Saint Anthony the Abbot is one of the most beloved saints in history, regardless of whether one has a faith or not. They say that Saint Anthony, also known as Saint Anton, discovered wisdom by observing animals and divine love through nature. That is why he is the patron saint of animals and so beloved among animal lovers. Taking advantage of the proximity of “his day,” we are going to tell you a few things about him.
He is said to have been born in Egypt around 251 AD, into a wealthy family. However, after donating all his possessions, his life was marked by spiritual retreats in inhospitable places. He was known as a wise and peaceful man, which is why many of his contemporaries followed him wherever he went. This forced him to move farther and farther away from civilization in order to achieve the way of life he sought: prayer, penance, silence, fasting, rejection of sensual pleasures… in search of the soul’s spiritual perfection. He fought against all kinds of temptations, as Hieronymus Bosch illustrated so well, and laid the foundations for the ascetic model of future Christians.
The origin of the festival dates back to the year 1000, when Saint Anthony the Abbot was established as a feast day in France. It later spread throughout the continent. In the 14th century, Saint Anthony the Abbot became a highly significant saint because of a particularity that had nothing to do with animals. Long before becoming their patron saint, he was the saint who defended people against a terrible disease that wreaked havoc at the time: ergotism.
Images of Saint Anthony the Abbot began featuring a pig at the saint’s feet very early on. According to some authors, the little pig represents the demons that the saint was able to subdue. Others indicate that the pig refers to the animals that kept him company during his retreats, some of which even helped him in adverse situations according to certain myths. Another legendary passage tells that the saint healed some wild boar piglets, and they continued to accompany him, in gratitude, for the rest of his days.
Saint Anthony the Abbot’s patronage over animals has been linked to the story of the wild sow and other similar accounts. There is unanimous agreement that the saint took animals as a model of natural behavior untouched by human corruption. Hence his identification as a defender of animals: initially of wild animals, although over time his sphere of protection extended to pack animals and pets as well.
The tradition of blessing animals is believed to date back to the colonial era and continues today. In fact, animals are blessed on January 17 in many places around the world. In Vatican City, Saint Peter’s Square fills with animals for the feast, and they are blessed by the archpriest of Saint Peter’s Basilica and the vicar general. In the Valencian Community, for example, more than 320 towns and cities join the celebration. This video is a good example, showing people of all ages accompanied by their pets to receive the saint’s protection and favor.
If you would like to learn the prayer to Saint Anthony for asking for protection for pets, a true declaration of love and respect for animals, continue reading here.