Three-Day Retreat with

St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria

by Fr. Giovanni M. Scalese, CRSP

Zaccarian Spirituality Collection

no. 2

Three-Day Retreat with

St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria

Collection no. 2

Zaccarian Spirituality Collection

The Collatio:
An Instrument for Personal and Communal Growth
Three-Day Retreat with St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria
Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria and Lukewarmness
In the Footsteps of St. Paul:
The Paulism of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria
Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria: The Painting That Says It All

Three-Day Retreat with

St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria

Fr. Giovanni M. Scalese, CRSP

Collection no. 2
P A

P A

P A

Bar nabite Publications

Zaccarian Spirituality Collection

Imprimi potest
Fr. Robert B. M. Kosek, CRSP, Provincial Superior
Bethlehem, PA, USA, May 8, 2014
Copyright 2014 Clerics Regular of St. Paul - BARNABITES
Compiled and Edited by:
Fr. Robert B. M. Kosek, CRSP
Sr. Rorivic Ma. P. Israel, ASP
Book layout and cover design by Greg Gambino
BARNABITE PUBLICATIONS
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Make every effort to gladden my spirit so that on my arrival I may

find that you have made great spiritual progress.
(St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Letter V)

Contents
Compilers Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
DAY ONE: The Principle and Foundation of Zaccarian . . . . .

Spirituality: The Way of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

The Principle and Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

The Way of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

The Way of Creatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Knowledge and Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

The Theological Level: The Two Books . . . . . . . . . . . 3

The Moral Level: The Two Ways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

The Way of Separation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

A Union of the Two Ways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Chiefly and Exclusively . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

The Middle Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
DAY TWO: The Basic Doctrine of Zaccarias Sermons: The Due .

Order of The Spiritual Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Keeping the Commandments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

The Due Order of the Spiritual Life . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Three Metaphors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Patristic Foundation of This Doctrine . . . . . . . . . . . 13

The Control of the Senses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Mans Part in the Work of His Own Sanctification . . . . . 15

Justification and Sanctification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Catholicity of This Teaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Scant Diffusion of This Doctrine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

The Evangelical Origin of This Teaching . . . . . . . . . . 18
DAY THREE: The Zaccarian Charism: The Renewal of Christian .
Fervor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

The Charism of the Founder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

The Pauline Charism and the Charism of Reform . . . 20

The Specific Charism of Anthony Mary . . . . . . . . . . 21

The Struggle against Lukewarmness . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

The Effects of Lukewarmness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Thats Enough! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

The Renewal of Christian Fervor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Portrait of a Fervent Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

An Insignificant Topic? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Biblical Foundation of This Doctrine . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parallelism between the Lukewarm and the Pharisee . . .
Spirit and True Fervor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Igniting the Flame of Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

24
25
25
26
27
28

Compilers Note

We invite you to a retreat with St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria.
This retreat was originally given to the Barnabite Fathers at the Fatima
Shrine in Youngstown, New York in 2002. Rev. Fr. Giovanni Scalese,
CRSP, a distinguished member of the Order of the Barnabites, treats
in three conferences the spirituality of St. Anthony Mary based on his
writings. Three points of the Zaccarian teaching: the way of God,
the due order of spiritual life, and lukewarmness and fervor are
mainly delineated in this retreat.

Father Scalese begins by emphasizing this quote from St.
Anthony: Man has been created and placed on this earth chiefly and
exclusively in order to reach God; the rest of creation helps him to
reach that goal. This gives us a preview of what man and all created
things are for St. Anthony. They are undeniably visible instruments to
reach God.

Reading further on this booklet will lead you to a deeper and
wider understanding of the different points mentioned above. We then
invite you to a prayerful and meditative study of these points to discover
even more that God, in His infinite goodness, has gathered us here
above all for our salvation and for our souls spiritual progress.
Fr. Robert M. B. Kosek, CRSP and Sr. Rorivic P. Israel, ASP
Bethlehem, PA, USA Manila, PHILIPPINES
February 18, 2014
Anniversary of the Pontifical Approval of the Barnabites

DAY ONE: THE PRINCIPLE AND FOUNDATION OF

ZACCARIAN SPIRITUALITY: THE WAY OF GOD
Introduction

It is not easy to summarize the spirituality of St. Anthony
Mary Zaccaria, for he left no spiritual treatise. The scarcity of his
writings does not allow for the reconstruction of an organized body
of doctrine. Nevertheless, we can form a general outline of Zaccarian
spirituality from the few writings available to us. I will consider
only certain aspects that I think are particularly significant, without
pretending to be exhaustive. I invite you to ponder three points of
Zaccarian teaching: the way of God, the due order of spiritual life,
and lukewarmness and fervor.

You might be perplexed because these themes seem to diverge
from the traditional presentation of Anthony Marys spiritualityJesus
Crucified, the Eucharist, etc. I do not intend to question this common
perception, which is founded on a strong oral tradition. Rather, I want
to limit myself to Anthony Marys writings, while acknowledging the
possibility of other equally valid approaches to his spirituality.
The Principle and Foundation

The first point I will reflect upon is the principle and
foundation of Zaccarian spirituality, which is taken from St. Ignatius
of Loyola. At the beginning of his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius
states mans purpose: Man is created to praise, reverence, and serve
God our Lord, and by these means to save his soul. The other things on
the face of the earth are created for man to help him to attain the end
for which he is created (Chicago, 1951, 12).

All of the Spiritual Exercises are founded on this statement.
Before making any other observation, I will recall that it is advisable
to first establish the destination one aims to reach. When one begins

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a journey, he must know where he is going. Anthony Mary opens his

Sermon VI with a succinct statement of the reason for mans existence:
Man has been created and placed on this earth chiefly and exclusively
in order to reach God; the rest of creation helps him to reach that
goal. In this concise expression, Anthony Mary is simply rephrasing
the more elaborate statement of St. Ignatius. The end of man is to go
to God. In fact, the spiritual life itself is a going to God.
The Way of God

If mans goal is to go to God, it follows that the Christian
life is the way of God, and thus also the way to God. It is not mere
chance that the title of Sermon VI is Concerning one of the causes
of negligence and tepidity in mans walking toward God [literally, on
the way of God].

