January 25, 2024, Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Holy Rosary (Luminous Mysteries)

Friends of the Rosary: On January 25, the faithful celebrate the Conversion of Saint Paul, one of the great events of the early Church. This feast celebrates St. Paul's turning away from persecution of Christians to promoting Christianity. Saul was a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, born in Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia, and a Roman citizen. He was a student of the Pharisee rabbi Gamaliel and surpassed all his peers in zeal for the Jewish law and their traditions, which he thought to be the cause of God. Saul of Tarsus became one of the most fierce enemies and persecutors of Christians. He was one of the conspirators in the martyrdom of the holy deacon Stephan. He was suddenly converted on the road to Damascus when our Lord appeared to him in His resurrected glory (Acts 9:1-9). In other words, Saul, a blasphemer and a persecutor was made an apostle, and chosen to be one of the principal instruments of God in the conversion of the world. From a fierce persecutor, he became the great Apostle of the Gentiles. He made three missionary journeys which brought him to Asia Minor and southern Europe, and made many converts. Fourteen of his Epistles are found in the New Testament. He was beheaded in Rome around 66 A.D., and his relics are in the Basilica of St. Paul. Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!St. Paul, Pray for Us! To Jesus through Mary!Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will! + Mikel A. | RosaryNetwork.com, New York • ⁠January 25, 2024, Today’s Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET