ROMAN INC - SAINT PAUL - PATRON OF JOURNALISTS, PUBLICISTS AND AUTHORS
Figurine comes nicely displayed in a box with a front window, with a prayer on the front and the story of the Saint on the back, and a prayer card inside.
"Prayer to Saint Paul:
O glorious St. Paul, who from a persecutor of Christianity, didst become a most ardent apostle of zeal; and who to make known the Savior Jesus Christ unto the ends of the world, didst suffer imprisonment, scourgings, stonings, shipwrecks and persecutions of every kind, and in the end, didst shed thy blood to the last drop, obtain for us the grace to receive, as favors of the Divine mercy, infirmities, tribulations, and misfortunes of the present life, so that the vicissitudes of this our exile will not render us cold in the service of God, but will render us always more faithful and more fervent. Amen."
Paul began his life as Saul. So intense was his hatred for Christians, that he persecuted them as heretics and assisted in the stoning of Stephen – the first martyr for the faith. Saul’s conversion to Christianity is detailed in Acts 9:1-19. On his way to Damascus to arrest more Christians, Saul was knocked to the ground and blinded by a heavenly light. He heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” "Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the voice replied. The voice instructed him to continue on to Damascus. When Saul got up from the ground he could not see, and so those traveling with him led him by hand to Damascus. There, the Lord directed a disciple named Ananias to go to Saul. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me here so that you may see again, and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. Saul got up and was baptized. He took the name Paul as a symbol of his conversion.
Almost immediately he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God – much to the astonishment of those who knew of the fervour with which he had persecuted Christians. Paul brought the passion with which he had persecuted Christians to his ministry of sharing the message of Jesus. His missionary work was tireless and fruitful, especially among the Gentiles. His commitment to the Churches he established gave us 14 canonical epistles. Paul was martyred by Nero in 67 AD.
He is the patron of missionaries, authors, journalists, as well as theologians, Gentile Christians and publicists. He is often called Apostle to the Gentiles.
Feast Day: June 29
Material: Resin, Stone Mix
Dimensions: Approx. H 10.2cm x W 4.5cm