Actually, the second part of this Sermon deals with one of
the three causes of lukewarmness, which is the greatest obstacle that
hinders man from going to God. Anthony Mary presents Christian
life as simply the way of God in the first part of the sermon. This
expression, along with the parallel one of going to God, recurs
frequently in Zaccarian writings. It is certainly not original, for it
belongs to the Semitic language of both the Old and New Testament. It
comes from the nomadic origins of the people of Israel and describes
mans life as a walking toward God. Anthony Mary probably took
the expression from his spiritual father, Fra Battista da Crema, O.P.
The Way of Creatures

In the opening sentence of Sermon VI, Anthony Mary does
not limit himself to stating that man must reach God. He declares also
that the rest of creation helps him to reach that goal. Creatures, the
rest of creation (literally, the other things), are a means (that is, the
way) which man can and must use to reach God. Toward the middle

Day One

of the first part of the sermon, he states explicitly that creatures are the
way by which man goes to God: Conclude, then, that God has made
everything for man and man for God. Thus, created things [literally,
the sensible creatures] are to be a way for man to reach God, the
Lord. So, one can speak of a way of creatures because they were
chosen by God to help man on his journey to heaven.
Knowledge and Service

Creatures are the means for man to approach God on two
levels: a theological level and a moral level. This twofold approach to
God is founded on a distinction between knowledge and service. One
finds this distinction at the beginning of Sermon VI: You see that
some of them [i.e., creatures] come to the aid of man, namely to be at
his disposal, to minister to him, and to enhance his good health. This
does not exhaust the purpose of created things. They are, indeed, of
much greater usefulness to man for his knowledge than for his bodily
needs.
The Theological Level: The Two Books

Regarding the theological level, Anthony Mary follows
the teaching of St. Paul: For since the creation of the world Gods
invisible qualitiesHis eternal power and divine naturehave been
clearly seen, being understood from what has been made (Rom 1:20).
Or, as Anthony Mary said, The invisible things are known through
the visible ones. For this subject he uses the traditional metaphor of
the two books: Before man sinned, created things were for him like
a Book, a Book written in beautiful, living, well-shaped, and clearly
delineated letters which he should read in order to reach God. But
after he sinned, those letters became somewhat distorted and obscure.
To be sure, they were by no means erased, but they became faded,
hard to read, and almost impossible to see. Anthony Mary thus

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insists that it is possible for man to know God with certainty from His
works through the natural light of human reason. At the same time,
he acknowledges that sin made it difficult for human reason to learn
of God through the book of Creation. It was therefore necessary to
write another book: Seeing that man could hardly read that Book
and was therefore unable to come to know Him in all truth and often
misinterpreted things altogether, God, who does not brood over our
malice, intervened. And what do you think He did? In His goodness
He wrote another Book, the Book of Scripture, in which He restored
the first one by putting into it all that was good in created things. By
showing what is perfect, He taught us how to withdraw from what is
imperfect; and by pointing out the necessary things, He eliminated
the superfluous ones. Since natural revelation was insufficient,
supernatural revelation was necessary.
The Moral Level: The Two Ways

Now let us pass from this level to the moral one, in which
creatures, originally intended to teach us about God, become a path
by which man might return to God. Man is obliged to make use of
creatures in his attempts to unite himself to God. Anthony Mary
presents several arguments to demonstrate this teaching.

First of all, God has always revealed Himself to man under
some outward sign.... God, of course, acted in this way so that through
these creatures, which are of our own nature and are always visible to
us, we could more easily go to Him and more consistently keep Him
in mind.

Man takes a special place among Gods creatures: In His
goodness, God was not satisfied with purely sensible things. In
addition, He wanted a rational creaturecomposed of senses and
intelligence, body and spirit, that is, manto help man. In Sermon
VI, Anthony Mary maintains that man must pass through man to

Day One

approach his Creator: Any time man wished to move toward God,
it was, as it still is, necessary for him to go through another man.
God made your neighbor the road [literally, the means] to reach His
Majesty.

The most convincing proof that creatures help us to reach God
is the mystery of the incarnation: He, who is eternity itself, light,
incorruptibility, and the very apex of all perfection, willed to come
to live in time and to descend into darkness and corruption and, as it
were, into the very pit of vice. O infinite goodness, unfathomable love,
God became man! And why? To lead man back to God, to teach him
the way and give him light.

Anthony Mary offered further support, taken from experience,
for these arguments, but these points will suffice for our purposes.
Remember that the way of creatures corresponds to the via
affirmationis or via causalitatis in traditional theology. This way is
the basis of cataphatic theology, which emphasizes the immanence of
God in the world and the continuity between Creator and creatures.
The Way of Separation

In regard to morality, things are not so simple. On the theological
level, the letters of the book of Creation became somewhat distorted
and obscure after original sin, but on the moral level creatures have
become a snare to the feet of the foolish. There seems to be an
internal conflict here: despite original sin, creatures can still help man
to reach God, yet at the same time they are a snare for man, almost
as if God has set a trap for us. What is man to do? Choose, then, what
is good and leave out what is bad.... Draw near to the perfection of
creatures and withdraw from their imperfection. This statement leads
us to the need for another way, the way of separation. According to
this way, If one wants to be good and perfect...one has to separate and
withdraw from all creatures, from oneself and from all defects.

Three-Day Retreat

Here, Anthony Marys language becomes surprisingly severe.
After stating that creatures are a way for man to reach God, he turns to
strong and harsh expressions such as, It is necessary for man to direct
himself toward Gods love, hating all creatures and everything else.

One must not be astonished at such harsh language. Anthony
Mary is passing from a theological language to a spiritual one. Radical
expressions such as hating all creatures originate in the Gospel and
are thus considered legitimate. But they cannot be taken literally; as
always, proper interpretation is essential. For example, the Jerusalem
Bible states that hating was a Hebraism employed as an emphatic
way of expressing total detachment.

Sacred Scripture contains various examples that demonstrate
the necessity of giving up one thing in order to gain another. To reach
the Promised Land, the Israelites had to leave Egypt; Abraham had
to leave his country; the Apostles received the Holy Spirit only after
giving up the physical presence of Jesus. In the same way, if one
wants to go to God, one must withdraw from creatures (as well as
from oneself and ones vices). The way of separation corresponds
to the via negationis or via remotionis in traditional theology. This
way is the basis of apophatic theology, which stresses the contrast
between what is divine and what is humanthe utter transcendence
of God in comparison with the lowliness of the world. Anthony Mary
states clearly that what is finite cannot claim to be the same as the
infinite; nor can darkness claim to be the same as light; nor can what
is changeable be the same as the unchangeable (Sermon VI).
A Union of the Two Ways

Thus, there are two ways to reach God, the way of creatures
and the way of separation. These two parallel ways seem to
contradict and exclude each otheris it possible to reconcile them?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that faith in God, the

Day One

only One, leads us to use everything that is not God only insofar as
it brings us closer to Him, and to detach ourselves from it insofar as
it turns us away from Him: My Lord and my God, take from me
everything that distances me from You. My Lord and my God, give
me everything that brings me closer to You. My Lord and my God,
detach me from myself to give my all to You (St. Nicholas of Fle)
(n. 226). This provides a clear and profound answer. However, it could
be misinterpreted: one might think that there are some good things that
bring us near to God and other bad ones that take us away from Him,
or that things themselves are inherently good and bad. In both cases
there is a danger of falling into Manichaeism.

