Saint Paul the Hermit was reportedly born in Egypt, where he was orphaned by age 15. He was also a learned and devout young man. During the persecution of Decius in Egypt in the year 250, Paul was forced to hide in the home of a friend. Fearing a brother-in-law would betray him, he fled in a cave in the desert. His plan was to return once the persecution ended, but the sweetness of solitude and heavenly contemplation convinced him to stay.

He went on to live in that cave for the next 90 years. A nearby spring gave him drink, a palm tree furnished him clothing and nourishment. After 21 years of solitude a bird began bringing him half of a loaf of bread each day. Without knowing what was happening in the world, Paul prayed that the world would become a better place.

St. Anthony attests to his holy life and death. Tempted by the thought that no one had served God in the wilderness longer than he, Anthony was led by God to find Paul and acknowledge him as a man more perfect than himself. The raven that day brought a whole loaf of bread instead of the usual half. As Paul predicted, Anthony would return to bury his new friend.

Thought to have been about 112 when he died, Paul is known as the “First Hermit.” His feast day is celebrated in the East; he is also commemorated in the Coptic and Armenian rites of the Mass.

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9 COMMENTS

  1. Might God, i place my dis month in ur hands for provisions for my family n my proposed business plan i ask dat u will send me a helper to accomplish it,Amen

  2. ST. Paul the hermit pray for me and rid the evil around me. and send work to my friends. help me with my sister . pray for LARRY FAUST, KOHN REED BUCKLEY AND MY CLOSE FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN PURGATORY I AM ALSO HURTNG A LOT AND HAVE 2 OPERATIONS COMING UP ON EYE AND SKIN AND MY HEARIN IS BAD. PLEASE ASK THE LORD TO HELP

  3. Dear St.Paul the Hermit, please intercede for all of us who are suffering both physically and emotionally. Please give us the strength , courage and patience to be like saints like yourself who carried a hardship like we do. Never let us give up our faith and keep carrying the cross until our prayers are answered.

  4. ST. PAUL THE HERMIT, PLEASE HELP ME PRAY FOR ALYCIA, WHO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER,PLEASE GOD, HER OUR PRAYERS, THANK YOU ST, JOHN THE HERMIT.

  5. Prayer to St. Paul the Hermit
    Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You for giving us an example of sanctity in the life of St. Paul the Hermit. One of early desert Fathers, he originally fled into the wilderness to escape persecution, and ended up enjoying the solitude of his cave so much, he stayed there for ninety years. For the first twenty one years, he lived off the fruit of a palm tree and water from a nearby spring. After these two decades passed, a raven started bringing him bread. You willed St. Paul to become known, so by sending a dream to St. Anthony, he was inspired to seek out the hermit and break bread with him. He also found St. Paul when he finally died and buried him.
    Jesus, with St. Paul the Hermit as our role model, we ask to be reminded to take time to draw away from our busy, noisy lives and withdraw into an inner cave to pray to You. May we also seek solitude and quiet so that we may hear Your voice speaking to us in the depths of our hearts. Grant that we may find rest and nourishment for our souls at such times, and draw closer to Your loving Heart. We ask this through the intercession of St. Paul the Hermit. Amen.

    St. Paul the Hermit, pray for us!

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