Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit

• 1. Founding And Early History

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  In 1250, Blessed Eusebius of Esztergom united two separate groups of hermits in the Pilis mountains near Zante to form a new community. Before this union, Bishop Bartholomew of Pécs had gathered scattered hermits into one group around 1225. Eusebius himself resigned his dignities as Canon of the Cathedral of Esztergom in 1246 to live in solitude with a few companions. He built a monastery and church where ruins still exist today near the village of Pilisszántó. Four years after withdrawing from public life, he received a vision instructing him to gather other hermits living nearby. The first real Pauline community was established at the Monastery of the Holy Cross during that same year. They adopted the hermit rule from the monastery of St. James in Patach, which had been founded by Bishop Bartholomew of Pécs in 1225. In 1256, Eusebius was elected the first Provincial of the Order. Pope Urban IV granted temporary approval for the religious community in 1262. Final authorization came on the 13th of December 1308 when Cardinal Gentile Portino da Montefiore traveled from Rome to Hungary. That same day, he bestowed the Rule of Saint Augustine upon them. Eusebius died on the 20th of January 1270 within the Monastery of the Holy Cross crypt.

• 2. Rule Changes And Papal Approval

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  The congregation initially followed a specific hermit rule before receiving official recognition from the Holy See. A new Rule was given by the Bishop of an unnamed diocese shortly after the order's formation. This early rule was superseded by another drawn up by Andrew, Bishop of Eger following Eusebius death. The community operated under this third rule until 1308 when permission arrived to adopt the Rule of St. Augustine. The publication of decrees from the Fourth Lateran Council necessitated a journey to Rome for final authorization. Succeeding pontiffs accorded many privileges including exemption from episcopal jurisdiction. One papal regulation ordained that no member could be raised to any dignity without earning a Doctor of Divinity degree. A rigid examination was prescribed for those seeking advancement. First monastic constitutions were approved one year after the Augustinian Rule was granted in 1309. The Order is classified as a monastic order but organized like a mendicant one. They adhere to the Rule of St. Augustine which was given to them in the year 1308. Through time the Order has taken on more pastoral work yet remains a monastic order at heart.

• 3. Notable Figures And Historical Impact

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  George Martinuzzi served as bishop of Oradea and became a cardinal before his murder on the 16th of December 1551. He stands as an important figure in Hungarian history among members who attained prominence. Matthias Fuhrmann of Hernals died in 1773 and worked as historian of Austria. He edited the Acts of St. Paul of Thebes during his lifetime. Fortunatus Dürich lived until 1802 while Franz Faustin Prochaska died in 1809. These two men edited a Czech translation of the Scriptures together. László Báthory translated the Bible into Hungarian circa 1456 though no contemporary copies survived. The 16th century version is most likely a copy of Báthory's original work from the 15th century. In 1381, the body of Saint Paul was transferred from Venice to the Monastery of St. Lawrence at Buda. This transfer greatly increased the prestige of that monastery. Political disturbances in Hungary brought suppression to most Hungarian monasteries in 1783. A number of houses in Bohemia, Austria proper, and Styria were also suppressed that same year. At the beginning of the 20th century only two Pauline monasteries remained in existence. One was the Church of Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint Stanislaus of SzczepanówBishop and Martyr connected to a monastery on the Rock in Kraków. That church was founded by an unnamed founder and regarded as a national sanctuary.

• 4. Habit And Symbolic Traditions

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  The habit was originally brown before white was adopted around 1341 with a white belt or cincture. Over the white tunic monks wear a white scapular with a hood attached. In choir or during liturgical events a white mantle is worn by monks in perpetual profession. The Order holds the privilege of wearing a white zucchetto though many monks choose not to use them. Monks may make use of a black cloak either to protect their habit from elements or keep warm in winter. White socks ought to be worn with the habit of the order like all religious who wear white habits. The Pauline coat of arms contains symbols listed by St. Jerome according to pious tradition. These symbols are associated with the last moments of St. Paul of Thebes life. A date palm represents clothing produced from leaves that helped sustain the hermit in the desert. The fruit of the palm tree also provided sustenance for the hermit living alone. A raven appears holding half a loaf of bread in its beak. This bird brought food through divine grace every day for 90 years. Two lions dug a grave for Saint Paul where he was buried by Saint Anthony the Great.

• 5. Modern Formation And Vocational Paths

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  To become a religious brother one must undergo an initial period of testing called the novitiate. During this time candidates isolate themselves from personal and telephone contact with family and existing friends. Novices can write letters but those writings are subjected to censorship. They meet with their family only twice during the entire novitiate period. Those meetings occur for the clothing in the habit and on making first profession. Every Friday is a day during which novices are not allowed to speak with each other. The day ends with a joint ceremony known as the Way of the Cross. Brothers work in the monastery farm digging potatoes and maintaining pigs throughout their stay. They also do work in the monastery flower vegetable garden. The Order generally accepts any men who have completed high school onwards. Those called to Holy Orders undergo postulancy if possible in a Parish or Monastery belonging to the order. Pre-Novitiate takes place at the Monastery of Jasna Góra in Kraków lasting from the 15th of July to the 31st of August. The Novitiate lasts a year commencing and finishing on the 8th of September. Seminarians return after novitiate to study two years of philosophy and four years of theology in Kraków. After studies completion they profess solemn vows and are ordained first to diaconate then priesthood.

• 6. Global Distribution And Current Structure

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  As of the 8th of December 2020 the Order had 71 Homes Monasteries Parishes located across 16 countries. There were 493 monks including 50 at various levels of formation plus three bishops. The Province of Germany was founded in 2002 with Benjamin Bąkowski serving as Provincial as of 2020. The American Province was founded in 2008 under provincial Tadeusz Lizinczyk as of April 2022. The Province of Australia was also founded in 2008 led by current provincial Albert Wasniowski. That province consists of two monasteries and four parishes with one bishop eleven priests three lay brothers and four seminarians. Quasi-Province status exists for both Hungary and Croatia alongside established provinces. The Australian province has a different vocational program than other regions. Potential members maintain regular communication with the Order and visit monasteries frequently during informal stages. Candidates petition to be admitted after discernment and maturation of vocation. Postulancy occurs at Penrose Park monastery until ready for transfer to Poland. All Australian seminarians are sent to Rome where they live at the Monastery and Parish at Prima Porta. They study two years of philosophy and three years of theology at the Angelicum. Studies may be done in English or Italian which is strongly encouraged. Pastoral experience returns every second summer to Australia for family time and work in various houses. After obtaining Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree seminarians return to Australia to profess solemn vows.