In my opinion, Anthony Mary deals with this question more
thoroughly and provides a more rigorous solution to it. He addresses
this problem at the end of the first part of the sermon: Conclude,
then, that all things have been made and have been given to you
in order that you may reach God. This you must do by the way of
separation and the removal of yourselves from things, accepting, on
the one hand, their use and their fruit, and renouncing, on the other
hand, any attachment to them. Therefore, one can (and must) enjoy
creatures and must use them in order to approach God, but one cannot
become attached to them, for this attachment would form a barrier
between man and his eternal destiny. Attachment and affection are to
be directed only to God, who is mans summum bonum, his highest
good and ultimate end.
Chiefly and Exclusively

One might wonder if Anthony Mary had a preference for one
of the two ways. At the beginning of Sermon VI, he says, Man has
been created and placed on this earth chiefly and exclusively in order
to reach God. In the adverb chiefly one finds an echo of the way
of creatures, in which God is the primary end of man and which

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does not exclude the existence of secondary and subordinate ends.

The adverb exclusively reflects the way of separation. In this way
the only end of man is God; compared to Him, every other reality is
insignificant. Anthony Mary subsequently asks, How, then, can you
deny having been made exclusively for God? The adverb chiefly
has disappeared; only exclusively remains. In that question the saint
reveals his preference for the way of separation, and thus we can
say that he was more inclined to apophatic theology, also known as
negative theology or the via negativa.
The Middle Way

In traditional theology, in addition to the via affirmationis and
via negationis is a third way, the via eminentiae (way of eminence)
or via analogiae (way of proportion). Anthony Mary refers to this
third way in Sermon VI when he says, God is neither this nor that,
but something far more excellent. God is not prudent; He is prudence
itself. God is not a particular and limited good; He is the universal
and infinite good. God is not just one perfection; He is perfection
itself without any imperfection. He is the all-good, the all-wise, the
all-powerful, the all-perfect. The via eminentiae, which belongs to
the theological level, has a corresponding way on the moral level.
Anthony Mary does not speak about it explicitly in Sermon VI, but in
Sermon V he calls it the middle way.

O the wonder of the stupendous art of God manifested in
everything He does! Such is man that by the power of his free will he
can change evil into good. It was Paul who told you that all things
work together for the good of those who, according to Gods purpose,
are saints through His call (Rom 8:28). And it was he who said that
one has to follow a middle course and, according to the proverb, to
not swerve to the right or to the left (Prv 4:27); as he also said, Walk
with the weapons of righteousness for the right and for the left, in

Day One

honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute, as impostors and yet
truthful, as unknown and yet well known (2 Cor 6:7-9).

This last quotation appears several times in Anthony Marys
writings. One finds it, for example, in Sermon VI: Walk toward
God in absolute freedom, and do not attach yourselves to anything
whatsoever; but run toward Him in ill repute and good repute, being
genuine and yet regarded as impostors (2 Cor 6:8), experiencing
plenty or penury, cold and exposure (2 Cor 11:27). This quotation
indicates that the saint made reference to the middle way in Sermon
VI. We can infer that in both cases Anthony Mary is speaking of
the middle way from the verbs he uses to introduce the Pauline
quotation: Walk with the weapons of righteousness... in Sermon V
and Run toward [God]... in Sermon VI. Both verbs are lacking in
Pauls original text. It is significant that in both cases they are verbs of
action, most likely chosen because the saint wanted to emphasize the
need to actively set out on the journey toward God.

How can we describe this middle way? It corresponds to
the indifference about which St. Ignatius speaks in the principle
and foundation of his Spiritual Exercises: It is necessary to make
oneself indifferent to all created things...so that one does not desire
health rather than illness, wealth rather than poverty, honor rather than
dishonor, a long life rather than a short one, and so in all the rest,
desiring and choosing only what can lead him to the end for which
he has been created. In Christian life, one can draw near to God
regardless of whether he is healthy or ill, rich or poor, successful or
despised. God is not to be found only in this virtue or only in that
lifestyle. Rather, one must walk the middle way to find and reach
God.

This is not the esoteric teaching of some obscure spiritual
author. On the contrary, this doctrine is derived directly from the
Gospel. It coincides with the doctrine of spiritual poverty found in the

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Beatitudes: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven (Mt 5:3). Spiritual poverty consists in an absolute detachment
from everything: not only from wealth, but even from poverty itself.
The fruit of such indifference is total freedom. The Christian is a
completely free man because he knows that only God is absolute
and that everything else is to be judged only in relation to God. The
Christian can use creatures with absolute freedom because he knows
they are only a means to God, who is mans final and ultimate end. As
soon as the Christian discovers this true end, he begins to focus on it
with all his might, gradually detaching himself from creatures as he
realizes that everything is useful and nothing is indispensable. As St.
Teresa of Avila says, God alone is enough. Therefore, let us walk
toward God in absolute freedom.

Day Two

11

DAY TWO: THE BASIC DOCTRINE OF ZACCARIAS

SERMONS: THE DUE ORDER OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE
Keeping the Commandments

In the first conference I dealt with the principle and foundation
of Zaccarian spirituality: the way of God. In this second conference
I will reflect upon the doctrine that is at the root of the Sermons: the
due order of the spiritual life. I find this expression in the general
conclusion of Sermon I: The cause of our poor progress is [that]
we do not follow the due order This statement aptly summarizes the
meaning of the sermon, and in a way it expresses the spiritual doctrine
that all the Sermons presuppose.

We should remember that Anthony Marys Sermons are most
importantly a catechesis on the Decalogue. They were addressed to the
Amicizia, an Oratory in Cremona. This group was composed of noble
laypeople, who were married and had children. Their intention was
to search for perfection in the Christian life: You may rest assured
that God, in His infinite goodness, has gathered us here above all for
our salvation and for our souls spiritual progress; and this group to
which we belong is not to be thought of as something yielding just a
little profit (Sermon I); Hereby, then, you come to understand that
before you walk and advance on the way of perfection (such as our
N. has in view) (Ibid.); [The spiritual life] is the state to which you
are led, and called, and invited by these meetings in our A. (Sermon
II). It may seem odd that Anthony Mary would address a series of
sermons about the Ten Commandments to such people. At that time,
the mere observance of the commandments was attributed to ordinary
Christians who desired little more than the salvation of their souls,
whereas perfection was considered to be suitable for only a few
privileged people. Anthony Mary certainly did not share these views.
According to him, all Christians are called to holiness and all Christians

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must keep the commandments. Moreover, he explained to his listeners

that if they make scant progress in their spiritual life (Sermon I), if
they are unable to obtain the composure of their minds (Sermon II), if
they have the feeling that God is unfaithful to His promises (Sermon
III), they can be sure that one cause is behind it all: they do not yet
observe the commandments faithfully.
The Due Order of the Spiritual Life

In the spiritual life, there is an order that cannot be disregarded.
The cause, then, of our poor progress is not God, nor the law, nor our
supposed inability to make progress; we are at fault because we do not
follow the due order of the spiritual life and because we want to be
teachers before being disciples (Sermon I).

