VEYO Patron Saints

St. Paul, the Apostle

Born:  as Saul in c. 3 AD at Tarsus, Cilicia (Modern Turkey)
Died: beheaded at Rome in c. 65 AD
Feast Day:
25 January (celebration of his conversion)
29 June (celebration of Saints Peter and Paul)
18 November (feast of the dedication of St. Paul Basilica, Rome)
Patron Saint of: authors, journalists and reporters, missionaries, lay people, Cursillo movement and more

A tent-maker by trade, Paul was a student of Jewish Talmudic writings and by observance a Pharisee. By his own admission, he zealously persecuted Christians as heretics, even assisting at the stoning of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr. On his way to Damascus to arrest another group of Christians, Paul was knocked to the ground and struck blind by a heavenly light. As recorded in the Acts of Apostles, the risen Christ appeared to Paul saying that in persecuting Christians he was persecuting Christ himself. The experience changed his life. He was baptized, received back his sight and changed his name to Paul to reflect his new life and mission. Henceforth, he became the tireless missionary of the Gentiles setting out on three missionary journeys, which took him to Asia Minor, Greece and finally to Rome leaving behind a great many letters he wrote to the Christian communities he founded along the way. Paul died a martyr for the faith in c. 65 AD in Rome not long after the crucifixion of St. Peter. Both, Peter and Paul, are the founders of the community in Rome and have become the twin pillars of the Christian Church.   

For detailed description

• http://www.catholic-forum.com/Saints/saintp12.htm
• http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11567b.htm