St. Paul's Conversion

Yesterday we celebrated St. Timothy, St. Paul's companion on many travels.  Today, January 25, we commemorate the day that Saul, to be renamed Paul, was knocked "off his high horse."

Paul of Tarsus, a Jew of Benjamin's tribe, was a tentmaker by trade.  He was a very zealous Pharisee. In today's Epistle, Acts of the Apostles 9: 1-22, we see that he went to the high priest and asked for letters that he could take to Damascus to find Christians, men and women, that he could have bound and brought back to Jerusalem for trial. As he neared Damascus "a light from heaven shined round about him." He fell to the ground and heard a voice, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me!" When he asked who it was, Christ answered, "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest."  Saul asked what he should do and was told to go into the city. At this point he was blind and remained so for three days, and did not eat or drink. The Lord appeared to a faithful Damascene named Ananias and told him to go to Saul, "for this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel."  When Ananias went in to Paul the new believer regained his sight. He was immediately baptized and  began to preach in the synagogues.

We know of the travels of St. Paul, his famous epistles or letters to the faithful in various places, the dangers he endured, shipwreck, imprisonment and finally his martyrdom.  This feast follows closely the feast of St. Peter's Chair in Rome. We can see the whole Epiphany season. It gives us a picture of the Kingship of Jesus. First we had Advent and the anticipation of the coming of Jesus. Then came Christmas and the Lord's childhood. The third section of the Christmas season is Epiphany and the proofs, by Jesus Himself, that He speaks as God.  In this last section we have the two great witnesses of His Divinity, St. Peter, sent to the Jews, and St. Paul to the Gentiles. 

The Introit of the Mass today is first, 2 Timothy, 1:12, I know whom I have believed, and I am certain that He is able to keep that which Ihave committed to Him against that day, being a just Judge.  The second part of the Introit is Psalm 137: 1-2, Lord, Thou hast proved me and known me: Thou has known my sitting down, and my rising up. 

The Gradual, leading up to the Gospel is from Galatians 2: 8,9. He who wrought in Peter to the apostleship, wrought in me also among the Gentiles, and they knew the grace of God which was given to me. The grace of God in me hath not been void; but His grace always remaineth in me.

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Peter and Paul have other feast days, these two giants of the Faith. One feast is of the two of them together on June 29, and on June 30 the feast of St. Paul, Apostle and Martyr.