This due order of the spiritual life consists of two states that
must be lived in their natural succession. In Sermon I, these states are
presented in various ways: It is imperative for you, my dear friends, to
keep the old law first, if you wish to keep the law of Christ; Keeping
of the commandments must precede the following of Christ; Before
you walk and advance on the way of perfection...you must first keep
the Ten Commandments; We want to be teachers before being
disciples; Let us first strive to keep Gods commandments, and then
we will reach liberty of spirit. And in an appendix to the same sermon,
addressed to nuns, we find, You do not observe your religious rule
because you have not yet begun to keep the old law.
Three Metaphors

In Sermon I and Sermon II, Anthony Mary illustrates this
doctrine with three metaphors: Why did those inhabitants of Sodom
not enter Lots house? Because they were utterly unable to reach the
doorway. Why dont you succeed in reaching the loft? Because you
dont go up the staircase.... Since you have not laid the foundation,
neither can you build the edifice.

Day Two

13

It is common to dwell on the second image, the staircase,
which is interpreted so as to emphasize the steps it comprises. This is
a legitimate interpretation because it is suggested by Anthony Mary
himself: If a man wishes to reach God, he must proceed by steps.
And so, he must go up from the first step to the second one, and from
this one to the third one, and so on. He cannot, of course, begin from
the second step, jumping over the first one, for his legs, as well as his
steps, are too short (Sermon II). In this vivid description we confront
the principle of gradualness, which is certainly an important aspect
of Zaccarian spirituality. At other times, Anthony Mary used different
verbs to express the same idea: to grow, to advance, to ascend, to pass
from virtue to virtue, etc.

In our discussion, though, this interpretation is not well
adapted to the context. Here, the importance lies not in the steps but in
the staircase itself as a means to reach the loft, just as a door is a means
to enter a house and a foundation is a necessary condition for building
an edifice. These metaphors teach us that in order to reach perfection,
it is necessary to pass through the observance of the commandments.
Patristic Foundation of This Doctrine

This doctrinethe due order of the spiritual lifefollows
Patristic teaching about the relation between the Old and the New
Testament. On this subject, St. Ambrose said, Quench your thirst first
from the Old Testament, to be able then to drink from the New. If
you do not drink from the first one, you cannot drink from the second
one.... Drink this word, but drink it in the order in which it proceeds:
first in the Old Testament and then in the New (Commentary on
Psalms, 1, 33).
The Control of the Senses

In Sermon II we meet the same doctrine again, but with a

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different nuance. The necessity of keeping the commandments before

pursuing the way of perfection remains. But here, stress is laid upon
the control of the senses and particularly of the tongue.

Let us recall that Sermon II is about the Second Commandment,
that is, You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
On this subject, Anthony Mary speaks of the tribute of the mouth
(Sermon III), and to introduce the Second Commandment in the initial
part of Sermon II, he deals first with the true nature of spiritual life.
He then highlights the tongues role in the spiritual life of a Christian.
True spiritual life consists in this: that man should keep his eyes on
God all the time, long for nothing but God, begin every single action in
the Lords name, and direct it to Him; in short, that he unify his whole
beingmind, will, memory, senses, and actionsin God. Anthony
Mary then addresses the problem of why we cannot concentrate on
God: That which causes us to be imperfect and unable to obtain
the composure of our mind and our tongue is our failure to keep the
Second Commandment. And here is his solution: Do you wish, my
friends, to put your spirit in order? Do you want your soul to abide in
God and experience nothing other than God? Begin controlling your
feelings, for death enters through the windows, [that is, through the
senses].

In this case, too, it is necessary to maintain proper order.
Returning to the metaphors used in Sermon I, Anthony Mary states, I
am much afraid that we are not of those few [who receive the prize]
because, as I have said before, we do not enter the door. Namely, we
do not start with the first step and do not go on gradually.

At the end of Sermon II, Anthony Mary uses another beautiful
metaphor: Conclude, then, and say: I want to live according to the
spirit; I want to become one spirit with God; I want my citizenship to
be in heaven. I want to have God in my heart always, and indeed I can
have Himdifficult as it may be. Therefore...I will prepare my heart

Day Two

15

for God in all truth, in all simplicity, and in all sincerity. May He dwell
in my heart forever through His grace and make it His temple. In this
case, the condition that allows the fullness of God to dwell within us is
the preparation of our own heartpraeparatio cordis. If we want God
to come to dwell in our heart, we must first be inclined to welcome
Him.
Mans Part in the Work of His Own Sanctification

What does the observance of the commandments have in
common with the control of the senses? Both of these involve the part
man must play in the work of his sanctification. We must not deceive
ourselves by thinking that holiness is granted to us without intense
labor on our part. To be sure, Christian perfection is not the result of
a purely human effort. It is, first and foremost, a free gift of God, but
this gift depends upon our enduring cooperation. It might seem that,
with this teaching, Anthony Mary falls away somewhat from Pauls
emphasis on the primacy of grace and the inferiority of law: A person
is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ
(Gal 2:16); All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
They are justified freely by His grace through redemption in Christ
Jesus (Rom 3:23-24).

Indeed, if we limit ourselves to these versesas Luther did
Anthony Marys teaching could appear more Pelagian than Pauline,
but we must not forget that the Apostles teaching encompasses much
more than a few verses. Anthony Marywho had a proper Catholic
vision of revelation and thus read Paul in the light of Tradition
favored a balanced interpretation that was later affirmed and
dogmatically defined by the Council of Trent (15451563). According
to this interpretation, the free initiative of God does not exclude but
rather requires mans cooperation.

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Three-Day Retreat

Justification and Sanctification

Anthony Mary elucidates his thinking on this subject in
Sermon III. This sermon deals with the necessity of recognition,
acknowledgement, and gratitude in the pursuit of Christian
perfection: You do not want to acknowledge Him; you do not want
to pay Him the promised tribute; you do not want to give Him the
due honor of keeping the Sabbath holy, as the Third Commandment
enjoins. Neither, then, will He give you what He has promised you,
nor will He grant you perfection and that particular knowledge of
both His goodness and your own wretchedness, nor the capacity for
accepting and fulfilling the evangelical counsels.

