St. Simeon Stylites the Younger (3 September): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

Saint Simeon Stylites the Younger withdrew from the world as a child and eventually spent decades living upon pillars in continual prayer, penance, and contemplation. His extraordinary life became a visible summons to turn away from earthly distractions and seek union with God. Born at Antioch in the sixth century, Simeon entered the monastery on the Admirable Mountain in the Syrian wilderness near the city. There he served a holy stylite—a monk who practiced asceticism while living upon a pillar—and attempted to imitate all his virtues. One day, the young Simeon encountered a leopard. Not knowing what it was, he placed a rope around its neck and calmly brought the animal to his spiritual father, explaining that he had found a cat. Seeing the fierce beast submitting peacefully to the child, the hermit began to recognize Simeon’s exceptional holiness. In 526, after witnessing the boy’s spiritual fervor, his master instructed him to construct a pillar and live upon it. Simeon obeyed as though the command had come directly from God. He lived successively upon two pillars within the monastery’s enclosure for sixty-eight years, practicing severe austerity and unceasing contemplation. God manifested Simeon’s sanctity through numerous miracles, including healing the sick, foretelling future events, and discerning the hidden thoughts of others. The historian Evagrius witnessed many of these wonders and testified that Simeon had discerned his own secret thoughts when he visited the saint for spiritual counsel. Romans and barbarians alike traveled from distant lands to seek the stylite’s prayers and advice. Saint Simeon was honored throughout the Christian world and held in particular esteem by Emperor Maurice. When the Samaritans defaced sacred images within churches, Simeon wrote to Emperor Justin in defense of the honor owed to holy images. Saint John Damascene later quoted this letter, as did the Second Council of Nicaea during its defense of the veneration of sacred icons. When Simeon became gravely ill, Gregory, Patriarch of Antioch, hurried to assist him during his final moments. Before the patriarch arrived, however, the saint had departed peacefully to the Lord. The Greeks commemorate Saint Simeon on May 24, while his traditional Latin feast is observed on September 3. Father Alban Butler concludes by comparing Simeon’s zeal with our own spiritual laziness. The pillar of Saint Simeon silently condemns our sloth, excessive comfort, and self-love. Although human nature requires reasonable relief, we cannot allow an unwilling heart to become the sole judge of what sacrifice we can bear. Saint Simeon Stylites the Younger, obtain for us perseverance in prayer, detachment from the world, and an ardent desire for God. 00:00 Saint Simeon Stylites the Younger 00:09 A sixth-century pillar saint 00:16 Childhood on the Admirable Mountain 00:24 Serving a holy stylite 00:33 Simeon finds a young leopard 00:41 He mistakes the leopard for a cat 00:50 His master recognizes his sanctity 00:58 Simeon begins living upon a pillar 01:05 Sixty-eight years of asceticism 01:13 Miracles, healing, and prophecy 01:22 Evagrius witnesses Simeon’s gifts 01:31 Discernment of hidden thoughts 01:39 Pilgrims from every nation 01:48 Defending the veneration of icons 01:56 Saint John Damascene and Nicaea II 02:05 Simeon’s final illness 02:14 His peaceful departure to the Lord 02:23 The Greek and Latin feast days 02:30 The saints’ heavenly joy in prayer 02:37 Saint Anthony prays through the night 02:53 Continuing prayer during daily work 03:02 A rebuke to our spiritual laziness 03:09 The pillar condemns our indolence 03:17 Human weakness and self-deception https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/september/st-simeon-stylites-the-younger/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 #LivesOfTheSaints #Catholic #Christianity #StSimeonStylites #ChurchHistory #EasternSaints #Miracles #Antioch #OrthodoxSaints #CatholicSaints #Faith #Prayer #Holiness 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ 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/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