Paul of Tarsus - Messenger of Jesus Christ

Memorial
    25 January (celebration of his conversion)
    29 June (celebration of Saints Peter and Paul co-founders of the Church of Rome)
    18 November (feast of the dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and of St. Paul)
Profile
    Saul was a Jewish Talmudic student. Pharisee. Tent-maker by trade. Saul the Jew hated and persecuted Christians as heretical, even assisting at the stoning of Saint Stephen the First Martyr. On his way to Damascus to arrest another group of them, he was knocked off his horse and to the ground, struck blind by a heavenly light, and given the message that in persecuting Christians, he was persecuting Christ. The experience had a profound spiritual effect on him, causing his conversion to Christianity. He was baptized, changed his name to Paul to reflect his new persona, and began travelling, preaacing and writing. Author of much of the New Testament of the Sacred Scriptures and is often called the 13th Apostle. He was martyred by the sword in Rome.
Born
    c.3 as Saul at Tarsus, Cilicia (modern Turkey)
Died
    A martyr, beheaded c.65 at Rome, Italy
Patronage
    against snakes; authors; Bath Abbey; Bath, England; Catholic Action; Cursillo movement; diocese of Birmingham, Alabama; diocese of Calbayog, Philippines; diocese of Covington, Kentucky; evangelists; hailstorms; hospital public relations; journalists; Kavala, Greece; diocese of Las Vegas, Nevada; lay people; Malta; diocese of Maralal, Kenya; missionary bishops; Münster, Germany; musicians; Naumburg, Germany; newspaper editorial staff; archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; poisonous snakes; Poznan Poland; diocese of Providence, Rhode Island; public relations personnel; public relations work; publishers; reporters; Rome; rope braiders; rope makers; saddlemakers; saddlers; snake bites; tent makers; Umbria, Italy; diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts; writers