"A
soul that is to win others must be great and wide as the ocean. To convert
the world, one's soul must be greater than the world. Such was St. Paul
from the day when a sudden light from heaven shone round about him and
threw its radiance into his soul."
(Handbook; 24, 9)
St. Paul's untiring interest in and paternal affection for the churches established by him have given us fourteen canonical Epistles. It is, however, quite certain that he wrote other letters which are no longer available to us.
In his Epistles, St. Paul shows himself to be a profound religious thinker and he has had an enduring formative influence in the development of Christianity. The centuries only make more apparent his greatness of mind and spirit.
His feast day is June 29th.
Prayer to Saint Paul the Apostle
O Glorious Saint Paul, after persecuting the Church you became by God's grace its most zealous Apostle. To carry the knowledge of Jesus, our divine Savior, to the uttermost parts of the earth you joyfully endured prison, scourgings, stonings, and shipwreck, as well as all manner of persecutions culminating in the shedding of the last drop of your blood for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Obtain for us the grace to labor strenuously to being the faith to others
and to accept any trials and tribulations that may come our way. Help
us to be inspired by your Epistles and to partake of your indomitable
love for Jesus, so that after we have finished our course we may join
you in praising him in heaven for all eternity. Amen.