desertfathers

15 January – Saint Paul the First Hermit
Optional Memorial (Ordinary Time)

The original desert dweller.
Fled to the Egyptian wilderness around 250 to escape Decius' persecution — hid in a cave, wore palm leaves, ate bread brought daily by a raven. Lived alone for nearly 90 years until St. Anthony the Great (at age 90 himself) was led by God to find him at 113.

Paul greeted Anthony: “Welcome, brother, to the house of a sinner.”
They talked all night about God. The raven brought a whole loaf that day — double portion for two hermits. When Paul died peacefully shortly after, lions came out of the desert to dig his grave.

Patron of weavers (palm-leaf clothes) and those seeking solitude. First monk in the Church's eyes — the one who started it all before communities even existed.

Green vestments. Ordinary Time settles in, but the desert still calls.

In a world that never shuts up, Paul teaches: sometimes the holiest thing is to disappear with God.

St. Paul the First Hermit, pray for contemplatives, the persecuted, and everyone who needs a raven with bread.

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