Here, mans role is strongly stressed; the relationship between
God and man is described as a reciprocal exchange according to the
Latin phrase do ut des (I give that you may give). You do not do
your duty; God does not give you perfection. You do not keep your
promises; God does not keep His.

Anthony Mary does not fail to explain such surprising behavior
on the part of God. He introduces a distinction of prime importance in
the Christian life: a first instantPaul called it justificationthat is
totally free and presupposes no merit in man; and a second instance
the Council of Trent spoke of acceptae justificationis incrementum
(the increase of justification, once it has been received)that not only
allows but even demands cooperation from man.

Anthony Mary states, Do you know the reason [why God
deals with us this way]? It is because, though in His goodness and in
spite of usunfaithful and insincere servants, even His enemiesHe
gives us so many good things, nevertheless, He is unwilling to give the
gift of perfection, the tasting of His sweetness, and the knowledge of
His secrets, except to His friends and faithful disciples (Sermon III).
This is one of the finest and most profound passages from Anthony
Marys writings. The grace of God comes to meet us while we are

Day Two

17

yet sinners (unfaithful and insincere servants...enemies); it asks us

for nothing but mere acceptance. It is a totally free gift of God; man
can do nothing to merit it. When dispensing His grace, God does not
wait for us to become His friends, because we become His friends
through His grace. However, once we have been justified through
Gods unmerited liberality, the increase of grace depends on uson
our correspondence, on our cooperation. Perfection, holiness, union
with Godsuch gifts are not given indiscriminately to everyone, but
only to those who deserve them by remaining faithful, by keeping the
commandments, by doing good works, by practicing self-denial, and
by persevering to the endfriends and faithful disciples.
Catholicity of This Teaching

A similar doctrine was taught by St. Cyril of Jerusalem: The
forgiveness of sins is given to everybody equally. On the contrary, a
share in the Holy Spirit is granted in proportion to the faith of each
one (Catechesis, I, 6).

The same teaching is found in the Council of Trent. The
Decree on Justification states, Men, then, so justified and having
become friends and relations of God (Eph 2:19), going from virtue
to virtue (Ps 84:7), are renewed, the Apostle says, day by day (2 Cor
4:16), that is, mortifying the members of their bodies (Col 3:5) and
presenting them as weapons of righteousness for sanctification (Rom
6:13,19), through the observance of the commandments of God and
of the Church, they grow in the same righteousness received through
the grace of Christ because faith cooperates with good works, and so
they become more and more righteous. As it is written, The righteous
must still do right (Rv 22:11), and moreover, Wait not to fulfill your
vows when you are dying (Sir 18:22), and again, See how a person is
justified by works and not by faith alone (Jas 2:24). The holy Church
asks for this increase of righteousness when she prays, Increase in us,

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Three-Day Retreat

Lord, faith, hope, and charity (Chapter X, Sixth Session, 1547).

The Catechism of the Catholic Church declares once again,
Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one
can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification at the
beginning of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity,
we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for
our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the
attainment of eternal life (n. 2010).
Scant Diffusion of This Doctrine

The Churchs teaching on this subject is clear, but it seems
that these truths have not adequately formed the minds of ordinary
Christians. Catechesis, preaching, and spirituality have not handed
on this doctrine. Many of the faithful unintentionally subscribe to
Pelagianism, thinking that they are justified through their good works;
at the same time, many others drift into the insidious ideas of Luther,
expecting to become holy without exerting any effort of their own.

Anthony Mary can help us rediscover this doctrine, which
is so important for our Christian life. He emphasized this teaching,
whereas many other great spiritual authors did not. Even we, the
holy founders spiritual children, do not know and appreciate it as we
should.
The Evangelical Origin of This Teaching

Earlier, the Gospel itself was shown to be the inspiration for
the doctrine of the middle way. Here I want to stress that the due
order doctrine was also developed from the teachings of the Gospel.
Anthony Mary, immediately after the last text cited, quotes a sentence
from the Gospel of John: I no longer call you slaves, because a slave
does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from My Father

Day Two

19

(Jn 15:15). We have become friends, because He wanted it: it is a

gift from Him. In the same Gospel, however, Jesus tells us that to be
His friends we must keep His commandments: You are My friends
if you do what I command you (Jn 15:14). Being friends of Jesus
means loving Him, and loving Him is the condition for enjoying His
presence: Whoever has My commandments and observes them is the
one who loves Me. And whoever loves Me will be loved by My Father,
and I will love him and reveal Myself to him (Jn 14:21). Whoever
loves Me will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We
will come to him and make Our dwelling with him (Jn 14:23).

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Three-Day Retreat

DAY THREE: THE ZACCARIAN CHARISM: THE RENEWAL

OF CHRISTIAN FERVOR
The Charism of the Founder

The Second Vatican Councils Decree on the Adaptation and
Renewal of Religious Life states, It is for the good of the Church that
institutes have their own proper characters and functions. Therefore,
the spirit and aims of each founder should be faithfully accepted and
retained, as indeed should each institutes sound traditions, for all
these constitute the patrimony of an institute (Perfectae Caritatis,
2b). This decree inspired the sons of St. Anthony Mary to explore
the charism of the Barnabite Fathers through a series of discussions,
studies, and reflections. However, since a religious institutes charism
is but the heritage bequeathed by the founder to his sons, I felt the need
to know more deeply the charism of our holy founder. On this subject,
the document Mutuae Relationes (Directives for the Mutual Relations
Between Bishops and Religious in the Church, 1978) states, The
very charism of the Founders appears as an experience of the Spirit,
transmitted to their disciples to be lived, safeguarded, deepened, and
constantly developed by them, in harmony with the Body of Christ
continually in the process of growth. Let us then strive to define the
charism of Anthony Mary.
The Pauline Charism and the Charism of Reform

My research has already produced two significant findings.
One comes from the first general chapter of the Barnabite Fathers:
the Apostle Pauls charism that our holy founder made his own.
Anthony Mary did indeed embody the Pauline spirit. The Apostle was
a constant landmark for himhis inspirer, his model, his patron in
everything.

Regarding the second finding, the Ratio Barnabitica (the

Day Three

21

Barnabite Fathers document on formation) speaks of a charism

of reform. There is no doubt that the overarching goal of the holy
founder was the reform of the Church and society. Anthony Mary was
one of the most important representatives of the Catholic Reformation.
The Most Reverend Bishop Erba has very appropriately entitled his
biography of the saint Il riformatore (The Reformer). This expression
beautifully summarizes all of Anthony Marys work.
The Specific Charism of Anthony Mary

These two visions of Anthony Marys charism have much to
teach us, but they are somewhat limited in that they describe the saint
only in relation to something elsethe Pauline charism stresses his
dependence upon the Apostle and the charism of reform recalls his
participation in the Catholic Reformation.

