Section 45

Antony, however, returned alone to his own cell as usual and increased his ascetic discipline. Each day he sighed as he thought about the dwellings in heaven. His desire was fixed upon them, and he continually reflected on the shortness of human life.

When he considered the spiritual powers of the soul, he felt ashamed of eating, sleeping, and attending to the other necessities of the body. Often, when he was about to eat with other hermits, he remembered spiritual nourishment, asked to be excused, and went some distance away from them. He considered it a source of shame to be seen eating by others.

When alone he ate because of the body’s necessity, and often he ate with the brothers as well. At such times he felt embarrassed about eating, but spoke freely and confidently words that would help them.

He used to say that a person should devote his time primarily to the soul rather than to the body. A short amount of time should be given to the body because of necessity, but all the rest should be devoted more earnestly to the soul and to seeking its benefit. In this way the soul would not be dragged downward by the pleasures of the body; rather, the body would be made subject to the soul.

For this, he said, is what the Savior meant when he said: “Do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat, or for your body, what you will put on. Do not seek what you will eat or what you will drink, and do not be anxious. The nations of the world seek after all these things, but your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek first his kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.”