The Saint who walked on Water!

We share the life of Saint Francis of Paola, a humble hermit whose hidden prayer shaped a faith bold enough to face storms and soften hearts. His miracles point past wonder and toward conversion, mercy, and steady trust in God’s providence through Jesus and Mary. 
• our mission at Journeys of Faith and why saints still guide us 
• Francis’s humble beginnings in southern Italy 
• choosing solitude, fasting, and prayer as a teenager 
• the discipline of cave life and the power of holy silence 
• miracles that lead souls back to confession and trust 
• crossing the sea on his cloak as a sign of providence 
• moving from wilderness to royal courts as a counselor and peacemaker 
• practical encouragement to live courageous faith and deeper devotion 
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Open by Steve Bailey

Transcript

A Child Drawn To Silence

Life In The Cave

Miracles And Conversions

The Cloak Across The Sea

From Hermit To Royal Counselor

Prayerful Takeaways And Closing

SPEAKER_00 0:11

Saint Francis of Paola, the hermit who walked on water, in the tapestry of Catholic history, the lives of saints gleam like precious threads, holy men and women whose extraordinary faith not only illuminated their own centuries, but also cast rays of hope, courage, and healing across the ages. Among the most compelling of these is Saint Francis of Paola, a humble hermit whose quiet trust in God unlocked miracles so wondrous they echo in the hearts of pilgrims even today. At Journeys of Faith, the online home of the Bob and Penny Lord Store, we have spent decades traveling to hallowed places where such stories began: mountaintop caves, ancient sanctuaries, and moonlit shores where saints once knelt and prayed. We strive to bring these graces to you through heartfelt stories, devotional resources, and the legacy Bob and Penny Lord works so lovingly to preserve. Like you, we yearn for examples of holiness that are attainable yet astonishing. Saints who remind us that sanctity can shine in the humble everyday yes to God's call. The story of Saint Francis of Paula is precisely this kind of beacon. Born to simple laugh, parents. Drawn to solitude and prayer from his earliest days, Francis followed in Christ's footsteps quite literally, crossing rugged hills as a hermit, and on one miraculous occasion even walking on water. Yet his greatest miracles were not of spectacle, but of conversion, mercy, and steadfast obedience to God's will. His love for Jesus, deep devotion to our Lady, and self-sacrifice blaz a path that still guides those seeking grace in silence and simplicity. As we delve into the faith-filled journey of Saint Francis of Paola, we invite you to walk with us, to encounter not only his miraculous deeds, but also the gentle persistence of a soul rooted in prayer. Let his example stir your heart, strengthen your faith, and inspire you to draw nearer to Jesus through Mary, hand in hand with the communion of saints. This is the mission of Journeys of Faith, to help you discover that sanctity awaits in the unexpected places, ready to transform your trust, your love, and your daily life. A young hermit seeking God alone, before he was venerated across Europe, Saint Francis of Paola was simply a child with a burning desire for God. Born into a humble family in southern Italy, Francis was marked from his earliest years by a spirit of deep prayer and fasting. Unlike other boys in his village, he was drawn to solitude, longing to escape the noise of the world in search of holy silence. By the time he reached his teens, Francis felt an unmistakable pull to withdraw from the comforts of home. Trading the bustling streets of his town for the rocky wilderness near Paola, he embraced the life of a hermit, determined to seek the Lord in total simplicity. Each day he prayed for hours among the cliffs, living on wild herbs, roots, and the water from a nearby spring. His single minded devotion became a beacon for others. Stories spread of the young hermit who accepted only what Providence provided, refusing even bread unless it was freely offered out of charity. Disciples, longing for a glimpse of France's faith, began to visit and learn from his example of radical trust in God. Soon the solitary led not just himself but a small band of companions into a deeper encounter with Christ in the quiet heart of nature. Through these hidden years among the stones and olive trees, Francis' character was forged. His silence was not emptiness, but a space where he listened for God's voice, a lesson for us all in the gentle, persistent power of seeking the Lord alone, quietly, with hearts open to divine grace. Life in the cave, prayer, penance, and silence. Deep in the rugged hills of Calabria, young Francis of Paula withdrew from the world, a teenager so inflamed by love for God that he chose to seek him in heroic solitude. At just thirteen, Francis entered a rough hewn cave, trading the comforts of family for the discipline of prayer, penance, and silence that would mark his journey toward sainthood. Days and nights unfolded in a rhythm ancient as the Psalms. Francis slept on the bare ground and wrapped himself in coarse garments. His meals were simple, often no more than bread, water, and wild herbs gathered from the hillside. But these mortifications were not for attention or admiration. They sprang from a deep desire to imitate Christ's poverty and the hidden life of Our Lady, surrendering everything to the will of the Father. Silence became his companion, both shield and teacher. In those quiet hours, free from the world's noise, Francis discovered how the Holy Spirit whispers within the heart. He learned, as so many saints have learned, that God does his best work in hidden places. There, amid stony walls and the hush of the wilderness, Francis wrestled with temptations, offered prayers for souls, and interceded for a suffering world. Miracles that revealed God's power. The life of Saint Francis of Paula is woven with miracles. Divine interventions that pointed to the living presence of God among his people. The most famous, and perhaps most awe-inspiring, occurred as Francis sought passage across the Strait of Messina. Denied a boat by the ferry operators, Francis made the sign of the cross, placed his cloak upon the waters, confidently stepped aboard as if it were the sturdiest of crafts, and sailed unharmed across the choppy sea. This was no act of spectacle. It was first and foremost a humble demonstration of absolute trust in God's providence. Those who witnessed it stood in silent shock, hearts pierced by the reality that for the pure of heart, all things are possible with God. Miraculous stories like these envelop Francis's years as a hermit and later as the founder of the