From Dom Guéranger's The Liturgical Year.
THE Order of St Dominic, which has already presented to our triumphant Jesus Peter the Martyr and Catharine the seraph of Siena, offers him to-day one of the many bishops trained and formed in its admirable school. It was in the fifteenth century, a period when sanctity was rare on the earth, that Antoninus realized in his own person the virtues of the greatest bishops of ancient times. His apostolic zeal, his deeds of charity, his mortified life, are the glory of the Church of Florence, which was confided to his care. Heaven blessed that illustrious city with temporal prosperity on account of its saintly archbishop. Cosmo de Medici was frequently heard to say that Florence owed more to Antoninus than to any other man. The holy prelate was also celebrated for his great learning. He defended the Papacy against the calumnies of certain seditious bishops in the Council of Basle: and, at the General Council of Florence, he eloquently asserted the truth of the Catholic faith, which was assailed by the abettors of the Greek schism. How beautiful is our holy Mother the Church, who produces such children as Antoninus, and has them in readiness to uphold what is true and withstand what is false!
She thus speaks the praises of the Saint of to-day:
Antoninus Florentiæ honestis parentibus natus, ab ipsa jam pueritia egregium futuræ sanctitatis specimen exhibuit. Annum agens sextum decimum, Religionem Prædicatorum amplexus, cœpit exinde maximis clarere virtutibus. Otio perpetuum bellum indixit. Post nocturnum brevem somnum primus matutinis precibus aderat; quibus persolutis, reliquum tempus noctis orationibus, aut certe lectioni, et scriptioni librorum tribuebat; et si quando importunior fessis membris somnus obreperet, ad parietem paululum declinato capite, ac tantisper discusso somno, sacras vigilias avidius repetebat.
Disciplinæ regularis sui ipsius severissimus exactor, carnes, nisi in gravi ægritudine, nunquam edit. Humi aut in nudo tabulato cubabat: cilicio semper usus, et interdum zona ferrea ad vivam cutem incinctus, virginitatem integerrime semper colui t. In explicandis consiliis tantæ dexteritatis fuit, ut communi elogio Antoninus consiliorum diceretur. Adeo autem in eo humilitas enituit, ut etiam cœnobiis ac provinciis præfectus, abjectissima monasterii officia demississime obiret. Ab Eugenio Quarto Florentinus Archiepiscopus renuntiatus, aegerrime tandem, nec nisi Apostolicis minis perterrefactus, ut Episcopatum acciperet, acquievit.
In eo munere vix dici potest quantum prudentia, pietate, charitate, mansuetudine, et sacerdotali zelo excelluit. Istud mirandum, tantum ingenio valuisse, ut omnes ferme scientias per se, nullo adhibito præceptore, absolutissime didicerit. Tandem post multos labores, multis etiam editis insignis doctrinæ libris, sacra Eucharistia et Unctione percepta, complexus Crucifixi imaginem, mortem lætus aspexit, sexto Nonas Maii, anno millesimo quadringentesimo quinquagesimo nono. Miraculis vivens et post mortem conspicuus, Sanctorum numero adscriptus est ab Hadriano Sexto, anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo vigesimo tertio.
Antoninus was bom at Florence, of respectable parents. He gave great promise, even when quite a child, of his future sanctity. At the age of sixteen he entered the Religious Order of Friars Preachers and at once became an object of admiration, by his practice of the highest virtues. He declared ceaseless war against idleness. After taking a short sleep at night, he was the first at the Office of Matins; after which he spent the remainder of the night in prayer, or reading, or writing. If at times, owing to fatigue, he felt himself oppressed with unwelcome sleep, he would lean his head for a while against the wall, and then, shaking off the drowsiness, resume his holy vigils with renewed earnestness.
He was a most rigid observer of Religious discipline, and never ate flesh-meat, save in the case of severe illness. His bed was the ground or a bare board. He always wore a hair shirt, and sometimes an iron girdle next to his skin. He observed the strictest chastity during his whole life. Such was his prudence in giving counsel, that he was called Antoninus the Counsellor. His humility was so great that, even when Prior and Provincial, he used to fulfil the lowest duties of the Monastery with the utmost self-abjection. He was made Archbishop of Florence by Pope Eugenius the Fourth. Great was his reluctance to accept such a dignity; nor would he have consented, but for fear of incurring the spiritual penalties wherewith he was threatened by the Pope.
It would be difficult to describe the prudence, piety, charity, meekness and apostolic zeal wherewith he discharged his episcopal office. He learned almost all the sciences to perfection, and, what is more surprising, he accomplished this by his own extraordinary talent without having any master to teach him. Finally, after many labours, and after having published several learned books, he fell sick. He received the Holy Eucharist and Extreme Unction, and embracing the crucifix, joyfully welcomed death, on the sixth of the Nones of May (May 10), in the year 1459. He was illustrious for the miracles which he wrought during his life, as also for. those which followed his death. He was canonized by Adrian the Sixth, in the year of our Lord 1523.
Disciple of the great Dominic, inheritor of his burning zeal, protect the holy order which he founded, and of which thou art so bright an ornament. Show that thou still lovest it. Give it increase, and procure for its children the holiness that once worked such loveliness and fruit in the Church. Holy Pontiff, be mindful of the faithful, who implore thine intercession at this period of the year.
Thy eloquent lips announced the Pasch, so many years, to the people of Florence, and urged them to share in the Resurrection of our divine Head. The same Pasch, the immortal Pasch, has shone once more upon us. We are still celebrating it; pray that its fruits may be lasting in us, and that our Risen Jesus, who has given us life, may, by his grace, preserve it in our souls for all eternity.