His Discernment and His Counsel to All

For this was the wonderful thing in Antony’s discipline: as I said before, he had the gift of discerning spirits, and he recognized their movements and knew in what direction each of them was turning its energy and making its attack. Not only was he not deceived by them himself, but he cheered those who were troubled with doubts and taught them how to defeat the spirits’ plans, telling them of the weakness and cunning of those who possessed them. So each one came down from the mountain as though armed by him for battle, defying the schemes of the devil and his demons. How many young women who had suitors, after merely seeing Antony from a distance, remained virgins for Christ’s sake! People came to him from foreign lands too, and like all the others they gained some benefit and went home as though sent on their way by a father. And certainly, when he died, they all felt bereft, as of a father, and comforted themselves only with their memories of him, holding fast at the same time to his counsel and advice. [a]