Saint Paul of Latros (15 December): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

In this video, we recount the remarkable life of St Paul the Younger, a 10th-century hermit whose radical pursuit of solitude, prayer, and holiness made him one of the great ascetics of the Eastern Church. Born in Pergamon, St Paul was deeply affected by the death of his father in battle against the Saracens. Though still young, he had already learned the vanity of the world and longed for a life entirely devoted to God. Under the guidance of his brother St Basil the Elder, Paul entered monastic life and later withdrew to the harsh wilderness of Mount Latros, embracing extreme austerity and solitude. Despite severe temptations, physical suffering, and isolation, St Paul persevered in prayer and contemplation. His holiness soon attracted disciples, whom he guided with great charity and wisdom—caring little for his own body but ensuring that others lacked nothing. He later withdrew to the island of Samos, repopulated monasteries destroyed by the Saracens, advised emperors, and showed extraordinary love for the poor—at one point even attempting to sell himself into slavery to help those in need. St Paul the Younger died peacefully on December 15, 956, after celebrating Mass and giving final instructions to his disciples. The Church commemorates him on December 15. 🕯️ “When nothing distracts me from God, my heart is filled with joy…” — St Paul the Younger 00:00 – Introduction: St Paul the Younger 00:23 – His family and early life in Pergamon 00:37 – Basil the Elder and monastic beginnings 00:42 – Retreat to Mount Latros 01:01 – Formation under the Abbot 01:14 – Life in the cave and severe austerities 01:25 – Kitchen obedience and meditation on hell 01:36 – Permission to live as a hermit 01:40 – Temptations and spiritual trials 01:49 – Disciples gather around the Saint 02:04 – Return to greater solitude 02:17 – His teaching on joy and distraction 02:35 – Mystical graces and contemplation 02:41 – Retreat to the island of Samos 02:49 – Restoration of monasteries 02:56 – Counsel to the Emperor 03:06 – Love for the poor and heroic charity 03:22 – Final Mass and holy death 03:35 – Feast day and legacy https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/december/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.com for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 SpiritusTV - https://spiritustv.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium 🔴 Truth Social - @SensusFidelium ▶ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #StPaulTheYounger #LivesOfTheSaints #CatholicSaints #SaintOfTheDay #ChristianAsceticism #MonasticLife #DesertFathers #CatholicTradition #OrthodoxSaints #Decembe