He lived this love, however, remaining true to his own temperament. In Francis this was expressed as filial veneration which was subjected to the hierarchy, while in Anthony it became a strong and shocking reproof. The Saint does not spare the men of the Church who do not represent Jesus Christ in a worthy way, from harsh and cutting words, regardless of whether they are simple priests and religious or bishops and cardinals. "The lookouts of the Church are all blind, without the light of life and science, mute dogs, incapable of barking. They see ghosts since they pray for money... Archbishops, bishops and prelates of the Church come and go, buy and sell and resell the truth with lies and they oppress justice with simony. The family of faithful is separated from the stability of faith and the sanctity of life due to the example of evil prelates...."

It is the love for the Church, and the zeal for the salvation of the brothers that puts words of fire in Anthony's mouth, words that burn and have repercussions on lives, often provoking conversion and reform, and which makes him a frank and free prophet. The heart of Anthony beats in unison with that of Jesus and the bitterness of the Lord in front of the hardness of the hearts of the Pharisees is Anthony's own bitterness, "Oh, today if a donkey falls down, there is someone who will pull it up; a soul perishes and no one will help it!" .