Celebrating The Life Of Br. Anthony Freeman

This article is to Celebrate The Life Of Brother Anthony Freeman. Brother Anthony was a seminarian who evangelized the Gospel to 11,000 followers on Instagram and Facebook and his website http://www.branthonyfreeman.com. He died unexpectedly on April 2, 2018 in Rome, Italy.

Here is a news report about Brother Anthony’s life.

Brother Anthony 1988-2018

There is nothing worse than getting bad news especially one that is so shocking that it takes your breath away. I was mindlessly looking at pins on Pinterest on Saturday evening and came across a photo of Br. Anthony Freeman and it said that he died.

I figured it was a seminarian that looked similar to him but it must have been a mistake.

I prayed that it was a mistake…that somehow the media outlets got it wrong and I would go to his Instagram page and see a video message saying “I’m very much alive!”

However, the horrible reality was that this wasn’t a mistake and that Br. Anthony Freeman a 29-year-old well-known American seminarian who was spreading the gospel through social media, blogging, and coaching was dead.

This Can’t Be True

I cried…I couldn’t believe it. He was young and seemed healthy. One of his final posts was notifying his followers that he was going on 8-day retreat and would be back after Easter. That wasn’t meant to be…instead I’m reading his obituary.

Keep Spreading The Gospel

I connected with this gentle giant on Instagram in February 2017. Br. Anthony reached out to me after reading my blog. I looked at his Instagram and was immediately impressed with his life. He was living the dream. Living in Rome, kicking it with his bros (aka fellow seminarians) and having the time of his life.

Brother Anthony reached out to me on Instagram and said

Samara! I saw your blog and love what you are doing! Thank you! Hopefully I will have a chance to work with you in the future. God Bless!

Brother Anthony Freeman

We continued to exchange a few direct messages and I asked him how if he liked living in Rome and he said

“It’s amazing and a great grace! Even the fact of just being in such a large seminary is fun in itself besides the universality of the church in Rome!”

Brother Anthony Freeman

Br. Anthony had multiple projects going on at one time so I asked how he managed it all. His response:

“I have no idea! These small projects go a lot slower than I want but its a way of at least communicating what comes to me.”
Brother Anthony encouraged me to continue to spread the Gospel through my blog. This gave me confidence that someone appreciated my blog post about God and the Catholic faith.

Why God?

After a few minutes of crying I asked God “ Why him? He was doing such great work to spread the Gospel yet you take him away!” God answered my question immediately. God thought Brother Anthony mission was complete and it was time to come home. Then I felt that God told me to pray for him.
I’m not sure if that was Jesus talking or just me trying to make sense of a tragedy.

A Life Well Lived

Br. Anthony had the great honor of being cross-bearer at Easter mass at the Vatican. According to reports Br. Anthony went out with some friends and they gave a toast to him for Eternal life. What gives me great comfort is knowing the following:

• He had a peaceful death
• Brother Freeman was well prepared for death by receive Holy Communion and no doubt confession while he was on his 8 day retreat
• He was doing what he loved! Glorifying God in all that he did
• He has tons of people praying for the repose of his soul
• He died on Easter. The holiest and joyous time the year
• He gave public witness of Jesus death and resurrection by serving as crossbearer at Easter mass celebrated by Pope Francis
• He made an impact on thousands around the world and will continue to do so long after his death

What a beautiful life! His death reminds me of Father Luis Marie Andreu who reportedly saw the Virgin Mary and a few hours later he died in the miracle of Garabandal.

Br. Anthony witnessed the greatest miracle of all which is Easter. A beautiful reminder that Jesus conquered death and rose from the dead three days later. He participated in the most joyous mass of Easter and received our Lord.

His final post has a picture of him smiling and wishing his followers Easter blessings. Honestly, his death is even more beautiful because he was glorifying God in the final hours of his life and bringing joy to others.

What I’ve Learned

Though I’m saddened and shocked by Br. Anthony untimely death it’s a reminder that we never know when God will call us home. It also a wake up call for me since I’ve been struggling the past few months spiritually and emotionally. I haven’t posted a blog or vlog in sometime for many reasons.

Now I have someone in heaven to help me through the doubt, lack of motivation, and writers block.
Please pray for the repose of Brother Anthony Freeman and for the family and friends he left behind.

If you would like to read more about Br. Anthony, please check out this article https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/us-seminarian-who-carried-cross-popes-easter-mass-dies-rome