St. Paphnutius, Bishop (11 September): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

St. Paphnutius was an Egyptian bishop, desert ascetic, heroic confessor, and fearless defender of the Catholic faith against Arianism. After spending years in the desert under the direction of St. Anthony the Great, Paphnutius became a bishop in Upper Thebaid. During the persecution of Emperor Maximinus Daia, his right eye was torn out and his left leg permanently disabled. He was then condemned to labor in the mines. When peace returned to the Church, Paphnutius resumed his episcopal ministry while bearing the visible wounds he had received for Jesus Christ. His holiness and title of Confessor won him great respect at the First Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325. Emperor Constantine sometimes consulted him privately and reverently kissed the place where the bishop’s eye had been. Ancient accounts also credit Paphnutius with influencing the Council’s discussion of clerical continence, although later Catholic scholars disputed aspects of that report. Paphnutius remained closely united with St. Athanasius in defending Christ’s divinity. At the Council of Tyre in 335, he discovered that the Arian bishops were conspiring against Athanasius. Seeing Bishop Maximus of Jerusalem among them, Paphnutius took him by the hand, led him away, and exposed the plot. Maximus thereafter remained in communion with St. Athanasius. The details of St. Paphnutius’s death are unknown, but the Roman Martyrology commemorates him on September 11. From The Lives of the Saints by Father Alban Butler. St. Paphnutius, pray for us! 0:00 St. Paphnutius, Bishop and Confessor 0:16 An Egyptian disciple of St. Anthony 0:24 His eye torn out under Maximinus Daia 0:32 Permanently disabled and sent to the mines 0:40 The persecution of Egyptian Christians 0:48 Returning to his flock with the marks of Christ 0:55 Defending the faith against Arianism 1:03 Honored as a Confessor at Nicaea 1:12 Emperor Constantine consults Paphnutius 1:20 Constantine reverences his wounded eye 1:28 The third canon of the Council of Nicaea 1:36 Debate concerning married clergy 1:53 Paphnutius addresses the Council 2:00 Appealing to the Church’s ancient discipline 2:08 The bishops accept his counsel 2:16 Later scholars question the account 2:25 Evaluating the ancient narrative 2:41 United with St. Athanasius 2:49 The Council of Tyre in 335 2:57 An assembly dominated by Arians 3:05 Paphnutius confronts Maximus of Jerusalem 3:12 Leading the bishop away from the conspirators 3:19 Protecting the defender of Christ’s divinity 3:26 Exposing the Arian plot 3:33 Maximus remains with St. Athanasius 3:42 His death and September 11 commemoration https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/september/st-paphnutius/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 #SaintPaphnutius #LivesOfTheSaints #CouncilOfNicaea #Arianism #Athanasius #DesertFathers #Catholic #Orthodox #ChurchHistory #RomanMartyrology #September11 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