Florida Catholic | Who Was St. Paul?

THE PAULINE YEAR

Who was St. Paul?

AMY FERRARA SMITH | FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF

Published: 07.04.08

PENSACOLA | Pope Benedict XV established the Pauline year to run from June 28, 2008, to June 29, 2009, to mark the approximate 2,000th anniversary of the birth of St. Paul the Apostle and authorized a related plenary indulgence, a remission of punishment due for sins.

While on his way to persecute the early followers of Christ in Damascus, Saul, of the Jewish tribe of Benjamin, was blinded by a light, which he understood to be Jesus Christ, the savior. Saul lived without sight in Damascus for three days until Ananias baptized him. From then he dedicated his life to Christ and Christian teachings.

After he proved to the apostles his Christian dedication, Saul switched his Greek name for its Roman pronunciation, Paul. He went on to preach in Cilicia, his birthplace, and Caesarea in about A.D. 45. He then sailed with Mark and Barnabas to Cyprus and Asia Minor, establishing missionary communities in Antioch, Pisidia and Iconium. Although a mob stoned him while he worked as a missionary, Paul concluded that “he had opened a door of faith” (Acts 14:27) to the gentiles. Subsequently known as the “apostle of the gentiles,” he was the most persistent missionary who preached to the pagans of the Roman Empire.

Five years later, Paul set out to preach Christianity in Asia Minor, Macedonia and Greece. After another five years, he traveled again to Asia Minor and Greece. When he returned to Jerusalem, Jewish enemies attacked him until Roman soldiers saved him from death. He spent two years in prison, however, before he was acquitted. After some time, he was again arrested and placed in confinement in Rome. It is believed that he was eventually beheaded on the left bank of the Tiber River.

Paul’s extensive letter-writing to the Christian communities under his care produced the books of Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon and Hebrews in the New Testament. His feast day is June 29. n

Source: Margaret Bunson, Matthew Bunson and Stephen Bunson, Our Sunday Visitor Encyclopedia of Saints, Our Sunday Visitor Inc., 1998.

EVENTS IN THE DIOCESE

Here’s a sampling of celebrations of the Year of St. Paul in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. Additional events will be announced in the Florida Catholic as they are scheduled.

• St. Dominic Parish, Panama City: Held a two-part series on “St. Paul, the apostle to the gentiles” by Deacon Sal Cirabisi in mid-June. 850-785-4574.

• The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Pensacola: Series of classes about the Letters of St. Paul. Began June 17 and will continue at 7 p.m., the third Thursday of each month, through May 21, 2009. Some exceptions apply, so please call 850-438-3131 for dates.

• St. Paul Parish, Pensacola: Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, will dedicate the parish’s new church Aug. 24 in celebration of the Year of St. Paul. Depicted on the bronze bas-reliefs are the eight scenes from the life of St. Paul as mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles.

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THE PAULINE YEAR

Who was St. Paul?

EVENTS IN THE DIOCESE

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