To Saint Paul for Perseverance
O glorious Saint Paul, who, from being a persecutor of the Christian name, didst become its most zealous Apostle, and who, to carry the knowledge of Jesus, our divine Saviour, to the uttermost parts of the earth, didst joyfully suffer prison, scourgings, stonings, shipwreck, and all manner of persecutions, and who didst finish thy course by shedding the last drop of thy blood: obtain for us the grace to accept, as favors bestowed by the mercy of God, the infirmities, sufferings, and misfortunes of this life, that we may not grow slack in our service of God by reason of these vicissitudes of our exile, but that we may the rather show ourselves ever more devoted. Amen.
V. Pray for us, Saint Paul the Apostle.R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
O God, who hast taught the multitude of the Gentiles by the preaching of blessed Paul the Apostle: grant unto us, we beseech Thee, that we who keep his memory sacred, may feel the might of his intercession before Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
--The Raccolta
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Sequence for the Conversion of St. Paul
(Corde, voce pulsa caelos)
Church of the Gentiles! sing with heart and voice thy hymn of triumph, and make the heavens echo.Paul, the Doctor of the Gentiles, has finished his course, and triumphs in glory.
This is he that was the youthful Benjamin, the ravenous wolf, the devourer of the prey, the enemy of the Faithful.
He was a wolf in the morning, but in the evening, a lamb. The night was past, the day-star rose, and he preaches the Gospel.
This is he that marched in the road of death, but was stayed, as he goes to Damascus, by Him who is the Way of Life.
He had breathed forth threats, but at length he yields; he prostrates, and obeys; he is made captive, and goes whither he is led.
He is sent to Ananias–the wolf to the lamb: his stormy heart is calm.
He receives the sacrament of the font; its saving waters turn the venom of his soul into the fragrance of love.
He becomes a sacred vessel, a vessel divine, a vessel that gives forth to men the sweet wine of the grace of doctrine.
He visits the synagogues, and proves the Christian faith by unfolding the prophets.
He preaches the cross of Christ; and for that Cross’ sake himself does bear the cross, dying a thousand deaths.
Yet dies not, but is a living victim, conquering every pain by unconquered courage.
He is set apart by God as the teacher of the Gentiles; and by the wisdom of God he overcomes the wise ones of the world.
Rapt to the third heaven, he sees the Father and Son in one substance.
The mighty Rome, and the learned Greece– both bow down their heads, and learn the Mysteries, and embrace the Faith of Christ.
The Cross triumphs! Then does Nero rage to see this Paul spreading the Faith by his preaching, and sentences him to die by the sword.
Thus disheartened from the flesh, Paul sees the true Sun, the Only Begotten of the Father.
He sees the Light in Light, by whose almighty power we shun the pains of hell. Amen
"For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things." --Philippians 4:8
God bless!
+JMJ+
