Feast Day: July 5
Born: 1502 in Cremona, Italy | Died: July 5, 1539 in Cremona, Italy
Founder of the Barnabites, the Angelic Sisters of Saint Paul, and the Laity of Saint Paul
Early Life and Formation
Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria was born into a noble family in Cremona, northern Italy, in 1502. His father died when Anthony was an infant, and his pious mother, Antonietta Pescaroli, raised him with strong Christian values. She instilled in him a great love for God and care for the poor.
Anthony studied philosophy and medicine at the University of Padua, receiving his medical degree in 1524. But even during his medical practice, his desire to heal souls surpassed his interest in healing bodies. Sensing a deeper call, he entered the priesthood, and was ordained in 1528.
Apostolic Zeal and Founding of the Barnabites
Italy during the 16th century was rife with spiritual decay, marked by lukewarm faith, widespread moral laxity, and ignorance of Church teachings—even among the clergy. Inspired by the reformist zeal of earlier saints like Saint Paul and Saint Augustine, Anthony Mary Zaccaria desired to revive the fervor of early Christianity.
He became a leading figure in the Catholic Counter-Reformation, not primarily through polemics, but through interior reform and apostolic fervor. In Milan, where he moved in the early 1530s, he established a new religious congregation:
- The Clerics Regular of Saint Paul (popularly known as the Barnabites, from their main church in Milan, St. Barnabas).
Their mission was to reform the clergy and rekindle devotion among the laity, focusing especially on preaching, catechesis, and the example of a holy life.
He also co-founded:
- The Angelic Sisters of Saint Paul, a community of women dedicated to works of mercy and catechesis.
- The Laity of Saint Paul, a lay association to sanctify the world from within.
Devotion to the Eucharist and Saint Paul
Saint Anthony Mary was deeply devoted to the Blessed Sacrament, and is considered one of the pioneers of Eucharistic exposition and benediction, long before these practices were widespread. He encouraged frequent Communion, Eucharistic adoration, and spiritual renewal through preaching missions and retreats.
He had a special devotion to Saint Paul the Apostle, considering him the ideal model of apostolic zeal and interior transformation. He exhorted his followers to read the Pauline epistles frequently and imitate Saint Paul’s tireless labor for Christ.
Spiritual Teaching and Legacy
Zaccaria’s spirituality emphasized:
- Interior renewal before external reform
- Christ crucified as the center of Christian life
- Reverence for the Church’s authority and tradition
- Community life as a school of virtue
He was known for his gentleness, wisdom, and holy austerity. His writings, though few, show a vibrant interior life and pastoral insight. He often signed his letters with “Paul, the least of Christ’s servants,” a title full of humility and Pauline spirit.
Death and Canonization
Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria died young, at age 36, in 1539, worn out by his labors and mortifications. His final words were filled with peace, as he offered his soul to God in his native Cremona.
He was beatified in 1849 by Pope Pius IX and canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1897.
Traditional Devotion and Patronage
He is invoked as a patron for:
- The Barnabite Order and its affiliated congregations
- Spiritual renewal of parishes and communities
- Eucharistic devotion and liturgical reform in the traditional sense
His feast is celebrated with solemnity in traditional Catholic communities on July 5.
Suggested Spiritual Exercises (from the learning path on Lives of the Saints)
- Meditate on a Pauline Epistle (especially 1 Corinthians or Galatians), asking for the zeal of Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria.
- Spend an hour in Eucharistic adoration, as he urged the faithful to do in his mission of renewal.
- Examine your apostolic mission in daily life: How do you bring Christ to others? Consider forming or joining a prayer group or catechetical circle, inspired by his lay confraternity model.