Today's first reading for Mass is the stunning narrative of Saint Paul's conversion.
I realized the full force of Grace when I was listening to it today.
May I recommend it for your lectio?
Saint Paul, pray for us.
Recently in Saint Paul Category
Work is being done to gain greater clarity of where the apostle and martyr Saint Paul is buried. Jesuit Father Scott Brodeur, a New England Province Jesuit and professor at the Gregorian University, Rome, speaks to the project.
Dear brothers and sisters! It is with great joy that I extend my warm greetings to all of you who have gathered in this basilica for the liturgical Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, concluding the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, in this year when we are celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, that the Blessed John XXIII announced in this very basilica on January 25, 1959. The theme offered for our meditation in the Week of prayer which we conclude today, is: "All shall be changed by the victory of Jesus Christ our Lord" (cf. 1 Cor 15.51-58).
The religious and art worlds are abuzz with the latest find: an early 6th century image of the Apostle Paul in Naples. The discovery happened in the Catacombs of San Gennaro.Gianfranco Cardinal Ravasi said "The image of Saint Paul has an intense expression, philosophical and its discovery enriches our image of one of the principal apostles."
The story of the new image is found in the culture section of L'Osservatore Romano.
Watch the video story from Rome Reports.
"Hear the signs of true believers--
Satan cast out in my name,
Unknown tongues are clearly spoken,
And the sick their health reclaim!
Go and tell the world my gospel;
Those denying, faith have waived.
Washed in waters of baptism,
Those believing will be saved."
For the deed of Paul's conversion,
Thanks and praise we render you,
That your mercy, not our merit,
Brings salvation strong and true.
As you called him from his sinning
To a new, abundant life,
Teach us self to now abandon,
Thus forsaking sin and strife.
Glory to the God and Father
Of Christ Jesus, living Lord;
Glory to the Son, our Savior,
Risen Victor, e'er adored;
Glory to the Holy Spirit,
Moving us with one accord
Thus to shout with hearts and voices
"Yes! Christ Jesus is the Lord!"
J. Michael Thompson
Copyright © 2009, World Library Publications
87 87 D; IN BABILONE, ALLE TAGE SING UND SAGE
Satan cast out in my name,
Unknown tongues are clearly spoken,
And the sick their health reclaim!
Go and tell the world my gospel;
Those denying, faith have waived.
Washed in waters of baptism,
Those believing will be saved."
For the deed of Paul's conversion,
Thanks and praise we render you,
That your mercy, not our merit,
Brings salvation strong and true.
As you called him from his sinning
To a new, abundant life,
Teach us self to now abandon,
Thus forsaking sin and strife.
Glory to the God and Father
Of Christ Jesus, living Lord;
Glory to the Son, our Savior,
Risen Victor, e'er adored;
Glory to the Holy Spirit,
Moving us with one accord
Thus to shout with hearts and voices
"Yes! Christ Jesus is the Lord!"
J. Michael Thompson
Copyright © 2009, World Library Publications
87 87 D; IN BABILONE, ALLE TAGE SING UND SAGE
The image of Saint Paul is by Catarino
Gladly will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Among the biblical readings from today's liturgy there
is the celebrated text of St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians in which
the Church is compared to the human body. The Apostle writes: "As a body
is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many,
are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one
body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to
drink of one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). The Church is understood as
a body, which forms with Christ, who is the head, one single whole.
Nevertheless, what the Apostle wishes to communicate is the idea of unity in
the multiplicity of charisms, which are the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Thanks to
these gifts the Church presents itself as a rich -- and not a uniform -- living
organism, the fruit of the one Spirit who leads all into a profound unity,
assuming the differences without abolishing them and realizing a harmonious
ensemble. It prolongs the presence of the risen Lord in history, especially
through the Sacraments, the Word of God, the charisms and the offices
distributed in the community. For this reason, it is precisely in Christ and in
the Spirit that the Church is one and holy, that is, an intimate communion that
transcends and sustains human capacities.
I would like to emphasize this aspect
while we are observing the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,"
which concludes tomorrow, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. Following
tradition, I will celebrate vespers in the afternoon in the Basilica of St.
