6th Week of Easter 2026 - Monday - Witnessing with patience, humility, and hope

 There is an old insight from classical philosophy, found in Aristotle and developed by St. Thomas Aquinas, that every human action is done “sub ratione boni” — “under the appearance of the good.”

We make moral choices because they appear to be good for us. We eat breakfast because it appears good, we come to church, we follow the commandments because they appear good to us.

Aquinas would say that sin often works this way. Even sin, in the moment of sin, appears good. The thief steals because it appears to be a good way to pay his bills. The addict returns to his addiction because it appears to give him relief. In sin, we fixate on a partial or apparent good, but in a disordered way. Sin chooses a lesser good against a greater good, or an apparent good against the true good.

That helps us understand the frightening words of Jesus in today’s Gospel:

“The hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.”

Jesus here explains how individuals can become so deluded, their reasoning so disordered, that they think persecuting the Church is the right thing to do.

St. Paul knew this from experience. Before his conversion, he persecuted the Church. He thought he was serving God by stoning Christians to death. So many martyrs died at the hands of people, not who loved evil for evils sake, but thought they were doing the right thing—just like we do when we sin.

But this is why the Church must give witness to the truth. Because the Christian never gives up hope for conversion. The persecutor Saul became the Apostle Paul. The enemy of the Church became one of her greatest saints.

So we witness, not with hatred. Not with bitterness against those who persecute us. But with patience and hope, and humility, knowing how easy it is for people to become deluded—after all we’ve been deluded ourselves at times.

"When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify.”

We must not lose hope when the world becomes deluded and full of hatred toward the good. The Lord essentially promised that it would. But even deluded hate-filled souls can be saved.

So may the Spirit grant us rightly formed minds and hearts, but also hearts filled with patience, humility and hope, that we may witness, as we have been told we must, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - 

Knowing that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, who guides the Church and strengthens us to bear witness to Christ, let us offer our prayers to God with confidence.

For the Church: that she may always bear faithful witness to the truth of Christ with courage, humility, patience, and hope. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.

For all who govern nations and shape public life: that they may not be deceived by false goods, but may seek truth, justice, peace, and the dignity of every human person. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who persecute the Church, oppose the Gospel, or are blinded by hatred and confusion: that the Spirit of Truth may enlighten their minds, soften their hearts, and lead them to conversion. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.

For those caught in sin, addiction, falsehood, or discouragement: that they may recognize the true good, find freedom in Christ, and receive the grace to walk in the light. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.

For the sick, the poor, the suffering, and all who feel afflicted or abandoned: that God’s mercy may strengthen them and that Christian witness may bring them consolation and hope. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.

For the faithful departed: that, purified of every darkness and falsehood, they may behold God face to face in the fullness of truth and life. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.

Father of Truth, hear the prayers of your people. Send forth your Holy Spirit to form our minds, purify our hearts, and make us faithful witnesses to your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever and ever.

27th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Tuesday - The turn toward Christ

 For almost the rest of the liturgical year, save for the week or so before Advent begins, the first readings for weekday Mass will be taken from the letters of Saint Paul.  We started his letter to the Galatians yesterday.  In two weeks we will read his letter to the Ephesians.  We’ll have a few days of his letter to the Philippians in November, followed by his letter to Titus and then Philemon.  

To call the letters of Saint Paul “foundational to our Christian faith” is an understatement.  They shape our understanding of who Jesus is; they shape our liturgical prayers, they give us insight into the life of the early Church before the Gospels were even written.  

In today’s reading, Saint Paul gives us a little biographical information.  He says, “You heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.”  We are reminded that this great missionary once put Christians to death—he considered himself an enemy of the Church. But on the road to Damascus, in the middle of his fury, all that changed.  The Risen Christ appeared to Paul, Jesus spoke a word to his heart and let a ray of his divine light into the darkness of Paul’s mind.  “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”.  

From then on, Paul became an ambassador of God’s saving grace, a light of hope and mercy for sinners of all nations and races, a faithful messenger of God’s unconditional goodness.  He goes from being an extreme persecutor of the faith, to an extreme evangelist.  

As we read from the Pauline Epistles over the next few weeks, we do well to consider how God calls us to open our hearts more deeply to his divine Word and to his service.

In the Gospel we hear about another type of conversion—Martha is called away from something good to something better. The Lord points out that there is something more important than her domestic busyness. Martha’s focus on worldly matters have kept her from the deeper sharing in the Lord’s presence.