One might wonder whether there is anything specific to
Anthony Mary, anything that characterizes him and distinguishes him
from the other saints, even from Paul and from the other Catholic
reformers of the sixteenth century. A search of the Zaccarian writings
reveals a recurring theme in Anthony Marys spirituality, a theme
which actually is manifested in a negative form and a positive form:
at the heart of the work of Anthony Mary we find the struggle against
lukewarmness and the desire to spread fervor.
The Struggle against Lukewarmness

The great founder of the Barnabites and Angelics speaks
of lukewarmness in many of his writings. In Letter II he identifies
irresoluteness as the cause and effect of lukewarmness. In Letter
V he entrusts to the Angelics the mission of routing out the most
pernicious and greatest enemy of Christ Crucified, which is nowadays
triumphing almost everywhereI mean, Lady Tepidity. In Letter XI
he expresses to Mr. and Mrs. Omodei his desire that they may not fall

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Three-Day Retreat

victims to lukewarmness.

Anthony Mary dedicated his entire Sermon VI to tepidity. It
seems that there should have been three sermons on this subject for
the three causes of negligence and tepidity in mans walking toward
God. However, Anthony Mary limited himself to treating only one of
the three causes: the distinction between precepts and counsels. The
other two, according to Interior Mirror by Fra Battista da Crema, are
the distinction between mortal sin and venial sin and the lack of selfconfidence and perseverance in the pursuit of holiness.

Lukewarmness is mentioned in Chapter IX of the Constitutions
(one of the topics of the spiritual meetings is the causes of spiritual
fervor or of lukewarmness). This is treated in detail in the chapters
devoted to the deterioration and reform of morals (Chapters XVI,
XVII, and XVIII). In these chapters, lukewarmness is identified as
contributing greatly to moral decay and degeneration of the religious
life.
The Effects of Lukewarmness

What does lukewarmness consist of? In Letter XI, the saint
provides a detailed description of the lukewarm person: Having left
his old ways, he does not commit big sins any longer, but takes pleasure
in little ones and does not feel remorse for them. For instance, he stops
blaspheming and insulting his neighbor, but he attaches no importance
to getting somewhat upset and to insisting on his own opinion rather
than giving in to his opponent. Speaking evil of others is no longer a
bad habit of his, but indulging quite often in vain and useless chatting
during the day is not much of a sin to him. He got rid of overeating and
drinking excessively as drunkards do, but he enjoys snacking here and
there, between meals, without necessity. The vicious habits of the flesh
are a thing of the past for him, but he takes delight in conversations
and entertainments that are not so clean. He loves to spend hours in

Day Three

23

prayer, but during the rest of the day his spirit wanders aimlessly. He
no longer seeks honors, but if they are given him, he gloats over them.
Be sure to conclude that the lukewarm person works at getting rid of
serious sins, but allows himself to commit little ones. He eliminates all
illicit things, but desires everything that is considered licit. He refrains
from sensual actions, but he takes pleasure in visual sensualities. He
wants to do good, but only within certain limits. He controls himself
but not totally. I am not saying that he should accomplish all this in the
twinkling of an eye and in a short time, but neither should he do it by
fits and starts and over a long time.
Thats Enough!

There is an expression that is often to be heard from the
mouths of the lukewarmThats enough! This is enough for me
that I save my soul by keeping the commandments. Thats enough,
and I dont care a bit for all this talk about great holiness (Sermon
VI). What good is it to go to confession so often? As for me, once a
year is enough (Ibid.); It is enough for me to honor God thus far
(Constitutions, XII); Its enough to do this, why bother about such
high perfection? (Ibid., XVII). The lukewarm person wants to set
bounds to perfection. He limits the actions that would please God, and
thus he limits the work of God Himself.
The Renewal of Christian Fervor

The concern for fervor, so common in Zaccarias writings,
serves as a complement to the fight against lukewarmness. In Letter
II, Anthony Mary reminds us that those who truly love Christ have
always been, to our shame, fervent, diligent, and not sluggish. In
Letter V, he expresses his desire to the Angelics: May I find that
some of you have acquired such stability and fervent perseverance
in spiritual matters that you will never again be victim to a will that

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Three-Day Retreat

fluctuates between fervor and tepidity, but rather will enjoy a steady
and holy fervor, nourished by life-giving water and enriched by new
vigor. In Sermon VI, after showing that mans vocation consists in
going to God, he adds, To do this you need a great fervor, so that
you may withdraw from everything, and most of all from yourselves
and from what is natural to you, namely, your bad habits.

In Chapter XII of the Constitutions, Anthony Mary tells
the master to teach the novices not only to keep the fervor of their
novitiate but also how to increase it by reminding them that to not go
forward is to go backward. In this chapter, Anthony Mary makes a
careful distinction between fury and fervor. Until recently, both
words were translated as fervor, but the new critical edition of
the Zaccarian writings shows that Anthony Mary used two different
words: fury and fervor. Furythat is, exterior devotionmay or
may not be present; what is important is that there is always fervor,
that is, true devotion. Fury is in the feelings; fervor is in the will.

In Chapter XVII of the Constitutions, the fervent are described
as those who do not resign themselves to the deterioration of morals
and who are ready to promote reform: But you, the ones who claim
to be fervent, please, do not commit such an injustice, that is, to fatten
Gods enemies with Christs patrimony.... [If you] want to be fervent,
avoid [associating yourselves with the lukewarm]. In Chapter XVIII,
the description of the reformer coincides with that of the fervent.
Portrait of a Fervent Christian

The most complete description of a fervent person is found in
Letter XI: Anyone willing to become a spiritual person begins a series
of surgical operations on his soul. One day he removes this, another
day he removes that, and relentlessly he proceeds until he lays aside
his old self. Let me explain. First of all, he eliminates offensive words,
then useless ones, and finally speaks of nothing else but edifying things.

Day Three

25

He eradicates angry words and gestures and finally adopts meek and
humble manners. He shuns honors and, when they are given to him,
not only is he not interiorly pleased, but he also welcomes insults and
humiliations and even rejoices in them. He not only knows how to
abstain from the marital act, but, aiming at increasing in himself the
beauty and merits of chastity, he also renounces anything that savors
of sensuality. He is not content to spend one or two hours in prayer but
loves to raise his mind to Christ frequently.
An Insignificant Topic?

At the end of Fr. Scaleses presentation of Anthony Marys
character and spirituality with regards to this subject of lukewarmness
and fervor, someone remarked, This is an insignificant topic.

