The Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle

The Month of January Dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus

Conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:1-4 Humility

Mass: Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22; Resp Ps 117; Mk 16:15-18   

For steadfast is His kindness toward us.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF APOSTLES,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, MASTER OF THE APOSTLES,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Conversion means a willingness to see the truth of things and conform one's conduct.

(Antonin Sertillanges, OP, 1863-1948)

On the subject of conversion as we commemorate the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle, I pass along a story I read yesterday, shared by Pope Benedict XVI. It's a mediaeval story, as the pontiff said, "of a Jew who traveled to the papal court and who became Catholic. On his return, someone who knew the papal court well asked him: "Did you realize what sort of things are going on there?' 'Yes, he said, 'of course, quite scandalous things, I saw it all.' 'And you still became a Catholic,' remarked the other man. 'That's completely perverse!' Then the Jew said, 'It is because of all that that I have become a Catholic. For if the Church continues to exist in spite of it all, then truly there must be someone upholding her.'* It is the Rock upon which she stands, Jesus Christ the Lord. The Church's one foundation Is Jesus Christ the Lord: She is the new creation By water and the word: From heav'n he came and sought her To be his holy bride, With his own blood he bought her, And for her life he died ..." Yes, this is the Church that Saint Paul helped build. She stands firm through thick and thin. United, we must then stand firm in the faith and draw our strength from the Lord and from His mighty power. We put on the armor of God and in all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (see Eph 6:10-17). 

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the capstone. Through Him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord: in Him you are also built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

(Ephesians 2:19-22)

SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLE,

PRAY FOR US.

*See Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, God and the World: A Conversation with Peter Seewald (Ignatius, 2002), pp. 63-64, p. 64 for this quotation.

Today's photo: This is from last week, another time when I stopped to look up. This tree has something to say about steadfastness and fidelity. The fidelity of the Lord endures forever.

© Gertrude Feick 2023