Saint Paul
Feast day: June 29
Saint Paul, persecutor turned Apostle to the Gentiles, writer of many New Testament letters (29/06)
Who is he?
Saint Paul is the Apostle who brought the Gospel to the Gentiles, that is, people who were not Jewish. He was not one of the Twelve, but the risen Jesus himself called him. The Church celebrates him together with Saint Peter, the two pillars of the Church.
Life story
He was a Jew born in Tarsus, and he had two names: Saul and Paul (cf. Acts 13:9). He was brought up to keep the law of his ancestors very strictly (cf. Acts 22:3). Because he thought he was defending the Law, he persecuted the Christians.
One day, on the road to Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice asking why he was persecuting him. He answered: “Who are you, Lord?” And he heard the reply: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:3-5). From then on, he believed in Jesus, was baptized and eagerly announced the Gospel.
He walked and sailed through a great many lands, founding Christian communities, and then wrote letters to teach and encourage them. He was beaten, imprisoned, hungry and thirsty, and even shipwrecked, but he never lost heart, because he knew: “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20).
According to tradition, he was beheaded in Rome under the emperor Nero, around the year 67. His tomb is in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. The Church also celebrates the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul on 25 January.
Why is he a saint?
Saint Paul shows us that God’s grace is stronger than any mistake. From a persecutor, he became someone who loved Jesus with all his heart. He gave his whole life to announcing the Gospel to every people, and stayed faithful to God to the end.
A lesson for you
- When you do something wrong, remember that God always wants to make you new; be truly sorry and start again.
- Bravely share with your friends the joy of knowing Jesus.
- Read a passage from Saint Paul’s letters, for example the hymn to love (cf. 1 Cor 13:4-7).
Identifying marks
- A sword: according to tradition, he was beheaded in Rome; the sword also recalls “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph 6:17).
- A book: the letters he wrote to the Churches, which are now in the New Testament.
- A high forehead, a bald head and a long pointed beard: the way he has looked in pictures and statues since very early times.
- A row of Roman columns: he was a Roman citizen who preached throughout the empire and was martyred in Rome.
The text on this page is the saint card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.
Collect this card and read more about the saints in the app