Illustration of Blessed Anthony della Torre of l'Aquila by János Hajnal in Il fascino di Dio: Profili de agiografia agostiniana by Fernando Rojo Martínez, O.S.A. Copyright © 2000 Pubblicazioni Agostiniane Rome. Used with permission. Original art preserved in the Office of Augustinian Postulator of Causes, Rome
Blessed Anthony della Torre of l'Aquila
July 24
Anthony della Torre (1427-1494) was a physician and surgeon before becoming an Augustinian. He was known for his care of the sick and his preaching.
Born in Milan, Italy in 1427, Anthony studied medicine at the University of Pavia. He was a surgeon in Milan for several years.
Against the wishes of his family, he joined the Augustinian Order in Lombardy. Later, he transferred to the Augustinians in Perugia, who were stricter than those in Lombardy. He lived in Foligno for several years.
Anthony made a pilgrimage to Saint James of Compostela in Spain. There he used his medical skills to care for poor people who were sick. In 1464 he began a ten-year apostolic journey. He travelled to several parts of Spain, France and Italy, caring for the sick and preaching the Gospel.
At the end of his journey, Anthony was assigned to the monastery of Aquila. For the next 18 years, he was spiritual director of the Augustinian Nuns in the Monastery of Saint Lucy there. He also promoted the Augustinian Seculars, in which lay people came to know and live the ideals of Augustine.
He died July 24, 1494 in Aquila. He was first buried at the Church of Saint Bernard. Later his body was moved to the church at the Augustinian Monastery of Sant'Amico in Aquila.