It is perhaps true that when first confronting Anthony
Marys spirituality, one would think that he worried too much about
the details of Christian life. One is willing to allow himfor he
was a saintto attend to these trifles in his own life, but should he
really trouble other people with such things? Surely, he should have
emphasized the more urgent things: that people believe in God, that
they avoid grave sins, that they keep the commandments. But when we
stop to reflect on this attitude, we realize that it corresponds perfectly
with the saints description of the lukewarm Christian: This is enough
for methat I save my soul by keeping the commandments. Thats
enough, and I dont care a bit for all this talk about great holiness!
Saint Anthony Mary fought tirelessly against lukewarmness simply
because he was convinced that it was poison to the Christian soul
the most pernicious and greatest enemy of Christ Crucified.
Biblical Foundation of This Doctrine

The holy founder developed this conviction through assiduous
meditation on Sacred Scripture. It is true that lukewarmness and

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Three-Day Retreat

fervor are not explicitly emphasized in the Bible. Only once does
it mention lukewarmness, in the Book of Revelation: I know your
works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either
cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will
vomit you out of my mouth (Rv 3:15-16). This text alone should be
enough to persuade one of the seriousness of lukewarmness. However,
since this is only one text, one might think that this subject is of
secondary importance.
Parallelism between the Lukewarm and the Pharisee

If one reads Anthony Marys writings attentively, one realizes
that the saint identifies the lukewarm person with the Pharisee. This
surprising parallelism is found in Letter XI: If you let lukewarmness
ensnare you, your life in the spirit will be overcome by the flesh, and,
to use the proper word, you will be Pharisees rather than Christians
and spiritual persons. Anthony Mary mentions this comparison in
two other instances: Now, here is how the lukewarmthe Pharisee
behaves, and after a description of a lukewarm individual he remarks,
Be sure to conclude that the Pharisee or lukewarm person works at
getting rid of serious sins. When we recall that Jesus reserved so
much of His wrath for the Pharisees, we should realize that they must
have been guilty of something very serious. Jesus did not denounce
and condemn sinners: He came to save them. But He gave no rest to
the Pharisees, because they opposed Him. They prevented His grace
from bearing fruit in their souls and the souls of others. The same can
be said of lukewarm individualstheir tepidity restricts and impedes
the work of grace.

Moreover, if we consider that Anthony Mary mentions
the Pharisees also in Sermon IV in reference to those who possess
many virtues but without charity, we realize that lukewarmness is
the opposite of love. The lukewarm Christian is nothing more than

Day Three

27

the distorted shadow of a true disciple of Jesus Christ; his life is a

contradiction, an illusionit is pure hypocrisy.
Spirit and True Fervor

The saints teachings about fervor are equally important, as
we see in Chapter XII of the Constitutions. Here, too, there is a very
interesting parallelism: So, keep well in mind that, by so persevering,
you will grow in spirit and fervor. Fervor is not a secondary detail
in Christian life. It is the sign of the Spirits presence in us. We
must acknowledge that with these two topics of lukewarmness and
fervor we are not on the periphery of Christianity but in its heart. A
lukewarm Christian is not a Christianeither a Christian is fervent
or he is not a Christian at all. A mediocre Christian life is simply not
acceptable. This applies not only to clergy and religious but also to all
of the faithful. Let us recall the words of the Second Vatican Councils
Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium): All the
faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status are called to the fullness
of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity (n. 40).

Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria was preaching this same
doctrine four centuries before. He had realized that all the evils of
his time, in the Church and in society, stemmed from lukewarmness,
and to redress that deplorable situation he was determined to revive
Christian fervor.

Our holy founder entrusted this mission to the Angelic Sisters
of St. Paul: Unfurl your flags, my dear daughters, for Jesus Crucified
is about to send you to proclaim everywhere the vital energy of the
Spirit. (Letter V). Pope John Paul II has since reminded us that by
becoming bearers of the Cross (staurophoroi), [we must strive] to
become bearers of the Spirit (pneumatophoroi), authentically spiritual
men and women, capable of endowing history with hidden fruitfulness
by unceasing praise and intercession, by spiritual counsels and works

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Three-Day Retreat

of charity (Vita Consecrata, n. 6).

To his sonsthe BarnabitesAnthony Mary bequeathed
this enduring exhortation: Be the foundation and pillars in the
renewal of Christian fervor. In this sentence we find a synthesis of
the whole work of this great saint and founder. It is the mission he
entrusts to his spiritual childrenhis charism and their charism.

Indeed, this charism is precisely the charism of reform,
provided that by this expression we refer not merely to a reform of
the Churchs structures and practices. The reform to which Anthony
Mary dedicated all his life and energy was utterly spiritual: the
renewal of Christian fervor, beginning in the soul of the reformer
and radiating forth into the Church and society.
Igniting the Flame of Faith

Angelo Montonati has perfectly captured the heart of
Zaccarian spirituality by entitling his biography of Anthony Mary
Fuoco nella Citt (lit. Fire in the City, Edizioni San Paolo, 2002).
Indeed, this image seems to dramatically portray the mission
fulfilled by Zaccaria in his short life: he came into this world to
ignite a fire, and then he left. With joy and satisfaction can we apply
to this great saint the sentence from Lukes Gospel that he quoted in
reference to Christ: I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I
wish it were already blazing!

THE ZACCARIAN FAMILY

Clerics Regular of St. Paul
Angelic Sisters of St. Paul
Laity of St. Paul

CLERICS REGULAR OF ST. PAUL

Let us run like madmen not only toward God but also toward our neighbors.
(St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Letter II)
The Clerics Regular of Saint Paul are commonly called Barnabites from their first major
Church in Milan, Italy, which was dedicated to Saint Barnabas.
The Barnabites are Clerics Regular, that is, clerics doing any priestly work but living together
under a special Rule, bound by solemn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Saint Paul is the patron saint of the Order, from whom the Barnabites draw inspiration in
spreading the devotion to Christ Crucified and to the Holy Eucharist.
The Order was founded almost 500 years ago by Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria (15021539), a learned and charitable medical doctor. Believing that souls were more in need of
healing than bodies, he became a priest. Following the example of their Holy Founder, every
Barnabite adds the name Mary to his.
The Barnabite Order consists of both priests and brothers. The Barnabites are in: Afghanistan,
Albania, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Congo, India, Italy, Mexico, Philippines,
Poland, Rwanda, Spain, and the United States.
Visit: www.barnabites.com
For more information contact:
Barnabites USA and Canada
1023 Swann Road, P.O. Box 167
Youngstown, New York 14174
U.S.A.
Tel. 716.754.7489
E-mail: pmccrsp@fatimashrine.com
Barnabites India
#192, Amrutha Nagar, 3rd Phase, 4th Main
Choodasandra Main Road
Huskur Post, Bangalore - 99
Karnataka
India
Tel. 91.80.25746286
E-mail: barnaindiacrsp@gmail.com
Barnabites Philippines
Saint Anthony Maria Zaccaria Seminary
360 Apitong Street
Marikina Heights, 1810 Marikina City
Philippines
Tel. 02.934.3563
E-mail: SAMZaccariaseminary@gmail.com

