Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul

Send us Fan MailSaturday, 25 January 2025Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul Readings and Antiphons on p. 1550 of the Daily Missal.First Reading: Acts 22:3-16In those days:  Paul said to the people [in Jerusalem],  I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia,  but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel,  educated according to the strict manner  of the law of our fathers,  being zealous for God as you all are this day.  I persecuted this Way to the death,  binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders  bear me witness.  From them I received letters to the brothers and sisters,  and I journeyed to Damascus to take those also who were there  and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.“As I made my journey and drew near to Damascus,  about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me.  And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,  ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me,  ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light  but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.  And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus,  and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’  And when I could not see because of the brightness of that light,  I was led by the hand by those who were with me,  and came into Damascus.“And one Anani′as, a devout man according to the law,  well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,  came to me, and standing by me said to me,  ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’  And in that very hour I received my sight and saw him.  And he said, ‘The God of our fathers  appointed you to know his will,  to see the Just One and to hear a voice from his mouth;  for you will be a witness for him to all people  of what you have seen and heard.  And now why do you wait?  Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins,  calling on his name.’Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 117:1.2 (R. Mark 15:15)R/. Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.O praise the Lord, all you nations; acclaim him, all you peoples!For his merciful love has prevailed over us; and the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever.R/. Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.Gospel: Mark 16:15-18At that time: [Appearing to the Eleven,] Jesus said the them, “Go into all the world  and preach the gospel to the whole creation.  The one who believes and is baptized will be saved;  but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe:  in my name they will cast out demons;  they will speak in new tongues;  they will pick up serpents,  and if they drink any deadly thing,  it will not hurt them;  they will lay their hands on the sick,  and they will recover.”