the knowledge of God.
(St. Anthony Zaccaria , Sermon II).
A reading from the first Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (1Cor 13:2)
If I had all knowledge, and knew also the mysteries and secrets of God, and if I had besides such a great faith as to move the mountains, which would move and stop elsewhere, yet I had not love, I would be nothing.
A reading from the forth Sermon of St. Anthony Zaccaria
If eloquence does not seem to you to be a great quality, knowledge certainly is such an excellent thing that everybody wishes to have it. You have been taught by Adam how great is its value when, for the pleasure of becoming like God in the knowledge of good and evil, he disobeyed the commandment of the Lord God. But no matter how excellent a quality knowledge is, it, too, is of very small advantage, as Solomon can prove to you by his own story. For, notwithstanding his great public and world wide reputation for having superior knowledge, he is believed by some to have ended up at the bottom of hell. Even if this were not true, he cannot be cleared of the fact that, despite all his great wisdom, he committed countless and grave sins of lust and of idolatry. Indeed, the servant who knows his master's will and does not do it, will be punished more severely, as Christ says (Luke 12:47).
I am not telling you of this regarding only the knowledge of worldly things, but even more regarding the knowledge of God's secrets, like having the prophetic gift, and knowledge of supernatural things by the prophetic light, as proven by that most evil prophet, Balaam, by his own ruin (Num 31:8). And with far greater reason I affirm the uselessness of the knowledge of things that God alone knows, and we too come to know by faith ― even that faith which empowers man to work miracles.
Invocations
Saint Anthony, Prudent in discernment … Pray for us.
Saint Anthony, Adorned with all virtues … Pray for us.
Saint Anthony Mary, pride of great teachers …Pray for us.
Prayer
Christ Teacher, you enriched with divine knowledge St. Anthony Mary, to make him father and guide of souls toward perfection, teach me how to announce “the spiritual liveliness and the alive spirit everywhere.” Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be...
Prayer to St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria
Saint Anthony Zaccaria ,helper of the poor and the sick, you who devoted your life to our spiritual welfare, listen to my humble and hopeful prayer. Continue your work as doctor and priest by obtaining from GOD healing from my physical and moral sickness, so that free from all evil and sin, I may love the LORD with joy, fulfill with fidelity my duties, work generously for the good of my brothers and sisters, and for my sanctification. AMEN
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