The Year of Saint Paul

1
The Year of Saint Paul

• June 2008 through June 2009

2
Why a Year of Saint Paul?

• On June 29, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI announced
  that June 2008 through June 2009 would be The
  Year of Saint Paul
• The year will be devoted to discovering Saint
  Paul
• The year will be one of reaching out to all
  Christians who hold Saint Paul as a model

3
Who is Saint Paul?

• Saint Paul was born in Tarsus (now Turkey)
• He was born between 5 and 10 A.D. and died
  between 64 and 67 A.D.
• He was a tentmaker by trade

4
St. Pauls Early Life

• Saint Paul was born into a Jewish family.
• His name was Saul.
• His family were Roman citizens.
• His Roman name was Paul, but he used Saul as a
  child and a young man.
• Saul was sent to Jerusalem and there he was
  studied under Gameliel the Elder, a respected
  teacher of the Law.

5
Saul Persecuted the Christians

• Saul was a member of the Pharisee party.
• The Pharisees wanted to preserve their Jewish
  faith. They saw the Christians as a threat.
• Saul was present at the stoning of the first
  martyr, Stephen.

6
Saul Grew Stronger in his Hate

• After the martyrdom of Stephen, Saul went to the
  chief priest in Jerusalem to ask for permission
  to go to Damascus and bring back the Christians
  in chains.
• Saul set out with some companions on the Road to
  Damascus, but something happened along the way

7
The Road to Damascus

• While on the road to Damascus, Saul was blinded
  by a great light and he tumbled from his horse.
• He heard, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?
• Saul answered, Who are you?

8
The Conversion of Saul

• The voice replied, I am Jesus whom you are
  persecuting.
• Jesus told Saul to go into Damascus to the street
  called Straight.
• He would meet a man named Ananias who would pray
  with him and teach him about Jesus.

9
Saint Pauls Letters

• Saint Paul founded many communities of Christians
• As he moved about on his journeys, he wrote to
  various communities and individuals to encourage
  them and sometimes to correct them.
• He wrote many letters and thirteen of them are
  found in the Bible.

10
St. Pauls First Missionary Journey
11
St. Pauls Second Journey
12
St. Pauls Third Missionary Journey
13
The Letters of Saint Paul

• To the Romans
• To the Corinthians (2 letters)
• To the Galatians
• To the Ephesians
• To the Philippians
• To the Colossians
• To the Thessalonians (2 letters)
• To Timothy (2 letters)
• To Titus
• To Philemon

14
St. Pauls Sufferings

• Paul was arrested many times.
• He survived a stoning.
• On his final journey to Rome, he experienced a
  shipwreck.
• Finally, after a long imprisonment in Rome, he
  was beheaded.

15
St. Pauls Final Journey
16
Prayer to Saint Paul

• Great convert and Apostle of the Gentiles,
• you became Christlike and knew only Christ
  Crucified.
• Though extremely learned, you relied completely
• on the Wisdom received from the Spirit
• and taught from the abundance of your heart.
• Instruct modern evangelists
• those who preach Christ to others.
• Let them realize that their actions
• speak louder than any words they may use.
• Teach them to use their talents
• in conveying their God-given message
• but to rely above all
• on the promptings of the Spirit.
• Amen.

17
Photo and Map Credits

• Apostle Pauls Missionary Journeys. 17 July
  2008
• http//www.biblestudy.org/maps/pauls-first-journey
  -map.html
• http//www.biblestudy.org/maps/pauls-secd-journey-
  map.html
• http//www.biblestudy.org/maps/pauls-third-journey
  -map.html
• http//www.biblestudy.org/maps/paul-to-rome-map.ht
  ml
• Dina. The Street Called Straight, Damascus.
  Syrian Speakers Corner Blogspot. 12 Aug. 2005. 7
  Aug. 2008 http//syrianspeakerscorner.blogspot.co
  m/2005/08/street-called-straight-damascus.html
• Jones, Terry H. Saint Paul the Apostle.
  Patron Saints Index. 2003.
• 6 Aug. 2008 http//saints.sqpn.com/saintp12.htm
• Jones, Terry H. Saint Stephen the Martyr.
  Patron Saints Index. 2003.
• 6 Aug. 2008 http//saints.sqpn.com/saint04.htm