Death of Anthony Maria Zaccaria – July 5, 1539
On July 5, 1539, the Italian priest and reformer Anthony Maria Zaccaria died at the age of 37, leaving behind a growing spiritual movement in northern Italy. Born in Cremona in 1502, Zaccaria was trained as a physician before turning to religious life, driven by a desire to renew the moral and spiritual strength of the Church during a period of widespread corruption and reformist tension.
He founded the Clerics Regular of St. Paul, later known as the Barnabites, along with the Angelic Sisters of St. Paul and the Laity of St. Paul. His work emphasized preaching, education, and pastoral care, aiming to bring the ideals of early Christianity back into daily life. Though his life was short, his influence endured, and he was later canonized as a saint in recognition of his reforming zeal and devotion.