A good friend commented to me:
"I walked away Friday without saying the one thing that I got from reading St. Anthony's life: that demons are impotent. They have no power unless we give it to them by indulging in fear. The scenes where Athanasious writes of St. Anthony surrounded by demons in the form of beasts, very weird. St. Anthony tells them, "If power has been given to you, come and get me. If not, go in the name of Christ." (I paraphrase). They go. Because God has not given them power, and neither has Anthony (being unafraid). This seems profoundly important now, when so many people are allowing themselves to be afraid. The only thing that can hurt us is our own fear."
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