Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle
Commemoration of one of the great heroes of Christendom, Paul of Tarsus, recorded in the Acts of the Apostles and mentioned in his epistles. The extensive missionary journeys he undertook following his conversion have earned for him the title of “the Apostle”.
Other featured Saints
St. Ananias. Disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ who baptized the Apostle St. Paul in Damascus.
St. Poppo, abbot (†1048). Refused an advantageous marriage to become a Benedictine in St. Thierry, France. Emperor St. Henry II entrusted to him the guidance and reform of the royal monasteries.
Blessed Henry Suso, priest (†1366). German Dominican priest, outstanding preacher of the Holy Name of Jesus.
Blessed Antoni Swiadek, priest and martyr (†1945). For defending the Faith before followers of doctrines hostile to human and Christian dignity, he attained the imperishable crown of glory in the concentration camp of Dachau, Germany.
Blessed Manuel Domingo y Sol, priest (†1909). He founded the Fraternity of Diocesan Labour Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Tortosa, Spain, to foster priestly vocations.
Blessed Archangela Girlani, virgin (†1495). For many years she was the prioress of the Carmel of Parma. She founded and directed a new Carmelite convent in Manua, Italy, and was known for her mystical gifts.
Blessed Maria Antonia Grillo, religious (†1944). After becoming widowed, she sold her belongings and founded the Congregation of the Little Sisters of Divine Providence in Alessandria, Italy.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 22:3-16
Paul addressed the people in these words: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. I persecuted this Way to death, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison. Even the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify on my behalf. For from them I even received letters to the brothers and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem in chains for punishment those there as well.
“On that journey as I drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.’ My companions saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me. I asked, ‘What shall I do, sir?’ The Lord answered me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do.’ Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light, I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus.
“A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law, and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me and stood there and said, ‘Saul, my brother, regain your sight.’ And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him. Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice; for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard. Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.’”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 117:1bc, 2 (R. Mk 16:15)
R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify Him, all you peoples! R.
For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever. R.
Gospel – Mk 16:15-18
Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:
“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
