THE ORDER OF ST. PAUL THE FIRST HERMIT

The Order was founded during the first half of the 13th Century in Hungary. The founder was Eusebius, a Canon of Esztergom. The life of the Pauline Fathers’ Order runs according to the Rule of St. Augustine. The Patron Saint of the Pauline Fathers is St. Paul the Hermit of Thebes (Upper Egypt). He is regarded as the first hermit in Church history.


With the motto, "Solus Cum Deo Solo" (Alone with God Alone), the Pauline Order is a religious community of monks, which follow the Rule of St. Augustine. Fostering a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Paulines are the custodians of the miraculous picture of Our Lady of Czestochowa.

The Order spread rapidly throughout Hungary and then into Croatia, Germany, Poland and Austria. In the 16th century there were about 300 monasteries and over 5.000 Pauline monks. However the sad history of Europe ravaged by so many wars and religious persecutions, has dramatically reduced the numbers of a once large and flourishing Order; only a few monasteries survived.


The expansion of the Pauline Fathers’ Order has resumed after the First World War. As a result, today there are about 600 monks working in 16 countries. The Mother house of the Order is Jasna Gora, the sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary with over 100 monks, and more than 4.5 million pilgrims visiting it each year.


The spiritual characteristics that shaped the Pauline Fathers from their beginning and distinguish its legacy and historic development are:

  • a contemplation of God in solitude
  • an emphasis on prayer, especially liturgical prayer

  • a busy and frugal life,
  • apostolic work inspired by the Holy Spirit, based on the signs of the time, serving both the Church and one’s neighbours,
  • the frequent dispensation of the Sacraments, particularly the Sacrament of Penance,
  • the demonstration of the importance of Mary in the mysteries of Christ and the Church,
  • the imitation of her virtues and propagation of her worship.



THE ORDER HAS ITS MONASTERIES IN:

  • AUSTRALIA
  • BELARUS
  • CAMEROON
  • CROATIA
  • CZECH REPUBLIC
  • ENGLAND
  • FRANCE
  • GERMANY
  • HUNGARY
  • ITALY
  • LATVIA
  • POLAND
  • SLOVAKIA
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • UKRAINE
  • UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 


    Dear Friend!
    We invite you to serve God
    and people, in our Order.
    If you are interested, please contact us.