Saint Antoninus was born at Florence in A.D. 1390. His father, Nicholas
Pierozzi, followed the legal profession and filled several important offices in
the city. The child received at the font the name of Anthony, but his smallness
of stature and extreme gentleness of disposition caused him to be always known
by the graceful Italian diminutive of Antonino (little Anthony). His childhood
was one of remarkable holiness and almost continual prayer, and he assiduously
attended the sermons of the celebrated Friar Preacher, Blessed John Dominici.
This holy man was superintending the erection of a new Convent at Fiesole, in
the neighbourhood of Florence, and Antoninus implored admission into the
Community. Alarmed at the extreme delicacy of his appearance, Blessed John was
afraid to accede to his desires and sought some plausible excuse for a refusal.
He told him, therefore, that it was necessary first for him to make further
progress in his studies, but promised to admit him when he should have learnt
by heart the Book of Decretals. This seemingly impossible condition in no way
damped the ardent spirit of the young postulant. Within a year he had
accomplished the task, and, coming to Blessed John, claimed the fulfilment of
his promise. It was not refused; and on the Feast of St. Dominic, A.D. 1504,
the holy youth was clothed in the habit of the Friars Preachers. He was sent to
Cortona to make his noviceship under Blessed Lawrence of Ripafratta, and had
there as his companions Blessed Peter Capucci and Fra Angelico of Fiesole. In
such an atmosphere of sanctity, Antoninus made rapid progress in perfection.
The first miracle recorded of him is typical of the affectionate simplicity of his character. To comfort a little girl who was weeping bitterly over a broken pitcher, he collected the shattered fragments, made the sign of the cross over them, and restored the vessel to her whole and uninjured. During the greater part of his life the Saint filled the office of Prior in one or other of the most important Convents of the Order, and was himself the founder of the celebrated Convent of Saint Mark at Florence. He was an indefatigable student and wrote a Summa of Moral Theology, works on Canon Law, treatises for Confessors and Parish Priests, and a Chronicle of the History of the World. Saint Antoninus possessed in an eminent degree the gift of counsel; cases of conscience and questions on Canon Law were continually submitted to him for solution, and such was his power of restoring peace to troubled souls, that he was popularly called "the Angel of Counsels." He assisted in the capacity of theologian at the General Council of Florence, A.D. 1439, where he had the consolation of witnessing the reunion of the Greek and Latin Churches. He organized a vast system of charity, which is still in existence in our own day, for the relief of the bashful poor of Florence, and greatly contributed to the development of Confraternities of Christian Doctrine for the instruction of the young.
In the year 1446 he was raised to the archiepiscopal throne of Florence, a dignity which he only accepted when compelled to do so under penalty of excommunication. As Archbishop he made no change in the poverty and simplicity of his life. His entire household consisted of six persons; his purse and his time were equally the property of his flock. In his government he united a singular sweetness and gentleness with the firmness and intrepidity which were called for by the abuses of the times. It was remarked how, amidst the multiplicity of cares which his extensive and vigorous administration entailed upon him, his countenance never lost its expression of calm serenity. Preeminently a man of prayer, never did he suffer the turmoil of business to disturb the inner sanctuary of his soul. When Florence was desolated by the plague and subsequently by famine and terrible earthquakes, Saint Antoninus showed himself indeed the father of his people. Night and day he might be seen traversing the city, followed by a few devoted friends and by an ass laden with provisions and remedies.
His miracles were very numerous and bear a striking testimony to the simple and unostentatious life of the great prelate, much of whose time was spent amongst the poorest of his flock. At one time we find him mending the mill of a poor man, ruined by a flood; at another, his blessing melts the iron which has hardened in the furnace of some obstinate sinners, whose hearts melt also into repentance at the forbearance of the Archbishop.
Saint Antoninus is commonly represented in Christian art holding in his hand a pair of scales. This is in allusion to the following miraculous circumstance. An inhabitant of Florence once brought him as a New Year's gift a beautiful basket of fruit, in the secret hope of receiving a rich reward. When, instead of the expected donation, the Saint dismissed him with merely the words, "May God reward you," he went off in a very discontented frame of mind. On learning this, the Archbishop summoned him once more into his presence, and, calling for scales, placed the basket of fruit in one side of the balance and the written words "May God reward you!" in the other. The slip of paper was found to far outweigh the fruits, and the donor retired covered with confusion.
Nicholas V., who canonized Saint Bernardine of Siena, remarked that Antoninus living deserved canonization as much as Bernardine dead; and the same Pope forbade any appeals or complaints to be received in Rome against sentences passed by the saintly Archbishop of Florence.
The deathbed of Saint Antoninus was a holy and happy scene. "To serve God is to reign," were the words ever on his lips, together with that salutation of the glorious Virgin which had ever been among his favourite ejaculations: "O holy and immaculate Virginity, with what praises to extol thee I know not." He expired on May 2, A.D. 1459, surrounded by the Friars of the Convent of Saint Mark, in whose midst he desired to be interred. A very remarkable testimony of honour was paid to him by the reigning Pontiff, Pius II., who commanded that his funeral should be celebrated with extraordinary splendour, and granted an indulgence to all who should kiss the hands or feet of the deceased Archbishop during the eight days that the body remained exposed before burial. The Bull of Saint Antoninus's canonization was drawn up by Adrian IV., A.D. 1523, but not published until the reign of his successor, Clement VII.
Prayer
May we be assisted, O Lord, by the merits of Thy blessed Confessor and Bishop, Saint Antoninus, that, as we confess Thee wonderful in him, so we may glory in that Thou art merciful unto us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source:
Fr. John Procter, O.P. Short
Lives of the Dominican Saints. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, 1901
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