#antonino

THE DESCRIPTION OF SAINT ANTONINUS OF FLORENCE The Counselor, the People's Prelate and the Dominican Father of the Poor Feast Day: May 2

"In the case, in which, the Pope would become a heretic, he would find himself, by that fact, alone and, without any other sentence, separated from the Church. A head separated from a body cannot, as long as it remains separated, be head of the same body from which it was cut off. A Pope, who would be separated from the Church by heresy, therefore, would, by that very fact itself, cease to be head of the Church. He could not be a heretic and remain Pope because, since he is outside of the Church, he cannot possess the keys of the Church."

Anthony Pierozzi (also called de Forciglioni), was born on March 1, 1389, was soon nicknamed 'Antoninus' ('Little Anthony'), either because of his small stature or his weak health. Thus, began the life of the future saint born to noble parents - Niccolò and Tomasina Pierozzi, in Florence, Italy. Being prominent citizens of the city, Niccolò being a notary. His mother died when he was about five years of age. As a child, he spent time at the church of Orsanmichele.

The influence of the Dominicans on Antoninus' early life led him to seek admittance to the Dominican Order at the age of 15. Antoninus approached the prior of the convent in Fiesole, Brother John Dominic, with his request to be admitted to the Order. Perhaps noticing the weak health of the aspirant and not wishing to give an outright refusal to Antoninus' request, Brother John Dominic told him to come back once he had memorized the Decretum of Gratian, or the Code of Canon Law at the time. To the prior's surprise, the youth returned within the year having accomplished the task required of him. He was thus admitted to the Order.

The love and zeal he had as a novice never left Antoninus. He became a great reformer more by example than by word. Elected prior at a young age, Antoninus served as superior for many years. He, like his brother in St. Dominic, St. Thomas Aquinas, was concerned with the formation of the friars of the Order of Preachers. Hence, he prepared the Summa Moralis, a systematic and comprehensive presentation of Christian Moral Theology, which he wrote, as he said, during the summer and the winter of his life. Antoninus' writings treated the practical aspects of living the faith.

Antoninus' devotion to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and spiritual counsel earned him the title of Antoninus the Counselor. Such was his ability to instruct and to guide others.

Antoninus was also a prolific writer, authoring texts on moral theology, canon law, a guide for confessors, and a chronicle of the history of the world. Antoninus was also widely known and sought-out for his gift of counsel, earning the popular title - 'the Angel of Counsels.'

Antoninus was consecrated Archbishop of Florence on March 13, 1446, at the Dominican priory in Fiesole, on the initiative of Pope Eugene IV, who had come to admire him through his participation in the major church councils of the period. He came to win the esteem and love of his people, especially by his energy and resource in combating the effects of the plague and earthquake in 1448 and 1453. It was they who began the use of the diminutive form of his name which has come to prevail. Antoninus was unusual for his time not only in continually living in his diocese, but also in conducting yearly visits to every parish and convent by foot.

In art, Antoninus is often seen holding a set of scales. This is because of a miracle that tradition attributes to the saint. An inhabitant of Florence once brought the archbishop a beautiful New Year's fruit basket in the secret hopes of receiving a great reward. However, Antoninus simply thanked the donor and sent him away with the words: 'May God reward you.'

Because he received no reward, the man went off discontented. When Antoninus later learned of the man's discontentment, he called for him to come before him again. When the donor did, Antoninus had the fruit basket placed on one side of a set of scales and a slip of paper on the other side bearing the words: 'May God reward you!'

When this was done, the scales registered that the slip of paper far outweighed the fruit basket.

Antoninus accepted into the Order Brother John of Fiesole, the future artist, Fra Angelico. Having an eye for recognizing the gifts of others, Antoninus instructed Fra Angelico to prepare his own Summa Moralis, not in words but through his painting. Hence when the new convent of San Marco was built, Prior Antoninus had Fra Angelico grace each of the friar’s cells with a painting based on a scene from the life of Christ.

After he was appointed Archbishop of Florence, Antoninus' residence became known as the hostel for the poor, such was his generosity and service for victims of poverty. His sensitivity to the needs of others led him to found the 'Men of St. Martin,' in order to offer quiet support to the wealthy who had become indigent. Hence, the Archbishop lived out the works of mercy.

St. Antoninus died on May 2, 1459. His funeral Mass was celebrated by Pope Pius II. The pope happened to be on his way to the Council of Mantua when he heard of the archbishop's death. The archbishop's wish was that he be buried at the priory which he had founded in the city.

Io non riesco, non sono capace.

I couldn’t help it if he’d chosen me. I wasn’t even going to hide it. Yes, all of my friends knew, even Dante who I’d thought I’d been in love with since I was two, but I wasn’t about to stop. Just as long as Daddy didn’t find out. At least not until I was out of school. He could find out then and then it wouldn’t matter. 

Using the secret passageway he’d shown me to the headmaster’s suite, I came in. He wasn’t here yet. He usually wasn’t here when I got here. He always had so many “headmaster things” to do. It was such a turn on, actually. All the power, and not just because he was one of the most powerful wizards, if not the most powerful wizard I knew.