Section 3

When Antony later entered the church again, he heard the Lord say in the Gospel, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow.” He could no longer hold anything back, but went out and gave what remained to the poor as well. He entrusted his sister to known and faithful virgins and placed her with them to be raised in virginity. From then on he devoted himself to ascetic practice outside his home, watching over himself and training himself with patience.

At that time there were not yet many monasteries in Egypt, nor did any monk know the distant desert. Anyone who wished to attend seriously to the spiritual life practiced asceticism alone near his own village. In a neighboring village there was an old man who had lived the solitary life from his youth. Antony saw him and imitated him in what was good.

At first Antony stayed in places near the village. Whenever he heard that a zealous man lived somewhere, he went out like a prudent bee to seek him. He would not return to his own place until he had seen the man, and he came back carrying, as it were, provisions for his journey in virtue. In this way he strengthened his resolve never to return to the property of his fathers or to give himself over to thoughts of his relatives, but to direct all his desire and effort toward the completion of his ascetic training.

He also worked with his hands, because he had heard, “If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.” He used part of what he earned for bread and gave the rest to those in need. He prayed continually, knowing that one must pray unceasingly in secret. And he paid such careful attention to the readings that nothing written in them fell from his memory. He retained everything, and afterward his memory served him in place of books.