Today is the feast day of Saint Anthony, also known as Anthony the Great (partly to distinguish him from a later but still popular saint also named Anthony who was a Franciscan brother).

He was, perhaps, the quintessential desert father – the church figures of the Patristic period who went into the desert and became hermits and whose example laid the foundation for the church’s monastic tradition.

While much of what we know about him comes from Athanasius’ Life of Anthony the dedicated reader might find the thoughts of that syphilitic genius, Gustave Flaubert, more interesting and instead chose to read The Temptation of Saint Anthony. Be warned however, if all you have read is Madame Bovary, know that Flaubert is a weird dude.