Why is Saint Anthony Abbot the Patron Saint of Animals?

Did you know that Saint Anthony Abbot, a fourth-century hermit monk, is honored as the patron saint of animals? Born in Egypt into a wealthy family, St Anthony showed from an early age a simple spirit and deep devotion. When his parents died, he was only eighteen or twenty years old and suddenly found himself responsible for both his younger sister and the family’s possessions.

Shortly afterward, while attending church, Anthony heard the Gospel passage in which Jesus says to the rich young man, “Sell what you have and give to the poor.” He felt those words were addressed directly to him. Without hesitation, he sold his inheritance, distributed the money among the poor, and entrusted his sister to the care of consecrated virgins. Free from worldly concerns, he devoted himself entirely to a contemplative life.

The Church celebrates Saint Anthony Abbot’s feast day on January 17, a date traditionally associated with the blessing of animals. According to ancient accounts, Anthony lived in the desert in peaceful harmony with animals, never subduing them by force. Instead, they seemed to obey him naturally, drawn by the holiness of his life.
For this reason, beginning in the Middle Ages—especially in rural areas of Europe—people brought their livestock and working animals to church on Saint Anthony’s feast day, asking for protection, health, and God’s blessing. These animals were essential to family life and survival. Over time, this custom extended to household pets, which today hold a cherished place in many families.

In this article, we will share several stories about St Anthony Abbot and animals, preserved by Saint Athanasius of Alexandria, who wrote his biography and helped spread his legacy throughout the Christian world.

Who was Saint Anthony Abbot?

After selling his possessions, Saint Anthony Abbot remained near his home, earning his living through manual labor and giving alms, while learning the virtues practiced by other local ascetics. During this time, however, he endured intense spiritual trials. The devil sought to distract him with memories of his former wealth, concern for his sister, and temptations of the flesh. Anthony overcame these assaults through prayer and fasting.

Desiring greater solitude, he withdrew to abandoned tombs on the outskirts of his village. There, according to tradition, demons attacked him so violently that he was left unconscious, as though dead. A friend found him and carried him to safety, but once he recovered, Anthony returned to the same place, determined to face his enemies once more. After these trials, the Lord appeared to him in a vision of light, promising to be his constant help and to make his name known throughout the world.

At the age of thirty-five, Anthony retired to an abandoned fortress on a mountain near the Nile River, where he lived in complete isolation for nearly twenty years. He received bread only twice a year. During this time, his reputation for holiness grew so great that friends eventually forced open the door of his refuge. When Anthony emerged, they were astonished: his body showed neither weakness nor excess, and his soul was in perfect peace. From that moment on, he became a spiritual father and guide to many. He healed the sick, cast out demons, and inspired countless men to embrace the solitary life—so much so that, as tradition says, “the desert became full of monks.”

This withdrawn life was interrupted only twice. During the persecution under Emperor Maximinus, St Anthony Abbot traveled to Alexandria to support Christians imprisoned or condemned to forced labor, even desiring martyrdom himself. Years later, he returned again to the city to oppose the Arian heresy, firmly teaching that the Son of God is not a creature but the eternal Word of the Father.

Seeking once more to escape the crowds, Saint Anthony Abbot withdrew to what became known as the Inner Mountain, deep in the desert. There he cultivated his own grain and vegetables so as not to burden anyone. During this period, he experienced many visions and worked numerous miracles: he healed people from afar, witnessed the passage of souls into heaven—such as that of the monk Ammon—and received visions of divine judgment.

Sensing that his death was near at the age of one hundred and five, Saint Anthony Abbot paid a final visit to the monks of the Outer Mountain, urging them to remain faithful to orthodox teaching and to avoid schismatics and Arians. He asked his two closest disciples to bury his body in a secret place to prevent the Egyptian custom of keeping corpses in private homes. He died peacefully, his face radiant with joy. His fame spread throughout the Roman Empire—from Spain to Africa—not because of writings he left behind, but because of his total surrender to God.

Stories of Saint Anthony Abbot and the Animals

Saint Anthony Abbot possessed such holiness of life and spiritual authority that even wild animals and nature itself seemed to recognize it. The creatures of the desert—normally fearful or aggressive—did not perceive him as an enemy but as a man living in harmony with the Creator. For this reason, the Church has honored him as the patron saint of animals.

Among the most well-known stories are the following:

The pact with the wild beasts of the garden

When St Anthony Abbot withdrew to the Inner Mountain, he cultivated a small garden to provide food for visiting monks. Desert animals, drawn by the presence of water, frequently damaged his crops. Rather than resorting to violence, Anthony gently captured one of them and addressed the animals as though they were rational beings, saying:

“Why do you harm me when I have done you no wrong? Go away, and in the name of the Lord, do not come near these things again.”

Saint Athanasius recounts that from that moment on, the animals obeyed his command and never returned, as though struck with awe by his authority.

