f the river of the same name, was
inhabited by many holy anchorets in St. Bede's time, as appears from his
life of St. Cuthbert.[1] This island belonged to the monastery of
Tinmouth, and, with the leave of the prior of that house, St. Henry
undertook to lead in it an eremitical life. He fasted every day, and his
refection, which he took at most only once in twenty-four hours, after
sunset, was only bread and water: and this bread he earned by tilling a
little garden near his cell. He suffered many assaults both from devils
and men; but by those very trials improved his soul in the perfect
spirit of patience, meekness, humility, and charity. He died in his
hermitage in 1127, on the 16th of January, and was buried by the monks
of Tinmouth, in the church of the Blessed Virgin, near the body of St.
Oswin, king and martyr. See his life in Capgrave and Bollandus.

Footnotes:
1. Bede, Vit. S. Cuthberti, c. 24.

{165}

JANUARY XVII.

ST. ANTONY, ABBOT,

PATRIARCH OF MONKS.

From his life, compiled by the great St. Athanasius, vol. 2, p. 743, a
work much commended by St. Gregory Nazianzen, St. Jerom, St. Austin,
Rufinus, Palladius, &c. St. Chrysostom recommends to all persons the
reading of this pious history, as full of instruction and edification.
Hom. 8, in Matt t. 7. p. 128. It contributed to the conversion of St.
Austin. Confess. l. 8, c. 6 and 28. See Tillemont, t. 7, Helyot, t. 1,
Stevens, Addit. Mon. Anglic. t. 1, Ceillier, &c.

A.D. 356.

ST. ANTONY was born at Coma, a village near Heraclea, or Great
Heracleopolis, in Upper Egypt, on the borders of Arcadia, or Middle
Egypt, in 251. His parents, who were Christians, and rich, to prevent
his being tainted by bad example and vicious conversation, kept him
always at home; so that he grew up unacquainted with any branch of human
literature, and could read no language but his own.[1] He was remarkable
from his childhood for his temperance, a close attendance on church
duties, and a punctual obedience to his parents. By their death he found
himself possessed of a very considerable estate, and charged with the
care of a younger sister, before he was twenty years of age. Near six
months after, he heard read in the church those words of Christ to the
rich young man: _Go sell what thou hast, and give it to the poor, and
thou shalt have treasure in heaven._[2] He considered these words as
addressed to himself; going home, he made over to his neighbors three
hundred