Both Paul and Martha challenge us to consider what we must turn away from in order to turn more deeply to the Lord. Our own preconceptions, our own habits, our prejudices can keep us from the fullness of life that God wants for each of us. 

May we allow the Word of God to shape us, form us, and lead us more deeply into the life of Christ for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - -  

That hearing the call to conversion preached by the Church, all men may turn away from their sins to the mercy of Christ.

That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

That our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For all whose lives are marked by suffering, may they come to know the healing and peace of Christ, especially victims of the hurricanes and flooding, and victims of war. 

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

January 25 2023 - Conversion of St. Paul - "A reversal of perspective"

This morning I came across a Catechesis on St. Paul given by Pope Benedict XVI back in 2008, in which he called Paul’s conversion, “a reversal of perspective”. What an interesting way to think of a conversion: “a reversal of perspective.”

Initially, remember, Paul persecuted Christians; he denounced the belief that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, who had risen from dead, to be a myth, a lie so heinous that it should be punishable by death. He didn’t just shake his head at the foolish Christians for believing some silly idea; he rounded them up and ordered stones to be pelted at their bodies until they died.

He had a deeply rooted passion, that not only he made public, but his identity became driven by the idea Christianity needed to be eradicated, they very idea of Christ’s divinity needed to be erased, by all means. He was invested, with fanatical fervor. And humans do not give up our passions easily.

I doubt any of us here have experienced any “reversal of perspective” so dramatic. But it happened. By God’s grace, God’s goodness, Paul’s perspective was reversed. 

By the merits of Christ’s suffering, and the suffering graciously endured by Christ’s Body the Church, likely through the merits of Paul’s victims, like St. Stephen, who prayed that Paul might be forgiven, Paul’s perspective was changed so dramatically that he came to consider all as loss, all as refuse “compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Knowing how we humans become so invested in our perspectives, this was truly a miracle.

Moreso, the energy that Paul had poured into persecuting Christ became redirected, so much so, that he wished himself damned if he did not spend his life preaching Christ’s Gospel. 

Today’s feast offers such tremendous hope, that if Paul, whose heart was set against Christ like none other could experience conversion, than those to whom we are to share the Gospel cannot be beyond the reach of God. Our witness, our sufferings, like those of St. Stephen can contribute to the conversion of the most hardened soul.

And, yet, perhaps we too, have energies that need to be redirected, endeavors and perspectives that need to be reversed, so that Christ may be known more deeply, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - -  

That our bishops may be graced with Saint Paul’s zeal in preaching and teaching the Word of God. Let us pray to the Lord.

That our parish may build up missionary disciples equipped for the spreading of the Gospel. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the conversion of all hardened sinners and all persecutors of the faith and those in error, that the Lord may touch their hearts and remove the blindness from their eyes. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have suffered as a result of violence or abuse, all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. Let us pray to the Lord.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

January 26 2022 - Conversion of St. Paul - Deliverance from Self-Delusion

 Today we celebrate one of the most important events in the history of the world: the conversion of Paul of Tarsus. Accepting Christ changed his life and it marked a watershed moment in the Church history. Paul, the student of the Jewish Pharisee Gamaliel, had spent years seeking to silence the Gospel, stoning Christians to death. To Paul, the Gospel was heresy, it was a perversion of truth, it was an erosion of right religion, leading souls away from the covenant with God.

In a sense, Paul’s conversion was not so much a conversion for an immoral life to a moral life. He was a zealous follower of the Mosaic Law. He wasn’t a greedy cutthroat, or a lecherous carouser.  His mission was to stomp out a heretical sect that was dividing Judaism and blasphemously claiming that a carpenter from Nazareth not only was the Messiah, but the Son of God.

But Christ broke through Paul’s errors. We are not saved by our external conformity to the prescriptions of the Mosaic Law. Rather, we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. His conversion came when he experienced the resurrection. The resurrected Christ victorious over the grave appeared to him. The truth of the resurrection pierced through his hardness of heart and self-delusion. Paul’s conversion in a sense, was from a false notion of a holy life, to a true notion backed by the fact of the resurrection. 

Why do we believe what we believe? Because Christ has risen. He is risen, and therefore his teachings and promises can be believed. Ressurexit, sicut dixit. He has risen, just as he said he would, therefore, what else has he said, that needs to be believed? All of it.

Like Paul prior to his conversion, there are many people who believe they are living a good life. They believe they stand for justice and goodness. But we are not saved by good intentions. For good intentions, can lead to justification of murder, as it did for Paul. 

