Anthony Mary Zaccaria

Biography

Anthony Mary Zaccaria (1502-1539) was an Italian priest and physician who founded the Barnabites, a congregation dedicated to apostolic renewal and reform. Born in Cremona, he initially studied medicine but abandoned his practice to pursue priesthood at age 26. Troubled by the spiritual decline of the Church and society, he established the Clerics Regular of St. Paul to provide education, preaching, and sacramental ministry to combat religious ignorance. He also founded the Angelicals, a group of devout women, and collaborated in establishing the Capuchins. Known for his miraculous healings and mystical experiences, Zaccaria combined the healing arts with spiritual medicine, treating both body and soul. His intense apostolic labors and fasts severely damaged his health, and he died at age 37, exhausted from his missionary zeal. He was canonized in 1897 and remains a model of priestly dedication and religious renewal.