Does Double Duty

378.  Anthony the hermit (c. 300)
Anthony, a wealthy Egyptian, experienced a spiritual crisis when he heard a sermon on Jesus' command to the rich youg ruler:  "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor" (matt. 19:21).  Anthony gave away his land and donated his money to the poor.  He lived a simple life, sleeping on the ground and existing on one meal a day (bread and water).  He lived for years in an abandoned fort, yet he attracted followers, who believed Christianity had become worldly and materialistic (it had).  The Egyptian wasteland was wild and desolate, but not empty, for Anthony claimed it was filled with demons.  He spoke about how he did battle with all sorts of ghastly devils.  Thanks to the popularity of the Life of Anthony, and thanks to the challenge of painting a saint afflicted by monstrous demons, Anthony has been the subject of thousands upon thousands of paintings.  The life of self-denial and resisting demons must have been healthy.  Anthony lived to be 105.