Rather, a good life is not simply based on opinion. It can’t be based on something as fickle and prone to error as that. A good life, eternal life, is obtained not by human reasoning or even human effort. The best human effort can do is build a tower to the heavens, like in the story of Babel. But the after effects of Babel are confusion and division, two of our culture’s defining attributes.

Rather, heaven is reached through the risen one. Eternal life is obtained through the Eternal Son of God who came down from heaven, taking on human flesh, who died and rose. He is the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him. And we are called to so much more than division, confusion, and self-delusion.

This is why Paul, following his conversion, spent the rest of his life, even to the point of death, witnessing to Christ. “Woe to me, if I do not preach Christ”, all else is rubbish, Paul says. And it’s true. 

Sometimes, I think the modern Church has forgotten what is most central in our mission—Preaching Christ crucified and risen from the dead and the conversion of life that necessitates from that truth.

May this feast of the great conversion of Paul, bring about great conversion in our world and in ourselves to Christ risen from the grave, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - -  

That our bishops may be graced with Saint Paul’s zeal in preaching and teaching the Word of God. Let us pray to the Lord.

That our parish may build up missionary disciples equipped for the spreading of the Gospel. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the conversion of all hardened sinners and all persecutors of the faith and those in error, that the Lord may touch their hearts and remove the blindness from their eyes. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have suffered as a result of violence or abuse, all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. Let us pray to the Lord.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

23rd Week in Ordinary Time 2021 (First School Mass) - Abundant Graces through Christ

Happy New School Year everybody. For our new students, I am Father Estabrook, the pastor of St. Ignatius. I’ve been pastor here since December of 2018. This may be the first time some of you have been inside the church building. So, I’d like to say a word about this magnificent edifice. 

In the early 1900s, Catholics who lived downtown were moving out of the city out to this area, which was a cornfield at the time. Looking northward from this property, you could see all the way to Lake Erie. In 1902 there were just about 250 Catholic families in this neighborhood. And so they planned and built a school and a church building, along Lorain ave. Over the next 20 years, that number of Catholics grew and grew and grew that they needed to build a new school building, the boulevard building, and they started construction on this building, modeling its architecture after some of the beautiful basilicas of Rome.

They wanted a church building that inspired people, that helped them to remember that they were connected to the Church in Rome, and were they could gather with their families week after week to worship God. They poured their love of God into building this place, and it still stands 100 years later. Everyone that contributed to the building of this place is dead, though their great great great grandchildren are still in this neighborhood. But they built this place to last, to endure the changing of times and seasons, in order to have a timeless place, where you could feel and kneel down in the presence of God.

In the first reading we hear two names, Paul and Timothy. Paul tells the story how he came to believe that Jesus was the Son of God who died for our sins. He didn’t initially believe this. In fact, he was a persecutor of Christians. He hated Christians. But he had a change of heart and change of believe when Jesus appeared to him, and since then, he’s been trying to spread belief in Jesus and build up the church. 

And he is writing to Timothy today because Timothy was the new bishop and pastor of a community of Christians, much like St. Ignatius. Paul wants Timothy to trust in the abundant graces that comes from following, believing in, and loving Jesus. When Christians are faithful to Jesus, when they work together, when they root out sins from their lives, when the make Jesus the most important part of their life, they can do amazing things. They can build churches like this, they can work miracles, they can endure with amazing strength all of life’s difficulties. And most importantly they will be granted life after death and live forever with God.

Paul wants Timothy to help his community truly believe this, truly live out the Christian faith, much as my bishop, Bishop Ed Malesic has sent me, here to this parish, to do the same, to help the Catholics of this place to be faithful, and to help others come to make Jesus the most important person in their lives.

That’s my prayer for all of you as we begin this school year, and that’s my prayer for you always, that you, like St. Paul, and so many Catholics throughout the centuries, may know the abundant graces that comes through faith in Christ, that you may come to do amazing things through him, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

January 25 2021 - Conversion of St. Paul - The Humility to Change

 Often we think of conversion as going from a wicked life to a good life, a sinful life to a righteous life.  Many saints did experience that type of conversion: St. Augustine converted from a life of debauchery, theft, violence, and vandalism, to a life of holiness.  Before their conversion to Christ St. Matthew the Apostle was an extortionist, St. Camillus de Lellis was a Con Man, St. Columba started a war, St. Christopher was said to have worshipped the devil, and even St. Francis of Assisi speaks of a youth wasted in sinful behavior.

