Deepertruth: St. Paphnutius, the Buffalo/St. Gaspar del Bufalo

St Paphnutius the Buffalo was born in 305 was an Egyptian spending many years in the desert. He became a Priest and served under St. Antony, and became a Bishop of the Upper Thebaid. The Emperor Maximinus sent an army to track the Bishop down. When he heard about this he reported to Hadrian on his own. Paphnutius made a strong profession of faith and would not deny his faith. Being placed in prison was tortured causing him to lose his right eye and was hamstrung in one leg. 40 fellow prisoners would convert to the Catholic faith as a result of his inspiration. Some of them were martyred being burned at the stake. Two of his torturer's also converted (Dionysius and Callimachus) were beheaded. He was forced to work in mines. With the coming of Constantine and his edict of Milan, Paphnutius was free to return to his people despite being crippled by his torturers. He viewed his suffering as a glorious mark bearing them for Jesus who suffered for the whole world.