Our Patron Saint
Paul
Feast Day January 25

Our patron saint, Paul, never did anything in a restrained way.  Born a Jew known as Saul and trained as a rabbi, he held his beliefs very strongly.  When he learned about Jesus, he saw Him as a threat to Judaism.  He became a strong opponent to the Christian movement and was instrumental in having many Christians arrested and put to death.

On his way to Damascus to deliver letters of arrest to the synagogues in the city, he experienced something quite out of the ordinary.  This is his account of the experience as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles (26: 13-18):

"On this journey, Your Majesty, I saw a light more brilliant than the sun shining in the sky at midday.  It surrounded me and those who were traveling with me.  All of us fell to the ground and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?  It is hard for you to kick against the goad.'  I said, at that, 'Who are you, sir?' and the Lord answered: "I am that Jesus whom you are persecuting.  Get up now and stand on your feet.  I have appeared to you to designate you as my servant and as a witness to what you have seen of me and what you will see of me.  I have delivered you from this people and from the nations, to open the eyes of those to whom I am sending you, to turn them from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God: that through their faith in me they may obtain the forgiveness of their sins and  a portion among God's people."

Even Paul's conversion to Christianity was a dynamic event!

After his conversion, he devoted his life to bringing God's message to the people.  Other Jews now considered him a threat to their cultural heritage.  They would not listen to his message and were extremely hostile to him.

As commissioned by Saint Peter, he traveled extensively in Asia Minor bringing the Good News to the gentiles in that region.  Wherever he went, he worked tirelessly to establish new communities of Christians.  Each community was special to him and the New Testament contains many inspiring letters written by Paul to the people in these communities of faith.

However, the fear and hostility of the Jews continued to threaten Paul wherever he traveled.  He was attacked and imprisoned a number of times.  He was eventually beheaded in the year 67AD.
 

We, the people of Saint Paul, pray that the fire of love for Jesus that burned in Saint Paul's heart will burn in ours and continue to make us a loving, caring community.

St. Paul Home Page