St. Paul’s conversion initially looks this way.  He did after all go from a life of persecuting and killing Christians to a life of promoting Christianity and making new Christians. Yet, from his youth St. Paul sought after holiness through rigorous adhesion to the Mosaic law. And so, he devoted himself to persecuting and killing Christians because this is what he believed the law demanded.  After all, the early Christians were a Jewish sect who claimed that Jesus was the long awaited for Divine Messiah. To Paul, like to the scribes and Pharisees who condemned the Lord to death for his claim of Divinity, the Christian claim was blasphemous and deserving of death.

But on the road to Damascus, in the middle of his fury, all that changed.  The Risen Christ appeared to Paul, and shone a ray of his divine light into the darkness of Paul’s mind.  “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”. 

The Lord revealed to Paul that He wasn’t simply a dead criminal who started some heretical sect.  He was risen. He was alive.  What the Church actually said about Jesus was true. And to persecute the would mean to deny and persecute Him.

At that moment, though, Paul still had a choice—to kneel before the Lord would mean to turn from his former way of life, he would have to call brother and those whom he persecuted and risk the same hostility of the jewish authorities that had impelled him. 

Paul had to admit that he was wrong about who Jesus really is and what holiness actually consists of. Paul exhibited the humility that is required of every Christian, the willingness to turn away from all that is not of Christ in order to pursue Him more faithfully.  To leave behind even house, family, lands, and possessions, if it means coming to possess the truth, the pearl of great price, the gift of salvation through Christ.

May the example and heavenly intercession of St. Paul, help us to practice the humility, courage, and fortitude necessary to experience the conversion and holiness the Lord desires for each one of us, that we may be every more faithful to the Lord’s great commission  to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature,” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - -  

That our bishops may be graced with Saint Paul’s zeal in preaching and teaching the Word of God. Let us pray to the Lord.

That our parish may build up missionary disciples equipped for the sharing of the Gospel. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the conversion of all hardened sinners and all persecutors of the faith, that the Lord may touch their hearts and remove the blindness from their eyes. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have suffered as a result of violence or abuse, all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. Let us pray to the Lord.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

 

25th Week in OT 2020 - Psychology of mental change & Evangelization

 Last week, I spoke a bit about the sin of rash judgment, how it is very easy for us to form judgments about people without the necessary facts, and to dismiss them or discredit them due to that rash judgment. The Pharisees, I mentioned, discredited Jesus—he couldn’t possibly be a prophet or teacher—because he ate sinners, his disciples appeared to break the sabbath. There are very few people in the Gospels, for example, who initially dismissed Jesus and then changed their minds about him. The only person who comes to mind is Paul, and he only changes his mind when he is struck down on the road to Damascus and the Resurrected Lord appears to him personally.

Changing our minds after a rash judgment is terribly difficult--admitting we were wrong about something or someone is difficult. For something happens in our brains when we decide something is true. Our brains give us a little psychological reward, when we decide that something is true. Our brain really likes being right about things. And it’s psychologically difficult to reverse a judgment—you literally need to change the structure of your brain—and the brain resists that. In fact, the brain will look for more and more proof to support its original judgment than to reverse it.

Where am I going with this? In the first reading, the book of proverbs differentiates between the wicked man and the righteous man. And remarkably proverbs here says something about the psychology of the wicked,  “All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes, but it is the LORD who proves hearts.” What proverbs is saying here, is that it is quite possible for a person to believe they are right about everything, and still be wrong about everything. They might think they know the best way to fix a car, and still be wrong. They might think they know the best way to raise children, and still be wrong. They might think they know all about God or the Church and still be wrong. They might think they know the right way to live, and still be wrong.

And it is difficult to convert people like this. People who are convinced they are right about everything, are often wrong about so much. Again, the Pharisees, they thought they were the religious authorities, that their interpretation of Scripture was superior and authentic. And yet, the Lord exposes their blind spots, “you blind guides” he calls them, “you fools”. They thought they were the experts on God, but did not recognize God when he was standing in front of them performing miracles. 

Rather, the Christian, must always be open to correction by the Word of God. To be a disciple is to always be learning from Jesus—learning how we are to not only be hearers of the word, but doers of the word. 

But when we are doers of the word, we are able to reach those souls who have hardened their hearts toward Jesus and the Church. 

