What is St. Paul the Apostle known for?
Short Biography (Catholic Perspective):
St. Paul—born Saul of Tarsus around AD 5—was initially a zealous persecutor of the Church. On the road to Damascus, the risen Christ appeared to him in a brilliant light (Acts 9), calling him to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles. Converted and baptized, Paul became the “Apostle to the Gentiles,” tirelessly planting Christian communities across Asia Minor and Europe: Antioch, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, and ultimately Rome.
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he composed fourteen epistles—now cherished parts of Sacred Scripture—teaching the mysteries of grace, the unity of the Body of Christ, and the transformative power of faith. Though imprisoned, beaten, and shipwrecked for Christ’s sake, Paul never wavered, famously declaring, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). He crowned his apostolic mission with martyrdom in Rome, offering his life in union with Christ’s own sacrificial love.
Short Prayer
O glorious St. Paul, whose conversion lights our path,
teach us to preach the Gospel with courage,
to value the treasure of faith above all else,
and to bear every hardship for the love of Christ.
Pray that we, too, may live by grace and die in hope of resurrection. Amen.
| Novena Begins: | January 16 |
| Feast Day: | January 25 |
Patron Saint of Gentile Christians, Missions, Theologians
Day 1 – St. Paul Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Paul, after persecuting the Church you became, by God’s grace, Her most zealous Apostle. To carry the knowledge of Jesus, our Divine Savior, to the uttermost parts of the earth, you joyfully endured prison, scourgings, stonings, and a shipwreck, as well as all manner of persecutions, culminating in the shedding of the last drop of your blood for Our Lord Jesus Christ. Obtain for us the grace to labor strenuously to bring the Faith to others and to accept any trials and tribulations that may come our way.
(Mention your request here…)
Help us to be inspired by your Epistles and to partake of your indomitable love for Jesus, so that after we have finished our course we may join you in praising Him in Heaven for all eternity.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 2 – St. Paul Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Paul, after persecuting the Church you became, by God’s grace, Her most zealous Apostle. To carry the knowledge of Jesus, our Divine Savior, to the uttermost parts of the earth, you joyfully endured prison, scourgings, stonings, and a shipwreck, as well as all manner of persecutions, culminating in the shedding of the last drop of your blood for Our Lord Jesus Christ. Obtain for us the grace to labor strenuously to bring the Faith to others and to accept any trials and tribulations that may come our way.
(Mention your request here…)
Help us to be inspired by your Epistles and to partake of your indomitable love for Jesus, so that after we have finished our course we may join you in praising Him in Heaven for all eternity.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 3 – St. Paul Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Paul, after persecuting the Church you became, by God’s grace, Her most zealous Apostle. To carry the knowledge of Jesus, our Divine Savior, to the uttermost parts of the earth, you joyfully endured prison, scourgings, stonings, and a shipwreck, as well as all manner of persecutions, culminating in the shedding of the last drop of your blood for Our Lord Jesus Christ. Obtain for us the grace to labor strenuously to bring the Faith to others and to accept any trials and tribulations that may come our way.
(Mention your request here…)
Help us to be inspired by your Epistles and to partake of your indomitable love for Jesus, so that after we have finished our course we may join you in praising Him in Heaven for all eternity.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 4 – St. Paul Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Paul, after persecuting the Church you became, by God’s grace, Her most zealous Apostle. To carry the knowledge of Jesus, our Divine Savior, to the uttermost parts of the earth, you joyfully endured prison, scourgings, stonings, and a shipwreck, as well as all manner of persecutions, culminating in the shedding of the last drop of your blood for Our Lord Jesus Christ. Obtain for us the grace to labor strenuously to bring the Faith to others and to accept any trials and tribulations that may come our way.
(Mention your request here…)
Help us to be inspired by your Epistles and to partake of your indomitable love for Jesus, so that after we have finished our course we may join you in praising Him in Heaven for all eternity.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 5 – St. Paul Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Paul, after persecuting the Church you became, by God’s grace, Her most zealous Apostle. To carry the knowledge of Jesus, our Divine Savior, to the uttermost parts of the earth, you joyfully endured prison, scourgings, stonings, and a shipwreck, as well as all manner of persecutions, culminating in the shedding of the last drop of your blood for Our Lord Jesus Christ. Obtain for us the grace to labor strenuously to bring the Faith to others and to accept any trials and tribulations that may come our way.
(Mention your request here…)
Help us to be inspired by your Epistles and to partake of your indomitable love for Jesus, so that after we have finished our course we may join you in praising Him in Heaven for all eternity.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 6 – St. Paul Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Paul, after persecuting the Church you became, by God’s grace, Her most zealous Apostle. To carry the knowledge of Jesus, our Divine Savior, to the uttermost parts of the earth, you joyfully endured prison, scourgings, stonings, and a shipwreck, as well as all manner of persecutions, culminating in the shedding of the last drop of your blood for Our Lord Jesus Christ. Obtain for us the grace to labor strenuously to bring the Faith to others and to accept any trials and tribulations that may come our way.
(Mention your request here…)
Help us to be inspired by your Epistles and to partake of your indomitable love for Jesus, so that after we have finished our course we may join you in praising Him in Heaven for all eternity.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 7 – St. Paul Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Paul, after persecuting the Church you became, by God’s grace, Her most zealous Apostle. To carry the knowledge of Jesus, our Divine Savior, to the uttermost parts of the earth, you joyfully endured prison, scourgings, stonings, and a shipwreck, as well as all manner of persecutions, culminating in the shedding of the last drop of your blood for Our Lord Jesus Christ. Obtain for us the grace to labor strenuously to bring the Faith to others and to accept any trials and tribulations that may come our way.
(Mention your request here…)
Help us to be inspired by your Epistles and to partake of your indomitable love for Jesus, so that after we have finished our course we may join you in praising Him in Heaven for all eternity.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 8 – St. Paul Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Paul, after persecuting the Church you became, by God’s grace, Her most zealous Apostle. To carry the knowledge of Jesus, our Divine Savior, to the uttermost parts of the earth, you joyfully endured prison, scourgings, stonings, and a shipwreck, as well as all manner of persecutions, culminating in the shedding of the last drop of your blood for Our Lord Jesus Christ. Obtain for us the grace to labor strenuously to bring the Faith to others and to accept any trials and tribulations that may come our way.
(Mention your request here…)
Help us to be inspired by your Epistles and to partake of your indomitable love for Jesus, so that after we have finished our course we may join you in praising Him in Heaven for all eternity.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 9 – St. Paul Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Paul, after persecuting the Church you became, by God’s grace, Her most zealous Apostle. To carry the knowledge of Jesus, our Divine Savior, to the uttermost parts of the earth, you joyfully endured prison, scourgings, stonings, and a shipwreck, as well as all manner of persecutions, culminating in the shedding of the last drop of your blood for Our Lord Jesus Christ. Obtain for us the grace to labor strenuously to bring the Faith to others and to accept any trials and tribulations that may come our way.
(Mention your request here…)
Help us to be inspired by your Epistles and to partake of your indomitable love for Jesus, so that after we have finished our course we may join you in praising Him in Heaven for all eternity.
Amen
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
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