Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle
The Conversion of St. Paul, one of the great heroes of Christendom, on the road to Damascus, is 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”.
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.’”
or
Acts 9:1-22
Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, that he may regain his sight.” But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to Your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to carry My name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for My name.” So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 117:1bc, 2 (R. Mark 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.” He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. All who heard him were astounded and said, “Is not this the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name, and came here expressly to take them back in chains to the chief priests?” But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
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.
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