January 28th
Blessed Anthony was born at Amandola (Ascoli Piceno), Italy, on 17 January 1355. Drawn by the holiness of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, he entered the Augustinian Order and soon stood out among his brethren in manifesting the virtues of humility, obedience, and mortification, as well as a profound apostolic zeal. About the year 1385 he was assigned to the monastery at Tolentino where he served as sacristan in the church of his beloved Saint Nicholas of Tolentino. In the year 1397 he was sent to southern Italy but returned to Amandola in 1400 where, through his labors, a new Augustinian monastery dedicated to Saint Augustine was constructed. After his death the church was renamed in Anthony’s memory. He constantly reminded the people: “when one chooses the narrow way, it does not make sense to choose the most comfortable of the narrow ways.”
Blessed Anthony has been venerated since his death at Amandola on 25 January 1450. His incorrupt body is exposed for public veneration by the faithful in the church of Saint Augustine in Amandola. He lived for ninety-five years and spent his entire life spent in strict and consistent asceticism. Among the Augustinians his feast is celebrated on the 28th of January.