25 JANUARY: Conversion of Saint Paul, apostle – Feast
Blessed Apostle Paul, who labored so zealously for the conversion of the Gentiles in many lands, obtain for us a perpetual zeal for the salvation of souls and especially enkindle our interest in the conversion of our separated brethern.
Ever mindful of the interest that our Divine Lord, the Good Shepherd, has for the other sheep not of His fold, I now beg your intercession and obtain for me the gift of the true faith for ………….
(Pause here and name relatives and friends)
May God grant this request so close to my heart and thus enable me to extend to another what I so richly enjoy, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
St. Paul was an apostle but not one of the twelve apostles. He was unlike all of the other apostles because he began his journey towards Christianity by persecuting the early followers of Jesus in Jerusalem.
One day Paul was traveling on the road from Jerusalem to Damascus when Jesus, who had been resurrected, appeared to him in a great light. Three days later, Paul regained his eyesight and began to preach the Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God.
Paul went on to write much of the New Testament and his writings are at the roots of the Christian faith.