Order of Minims. He healed the sick through prayer and simple blessings, often requesting that the suffering person pray the rosary or offer some small act for love of Christ. Eyewitnesses recounted how he multiplied loaves of bread to feed the hungry poor, and foretold events that later unfolded, always to the greater glory of God. Though he shunned fame, news of these wonders followed him everywhere, drawing crowds but also leading souls back to confession, devotion, and trust in the Lord's mercy. Through these miracles, Saint Francis of Paola wasn't pointing to his own holiness or ability, but instead he pointed to the tender care and unlimited power of God, a living God who delights in working wonders through humble servants, especially those who seek nothing for themselves but everything for Jesus and Mary. Such stories remind us the miraculous remains possible, even today, for all who trust and surrender to divine providence. The famous miracle of walking on water, the winds battered the Calabrian coastline, and the water of the Strait of Messina churned with an almost menacing force. Local villagers, long familiar with the moods of the sea, would warn sailors not to test its anger. Yet it was here, on these wild waves, that Saint Francis of Paola bore witness to one of the most astonishing miracles ever recorded in the annals of Catholic hagiography. It was the height of Francis' spiritual authority, but in the eyes of the world he was still a humble hermit, a man of silence, fasting, and relentless prayer. He had left everything behind to follow Christ more closely, seeking only God in the solitude of his cave. Still, word of his miracles and holiness had begun to spread, drawing disciples seeking guidance and the touch of the supernatural. One day, needing to cross from Calabria to Sicily, Francis arrived to discover there was no boat to take him. When he asked, the boatman refused him passage, perhaps distressed by the stormy weather, or perhaps suspicious of this barefoot ascetic and his band of followers. But to Francis, whose faith in God shone as bright as a flame, obstacles were simply invitations to trust in divine providence. Unfazed, Saint Francis knelt by the rocky shore and prayed, not for his own safety, but for the conversion of hearts and the glorification of God. What happened next has become one of those legendary moments whispered by the candles of sanctuaries. Francis, serene and purposeful, laid his worn cloak on the waves as if it were a raft. He made the sign of the cross. Then, stepping boldly onto this makeshift vessel, he began to journey across the turbulent water, his hands lifted in prayer, his disciples following in awe behind him. The sea, so often a symbol of chaos and fear, obeyed the voice of faith that day. The hermit from Paola walked over the storm-split waves, just as our Lord had done centuries before on the Sea of Galilee, reaching the opposite shore untouched by the peril that had stymied ordinary men. Was it the cloak, the wind, or the currents? For those who beheld it, and for generations of Catholics since, there was no doubt it was Almighty God, working through his humble servant, reminding us that true faith can move mountains, and sometimes even carry a saint across the sea. In this miracle shines a message not only of supernatural power, but of unshakable trust. Saint Francis of Paola invites each of us to risk stepping out onto the stormy waters of life, keeping our eyes fixed on Christ, certain that no wave is too high nor any journey too daunting when God walks beside us. From solitude to the royal court, Saint Francis of Paola was at heart a man of silence, a lover of the hidden paths, the forest shade, and time spent alone with God. From his earliest days Francis sought solitude and penance, choosing to live as a hermit in the wild hills of Calabria. Like the ancient desert fathers he hungered for intimacy with God above all earthly comforts. His food was simple bread and water, his bed the hard earth, his joy found in prayer and quiet acts of charity. Yet, Francis's holiness could not stay hidden for long. Even as he fled the world, news of his miracles and radical faith began to spread. Men and women, drawn by the fragrance of his sanctity, sought his counsel. Their thirst for God's truth turned his hermit's cell into a place of pilgrimage, souls desperate for hope, healing, and guidance flocked to him, transforming his solitude into a spring of living water. Despite his gentle resistance, God had other plans. One day, a messenger arrived with a summons that would alter the course of Francis's mission. The king of Naples sought his presence. Soon, even the court of France would call upon his aid. It was not only the poor and afflicted who needed Francis. Now the Lord was sending him as a spiritual father to the powerful and the royal. By God's mysterious design, this humble hermit, whose whole life echoed Mary's magnificat, he has lifted up the lowly, was to be the instrument through whom Christ would reach the hearts of Europe's rulers. What unfolded in those courts would reveal even more profoundly the heavenly grace poured upon Francis. He became a counselor to kings, a peacemaker between warring factions, and a prophetic voice for justice and faith. And always behind his wisdom and miracles lay his unwavering trust in God alone. Francis carried the wilderness with him into palaces, reminding all he met that true greatness is born in prayer, humility, and a heart surrendered to the divine will. Walking in faith with Saint Francis of Paola. The life of Saint Francis of Paola calls us to a faith that is bold, unwavering, and rooted in the mysterious power of God's providence. In the quiet caves where he prayed, on the waters he walked, and through the countless miracles he worked, Francis left us a living testimony. Nothing is impossible for those who trust completely in the Lord. His story, rich with wonder and humility, reminds us that sanctity is found not in worldly strength, but in surrender to God's will. Saint Francis's love for Jesus flowed through his devotion to Mary and his obedience to the church, a lesson as vital now as it was in his own time. At Bob and Penny Lord's store Journeys of Faith, we believe the saints, like Francis, are heavenly companions, guiding us closer to Jesus, especially as we imitate their courage and their reliance on grace. May his example invite us to deeper prayer, courageous acts of faith, and authentic Christian living. Let us ask Saint Francis of Paola to pray for us, so that like him, we too may trust completely in God's power and follow the path to holiness. Saint Francis of Paola, pray for us. Thanks for listening. Please download our Free Journeys of Faith app for iPhone or Android devices.