January 17: When Anthony (Egypt 3rd cent) heard Jesus’ words "If you will be perfect, go and sell what you have, and give to the poor," he did so and went into the desert. After 20 years of fighting temptation, the desert filled with monks seeking to imitate him, so he relocated to a fort in another desert. There he read about the saints and perfected himself until he surpassed them. After 20 years, again sought after, he went to a mountain in the desert near the Red Sea. He died at age 105.