A safe passage among crocodiles

On one occasion, St Anthony Abbot needed to cross the Canal of Arsinoë in order to visit other monks. The waters were extremely dangerous, infested with crocodiles. After offering a prayer, the saint entered the water with his companions and crossed safely to the other side, untouched by the reptiles. This event was seen as a sign of his unwavering faith and of the divine protection surrounding him.

The camel and the miraculous spring

During a journey through the desert with other monks, the group ran out of water and faced death from the intense heat. They had brought a camel carrying supplies, but in their exhaustion and despair, they collapsed and allowed the animal to wander off. Moved by compassion, Saint Anthony Abbot withdrew to pray, and the Lord caused a spring of water to gush forth at the place where he knelt. After refreshing themselves, they searched for the camel and found it tethered, its rope tangled around a stone. They led it to the water and were able to complete their journey safely.

Beasts as instruments of the devil

It is important to note that Anthony’s encounters with animals also had a spiritual dimension. In his battles against the evil one, demons often appeared in the form of ferocious beasts in an attempt to terrify him. Ancient sources describe his cell filled with terrifying visions of lions, bears, leopards, bulls, serpents, scorpions, and wolves. Each behaved according to its nature: the lion roared, the bull charged, the serpent writhed. Saint Anthony, however, mocked them, saying that if they truly possessed power, they would not need to imitate beasts or come in such numbers—their very disguises revealed their weakness.

• You may be interested in: Life of Saint Anthony, Abbot, by Saint Athanasius of Alexandria

Prayers to Saint Anthony Abbot

Prayer to Saint Anthony Abbot for His Intercession

O God, who brought the Abbot Saint Anthony to serve you by a wondrous way of life in the desert, grant, through his intercession, that, denying ourselves, we may always love you above all things. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen

Blessing of the animals

The Church teaches that, according to the designs of Divine Providence, animals in many ways share in human life, whether by assisting in work or by providing food and companionship. For this reason, nothing prevents the faithful, on certain occasions—such as the feast day of a saint like Saint Anthony Abbot—from preserving the custom of invoking God’s blessing upon them.

This blessing may be given by a priest, a deacon, or a lay minister.

When the community has gathered, a suitable song may be sung. After the singing, the minister says

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All make the sign of the cross and reply:
Amen.

A minister who is a priest or deacon greets those present in the following or other suitable words, taken mainly from sacred Scripture.

O LORD, our Lord,
how glorious is your name over all the earth!
You have exalted your majesty above the heavens.
When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place—
What is man that you should be mindful of him
or the son of man that you should care for him? You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
putting all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen,
yes, and beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas. (Ps 8)

Then a minister who is a priest or deacon says the prayer of blessing with hands outstretched; a lay minister says the prayer with hands joined.

O God,
you have done all things wisely;
in your goodness you have made us in your image
and given us care over other living things.
Reach out with your right hand
and grant that these animals may serve our needs
and that your bounty in the resources of this life
may move us to seek more confidently the goal of eternal life.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

fter the prayer of blessing, as circumstances suggest, the minister may sprinkle those present and the animals with holy water.

• You may be interested in: Novena to Saint Anthony Abbot

Patron Saint of Animals

Saint Anthony Abbot’s patronage over animals is not rooted in sentimental affection or a romantic view of nature, but in something far deeper: the restoration of the order of creation through holiness.

According to the Christian faith, the disorder between humanity and creation is not original. In God’s initial design, the human person was created to live in harmony with all creatures, exercising a form of dominion that is not tyrannical, but wise, responsible, and loving. Sin shattered this balance: the human heart became enslaved to its passions, and creation no longer recognized humanity as its rightful steward.

Saint Anthony Abbot embodies, in a visible way, this restored harmony. By conquering interior disorder—passions, attachment to material goods, and pride—his soul was once again fully subject to God. And when a saint is rightly ordered toward the Creator, creation itself is reordered around him. This is why animals neither fear him nor attack him: they recognize in him a man reconciled with God. His holiness reflects the original state of humanity. The animals do not obey him by force, but because his life mirrors the order willed by God from the beginning.

When the Church blesses pets on the feast of Saint Anthony Abbot, she does not elevate animals to the place of the human person nor absolutize them. Rather, it reminds Christians of their responsibility as stewards of creation and of the proper place of animals as creatures. The blessing is, in truth, a call to live one’s place in the world with greater coherence: to care for, to give thanks for, and to order all things to the greater glory of God.

Do you want to grow in virtues by imitating the saints? Take a look at these articles that may help you:

• 6 Things You Didn’t Know About Saint Luke: Multifaceted saint who put all his talents at the service of evangelization.
• 5 Remarkable Stories from the Life of Saint Teresa of Avila: Spiritual teacher who lived with intensity, fought against her own weaknesses (like everyone) and allowed herself to be transformed by the love of God.
• Saint Francis of Assisi: the saint most like Christ: His simple existence, marked by detachment, joy, and love for all creatures, as reflections of God, moves to the imitation of Christ.