Saint Plato, Abbot (4 April): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

St. Plato, honored on April 4, is a powerful example of humility, courage, and unwavering fidelity to Christ—even in the face of persecution by emperors. Born into wealth and influence in Constantinople, St. Plato abandoned everything for a life of prayer, poverty, and monastic discipline. He freed his slaves, gave his wealth to the poor, and entered the monastery of Symbolon. Known for his deep humility, he embraced even unjust punishments with joy and silence. As abbot, he lived a life of extreme austerity—eating little, drinking only water, and working with his own hands to sustain himself and the poor. Yet his greatest trials came when he stood boldly for truth against imperial corruption. When Emperor Constantine divorced unlawfully, St. Plato courageously opposed him, suffering imprisonment, exile, and humiliation. Even in chains and suffering, his constancy never wavered. His life reminds us that true courage is found in fidelity to God, and that suffering for justice is a path to holiness. 🙏 “Fortitude in suffering for the sake of justice is the true test of virtue.” This video is based on The Lives of the Saints by Fr. Alban Butler. 0:00 Introduction 0:26 Early Life & Loss of His Parents 0:41 Education & Extraordinary Talents 1:05 Wealth, Status, and Rejection of the World 1:22 Love of Prayer and Religious Life 1:41 Charity: Freeing Slaves & Giving to the Poor 1:55 Journey to the Monastery of Symbolon 2:11 Life of Humility and Obedience 2:43 Monastic Work and Spiritual Discipline 2:52 Becoming Abbot at Age 36 3:06 Extreme Austerity and Penance 3:33 Influence in Constantinople 4:03 Refusal of Honors and Priesthood 4:21 Leadership at Studium Monastery 4:38 Confronting the Emperor’s Sin 5:01 Imprisonment and Suffering 5:23 Retreat and Hidden Penance 5:46 Opposition to Corruption in the Church 6:28 Trial, Condemnation, and Exile 7:02 Endurance in Suffering 7:18 Release and Return 7:33 Final Days and Death 8:05 Legacy and Feast Day (April 4) 8:14 Reflection on Suffering and Virtue https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/april/st-plato-abbot/ 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 #SaintPlato #CatholicSaints #LivesOfTheSaints #SaintOfTheDay #CatholicFaith #ChurchHistory #ChristianSaints #MonasticLife #FaithAndCourage #CatholicYouTube