ANGELIC SISTERS OF ST. PAUL

Unfurl your flags, my dear daughters, for Jesus Crucified is about to send you to proclaim
everywhere the vital energy of the Spirit. (St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Letter V)
The Angelic Sisters of Saint Paul work in active apostolate as collaborators of the Clerics
Regular of Saint Paul (Barnabites) and the Laity of Saint Paul in their mission of renewing the
Christian fervor in the Church.
Saint Paul is their protector and guide, after whom they model their life.
The Congregation was founded in Milan, Italy, by the same founder as the Barnabites,
Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria, and was granted the Pontifical Bull of approval on January 15,
1535.
The Congregation of the Angelic Sisters of Saint Paul are inspired in their apostolic
works by Mary, under the name, Mother of Divine Providence, who in her life has been a
model of that motherly love, with which all who join in the Churchs apostolic mission for the
regeneration of mankind should be animated.
The Angelic Sisters serve in the Church in the following countries: Italy, Brazil, Belgium,
Spain, United States, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kosovo, Philippines, Portugal, Chile,
Albania, Poland, Rwanda, and Indonesia.
Visit: www.angelicsistersofstpaul.blogspot.com
For more information contact:
Angelic Sisters of St. Paul USA
4196 William Penn Hwy
Easton, PA 18045-5067
U.S.A.
Tel. +1 610.258.7792
Angelic Sisters of St. Paul Philippines
314 General M. Ordoez Street
Bulua Old Highway, Medina
Marikina Heights, Marikina City
9013 Misanis Oriental
Philippines Philippines
Tel. +63 2.948.4477 or +63 2.941.2993
Tel. +63 947.704.4823
E-mail: angelicsisters.asp@gmail.com
E-mail: angelics.mdna@yahoo.com
angelics.phil@gmail.com
Susteran ASP Indonesia
Angelic Sisters of St. Paul
Jln Wairklan Gang kanari 3
kal. Madawat. Maumere, Flores-NTT
Indonesia
Tel. +62 382.22717

LAITY OF ST. PAUL

I greatly desire that you become great saints, since you are well equipped to reach this
goal, if you will it.(St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Letter XI)
The Laity of Saint Paul originated in the early 1500s by the initiative of Saint Anthony Mary
Zaccaria.
The brilliant and prophetic intuition of Anthony Mary was to understand that true holiness
is achieved only with a deep internal reform that is required of all: priests, religious and lay
people, especially married ones.
So it was that Anthony Mary Zaccaria gathered around him many married lay people, to make
them grow in the knowledge of faith and in the love toward neighbors. His idea was that only
through cooperation of the three states of life could the Church find the ferment of growth
and renewal.
By 1986, some lay people came together and decided to submit to the Barnabite Fathers and
the Angelic Sisters the project to rebuild this reality. The approval of the movement was slow
and resulted in some difficulties, which were then overcome.
Today the Laity of St. Paul are a reality in many parts of Italy and abroad, and have a jobtraining program for its members. Their spiritual life is nourished by reading and meditating
on the Scriptures, especially the letters of Saint Paul, and studying the writings of the holy
founder.
Their main aim is the internal reform, that is, to win over lukewarmness which leads slowly
intoindifference and spiritual laziness. This internal reform is also to find the strength, passion,
and enthusiasm of the true Faith understood as full trust in the Person of Jesus Christ.
Visit: www.laicidisanpaolo.com
For more information contact:
Barnabites Canada
St. James Parish
231 Morden Road
Oakville, Canada 1L6K 2S2
CANADA
Tel. 905.845.3603
E-mail: stjamesoak@bell.net

Barnabite Publications
Barnabite Publications commenced in 2007 with its first online
publication of a newsletter entitled Anthony Alive. In the following years,
Barnabite Publications has printed religious materials, such as brochures,
pamphlets, cards, and has published translated foreign works for the use
of English-speaking readers. Barnabite Publications continues to fulfill
its aim of evangelization through publishing and printing materials that
provide spiritual means for renewing Christian fervor in the world as
envisioned by St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, founder of the Clerics Regular
of St. Paul (Barnabites), Angelic Sisters of St. Paul, and the Laity of St.
Paul.
Barnabite Publications depends mostly on generous donations for its
publishing finances. It welcomes donations coursed through this address:
Barnabite Publications
Barnabite Spiritual Center
4301 Hecktown Road
Bethlehem PA 18020, USA
E-mail: BarnabitePublications@gmail.com
Visit us online to view Barnabite Publications:
www.barnabites.com/barnabite-publications
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Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria

Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria was born in Cremona,
Italy in 1502. He was graduated from the University of
Padua in 1524 with a degree in medicine. As he returned
to Cremona, he soon realized that people, even though in
need of a medical doctor, were more in need of a doctor
of souls. It was in the church of St. Vitale that Anthony
reformed and re-evangelized the people. In the meantime,
he studied under the Dominicans and was ordained a priest
on February 20, 1529. With the aid of his own spiritual
director, he moved to heal the spiritual wounds in the Milan
area. Anthony joined there the Oratory of Eternal Wisdom.
The purpose of this prayer group was the interior renewal
of self and others. Springing forth from the oratory, the
Clerics Regular of St. Paul (Barnabites) were formed by
Anthony. He also founded the Angelic Sisters of St. Paul
for women and another group for the laity (The Laity of
St. Paul). Together, these three groups went around the
Milanese area healing the illness of spiritual ignorance,
lukewarmness, and superstition. Those in authority, civil
and Church, did not like them upsetting the status quo;
nevertheless Anthony and his followers continued to preach
with the healing power of the reformation based on the
teachings of Jesus and the Letters of Saint Paul. Anthony
died, surrounded by his family and confreres, in Cremona
on July 5, 1539. He was named a saint by Pope Leo XIII
on May 27, 1897.

The Zaccarian Spirituality Collection is an anthology

of works on the life and teachings of St. Anthony Mary
Zaccaria written or compiled by recognized members of
the Clerics Regular of St. Paul (Barnabites), the Angelic
Sisters of St. Paul, and the Laity of St. Paul. The collection
is meant to spread, promote, and renew the spirituality of
St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria in the English-speaking world.

Consider well what I have written to you and try

to practice it by deeds, not just by words.
(St. Anthony M. Zaccaria, Letter 3)

Bar nabite Publications

2014