Saint Paul of Tarsus

Feast Day: June 29

Before St. Paul the apostle became a zealous follower of Christ, he was the much-feared Jewish Saul of Tarsus, a Roman city in a province of present-day Turkey. Saul was an infamous persecutor of early Christians until his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus. Unthinkable that a staunch believer of Judaism could suddenly turn into a Gentile? Not when Jesus gets into the act. Like when a stroke of lightning blinded him and a thunderous voice boomed from the heavens, “Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?” Saul shifted directions when his sight returned after a few days. Who wouldn’t? He began to preach the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. The change in him was so radical he preached the gospel even inside synagogues! Clearly, these were Jewish holy territories, definitely off-limits to evangelizing Christians. Paul’s gumption incurred the hatred of his fellow Jews who drove him out of the city. Isn’t it ironic that it was this Jew who had brutally killed early Christians thereby quashing newly-formed groups of budding Christians? The tables have turned, St. Paul was now at the receiving end of relentless persecution. Undaunted, he tirelessly travelled far and wide to spread the Word of God, imbued as ever with missionary fervor. It was then that he journeyed to Jerusalem to give his respects to the head of the Church, St. Peter. His being both a Jew and a Roman citizen influenced Jewish and Roman audiences alike enabling him to form many Christian communities. Returning to Tarsus, he evangelized province mates, converting many to Christianity. In the span of twenty years, St. Paul founded many churches in Asia Minor (now the Middle East) and Europe. Still, the persecution went on. He was imprisoned for his beliefs not once but twice. After his release, he traveled to Spain and the East. Returning to Rome, he was jailed again, this time even chained, until he was beheaded in AD 67. St. Paul the Apostle is one of the most important figures of the Apostolic age. Of the 27 books of the New Testament, he wrote seven epistles. Scholars undisputedly say these are his authentic works. Six others are also attributed to him but this is under argument. Still, seven is a considerable number. Not only that, about half of the Acts of the Apostles is devoted to his life and works. How influential could he be? Rightly so, as he was a deep theological thinker. Endowed with leadership qualities, his hand in the development of Christianity is undeniable. Today, many churches are named in honor of St. Paul the apostle all over the Christian world as well as schools, hospitals, even Catholic printing presses. 

Patronage:

Saint Paul is the patron saint of numerous cities, including Rome, Malta, and London. He is also the patron saint of missionaries, theologians, and evangelists due to his significant role in spreading the Christian faith.

Prayer:

Dear Saint Paul,

You were once a fierce persecutor of the early Christians but were transformed by a divine encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. Your life's journey became an inspiring example of God's boundless grace and the power of conversion.

Help us, Saint Paul, to find the strength and courage to overcome our own shortcomings and obstacles on our spiritual paths. Inspire us to live lives of faith, love, and service to others, just as you did. Pray for us as we seek to deepen our relationship with God and spread the message of Christ's love to all people, just as you did during your missionary journeys.

May your example remind us that God's grace is always available to transform our lives and lead us on a path of righteousness. Amen.

Reflection:

*The life of Saint Paul is a testament to the transformative power of faith and divine intervention. His conversion from a persecutor of Christians to one of the most influential figures in the history of Christianity illustrates the possibility of redemption and renewal for all of us.

We, too, may have moments in our lives when we feel lost, misguided, or distant from God. Saint Paul's story reminds us that God's grace is always at work, seeking to bring us closer to Him. We can find inspiration in his journey of faith and his unwavering commitment to spreading the message of Christ's love and salvation.

As we reflect on Saint Paul's life, let us remember that no one is beyond God's reach, and it is never too late to turn our lives around and follow the path of righteousness. Let us strive to be instruments of God's love and grace in the world, just as Saint Paul was, and trust that God can work miracles in our own lives as well.