Paul Outside the Walls, with the participation of representatives from the
other Churches and ecclesial communities present in Rome. We will ask God for
the gift of the complete unity of all the disciples of Christ and, in
particular, according to this year's theme, we will renew the commitment to
being together witnesses of the crucified and risen Lord (cf. Luke 24:48). The
communion of Christians, in fact, makes the proclamation of the Gospel more
credible and efficacious, as Jesus himself said as he prayed to the Father on
the eve of his death: "That they may be one ... that the world might
believe" (John 17:21).
(Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus Address, January 24, 2010; Image of the "Conversion of Saint Paul" by Hans Speckaert)
The priestly figure should not be detached from the
person of Paul. Saint Paul shows all of us a way of living, a way of creating a
relationship with God. The priesthood is a privileged way, and as such it is
not separated from all that Saint Paul himself is, what he teaches and tells us.
Therefore, I believe that this association and connection between the Year for
Priests and the Pauline Year is and will be very good and very important.
Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, emeritus archpriest of the
Basilica of St Paul outside the Walls
Peter, blest Shepherd! hearken to our cry,
And with a word unloose our guilty chain;
Thou who hast power to open the gates on high
To men below, and power to shut them fast again.
O thou great Doctor, Paul, we here beseech of thee
Lead thou our spirits up to heavenly mystery,
Tills ends the partial knowledge that to us is given
While here below, and we receive the fuller light in heaven.
May everlasting honor, power, and glory be
And jubilation, to the Holy Trinity,
The One God, ever ruling all things mightily,
Throughout all endless ages of eternity. Amen.
As the Year of Saint Paul comes to an end, let us pray this prayer for Saint Paul's intercession before the Divine Majesty.
Glorious Saint Paul, most zealous Apostle, Martyr for the love of Christ, give us a deep faith, a steadfast hope, and a burning love for our Lord so that we can proclaim with you, "It is not I who live, but Christ lives in me." Help us become apostles serving the Church with a pure heart witnessing to her truth and beauty in the midst of the darkness of our days. With you we praise God our Father, "To him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever. Amen!"
Some websites for the Year of Saint Paul in case you've missed them:
The Year of Saint Paul was inaugurated by Pope Benedict XVI at the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Paul outside the Walls (Rome) on June 28, 2008 and will conclude on June 29, 2009, the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Many bishops around the world have set up a jubilee Church where the faithful can make a pilgrimage receiving an indulgence of grace when going to confession, receiving Holy Communion and praying for the intentions of the Pope.
In the New England area New Haven's St Mary's Church (Archdiocese of Hartford), Greenwich's St Paul's Church (Diocese of Bridgeport), Worcester's St Paul Cathedral (Diocese of Worcester), and NYC's St Paul's Church (New York Archdiocese, W. 60th Str).
The above prayer is the Church's official jubilee prayer.
A conference on Saint Paul's faith and his unique role in the diffusion of Christianity. A presentation by Father Peter Cameron, Editor-in-chief of Magnificat; and Archbishop Charles Chaput, Archbishop of Denver. Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 7:00 pm. The event will be at The American Bible Society Auditorium in New York City.
For more info visit the website
The Opus Dei has put together a fine video clip series on Saint Paul for this year dedicated to him. Various themes are covered by professors of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross briefly; they're aimed at forming us to have a greater understanding of the Saint. Some videos are in Spanish and others in Italian but they all have English subtitles; there's at least one given by a native English speaker. As you know, the goal of the Year of Saint Paul is not merely to know the Apostle's thinking better --scholars are providing new works on this every year-- rather, as Pope Benedict has recalled on a number of occasions, the hope of the Year is to learn from Paul how to respond to the current challenges of the faith.
You can view the works here.
Catholics and Orthodox Christians are celebrating a Pauline year from
A prime characteristic of
Christ crucified represents "the medicine of first resort for every spiritual weakness" and thus there can be "no possibility of compromise." According to
"What is the church" but the body of Christ, allowing for no divisions.
"We encounter the word 'brother' 34 times" in
In addition,
While "self-styled apostles" took advantage of the people to whom they preached, "
(Archbishop Demetrios, Sixth Annual Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua Lecture (Nov. 23), Immaculate Conception Seminary, Rockville Centre Diocese, Pete Sheehan for CNS, Dec. 2, 2008, adapted)
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