*St. Paul the apostle’s one-hundred-eighty-degree-turn from persecutor of Christians to indefatigable worker for Christ is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Imagine such a notorious sinner instantly transforming into a saint. If he can do it, then so can ordinary sinners like you and I.

Saint Faustina

Feast Day:  Oct. 5

St. Faustina,  a well-known saint, is associated with the feast of the Divine Mercy, divine mercy chaplet and 3’oclock PM divine mercy prayer.  Born Helena Kowalski in Lodz, Poland on Aug. 25, 1905, she was the 3rd of 10 children of peasants. An obedient, prayerful child, her formal schooling lasted only 3 years.  Early on, she wanted to be a nun but was dissuaded by her mother who needed a helping hand.

At 16, she left home and worked in three cities at different times in various capacities as a housekeeper,
gardener or porter to support herself and help her parents.  She was twenty when she joined the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, a congregation in Warsaw dedicated to the care and education of troubled young women. After a year, she was given her religious habit and the name Maria Faustina and, as allowed by her congregation, she added “of the blessed Sacrament.” When St. Faustina was transferred to Vilnius, she met Father Michael Sopocko who became her confessor.

In 1930, she began having visions of Jesus Christ.  Our Lord asked her to spread His message of mercy to the whole world, to be his apostle and a model of mercy to others.  She wrote all the messages and conversations in a diary as requested by the Lord and also by her confessor. These visions and conversations occurred all throughout her life but she never confided in anyone except some of her superiors and Fr. Sopocko. The diary was later published in the book, “the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul.”As requested by Jesus Christ, St. Faustina’s life became a sacrifice, a life for others.  She was asked to imitate our Lord which she did willingly.  Consequently, she suffered in silence and offered all her sufferings to atone for the sins of others, especially big sinners and the dying, in unison with Jesus.  Always cheerful and humble, she brought a smile to everyone she dealt with.  A doer of mercy, she brought peace and happiness to others even if she herself was stricken with the debilitating disease, TB that claimed her life in 1938.Both St. Faustina and Father Sopocho guided an artist to paint the first Divine Mercy image based on her visions.

The priest used the artist’s painting when he celebrated the first Mass on the first Sunday after Easter that we know today as the Divine Mercy Sunday.  St. Faustina’s  feast day is Oct. 5. She was beatified and canonized by Pope John Paul II.

Patronage:

St. Faustina Kowalska is the patron saint of mercy, mercy missions, and the Divine Mercy devotion. 

Prayer to St. Faustina:

"Saint Faustina, humble servant of God and apostle of Divine Mercy, you who experienced the boundless love and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, intercede for us. Help us to trust in His mercy and to live lives of compassion and forgiveness. May your example of devotion to the Divine Mercy inspire us to turn to Christ with confidence in times of need. Pray for us, that we too may one day share in the joy of His presence for all eternity. Amen."

Reflection:

*St. Faustina's life is a testament to the transformative power of God's mercy. Despite her simple and unremarkable exterior, she was chosen by Jesus to be an instrument of His Divine Mercy. Her unwavering faith, humility, and obedience allowed her to convey a message of hope and forgiveness to the world.

In our own lives, we can learn from St. Faustina's example by embracing the message of Divine Mercy. We should strive to trust in Jesus, no matter the circumstances, and seek His mercy in times of difficulty and sin. Just as St. Faustina lived a life of compassion and forgiveness, we too can extend mercy to others, knowing that we are all recipients of God's boundless love.

May St. Faustina's intercession guide us on our spiritual journey, reminding us of the profound and limitless mercy that God offers to each one of us, and inspiring us to share that mercy with others in our daily lives.

*It’s heartening to know from St. Faustina’s writings that God is merciful and far from the uncompromising, rigid disciplinarian that most people think.  Isn’t it like a breath of fresh air to hear from Jesus himself that He wants everybody to be saved from hell, no exceptions? No matter how grievously we have sinned, if we only truly repent and resolve to do better, then everything will be okay. Jesus loves us after all!