We strive be to show them Jesus—like Paul seeing the Lord on the road to Damascus—in our words and our deeds, not just as hearers of the word, but doers of the word, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -  

That the members of the Church may seek to be not just hearers of the word but doers of the word Let us pray to the Lord.

For the conversion of those who have hardened their hearts toward Jesus and his bride the Church, and for the conversion of all hearts.

During this month of September, dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, we pray for all those who grieve, and that we may grieve sufficiently for our sins.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the 

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

Jan 25 2019 - Conversion of St. Paul - Famous Catholic Converts

 The Calendar of Saints is filled with saints converts: early converts from Judaism, like the apostles, st. mary magdalene or modern day st. edith stein, converts from roman paganism like st. Catherine of Alexandria and our own St. Ignatius of Antioch, converts from strange cults like St. Augustine, converts from African tribal religions like St. Charles Lwanga, converts from Protestantism like St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and soon to be canonized Blessed John Henry Newman. An internet search can yield really interesting lists of famous Catholic converts like actors John Wayne and Sir Alec Guinness, poets Oscar Wilde and Gerard Manley Hopkins, politicians, social activists, soldiers and scientists, artists and musicians, devil worshipers and Atheist Marxists.

So deeply convinced that Christianity was an unholy corruption of his Jewish faith, that in the name of God Paul was putting Christians to death. And today’s feast, the conversion of St. Paul, is so powerful. It is a reminder that God can bring about the conversion of hearts deeply hardened against Christ. If God can bring about the conversion of someone who was murdering Christians, he can bring about the conversion of the non-believers in our families, the corrupt politicians, the flakey Hollywood actors and actresses, the abortion activists, the fake news journalists, and the ordinary folk you see at the supermarket and doctor’s office.

Every convert and every great saint came to the truth through the witness of ordinary Christians like you and me--Christians faithful to the Gospel, willing to undergo persecution for the sake of the name, willing to broach the uncomfortable topic of religious with them and share the truth of the saving Word of God with them.

Pope Paul VI said that “the Church exists to evangelize”. That is our main purpose—to spread Christianity, as Our Lord commands in the Gospel for this feast, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”  May we, like the great Convert St. Paul, be God’s instruments today and always in praying and working for conversion, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
- - - - - -

That our bishops may be graced with Saint Paul’s zeal in preaching and teaching the Word of God. We pray to the Lord.

That our parish may build up missionary disciples who will go and proclaim the Gospel. We pray to the Lord.

For the conversion of all hardened sinners and all persecutors of the faith, that the Lord may touch their hearts and remove the blindness from their eyes. We pray to the Lord.

For all who have suffered as a result of violence or abuse, all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. We pray to the Lord.

For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. We pray to the Lord.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

January 25 2018 - Conversion of St. Paul - Praying for your persecutors

The Apostles were simply obeying Christ’s command to “proclaim the Gospel to every creature” yet, for the well-educated, Saul of Tarsus, that doctrine was blasphemous. So Saul put all his intelligence, willpower, and connections at the service of wiping out this new religion, even to the point of having Christian men and women put to death. It’s impossible to imagine a greater enemy of Jesus Christ and his Church in the early part of the first Christian century.

But on the road to Damascus, in the middle of his fury, all that changed.  The Risen Christ appeared to Paul: Jesus spoke a word to his heart and let a ray of his divine light into the darkness of Paul’s mind.  “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” And from then on, things were different.  From then on, Paul became an ambassador of God’s saving grace, a light of hope and mercy for the sinners of all nations and races, a faithful messenger of the invitation to repent and believe in the Gospel. From then on, all of Paul’s natural and God-given gifts were put to use in building up Christ’s everlasting Kingdom.

This is the power of God’s grace; this is the power of the Gospel; it really can transform lives, even the most unlikely ones.

How did Saul’s conversion come about? Early in Acts, we read that as he was being put to death, St. Stephen prayed for his persecutor.

St. Stephen prayed for Paul as he was being stoned to death. No doubt, other Christians whom Saul persecuted prayed for him. The early Christians took the teaching of our Lord seriously: “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Many once persecutors of the Church have turned from hostility to serving the Gospel. And so too we ought to pray for sinners every day: for the pro-choice politicians and the intellectual elites who think they are the saviors of humanity, for the teenagers who think its hip or edgy to parrot back the anti-Catholic sentiments of our culture.  They may think Christianity is just a list of inconvenient rules; they may be at a stage in their life where they are turning to secular gurus, self-help techniques, esoteric pseudo-religions, or worse things.  But like Saul, they all long for Christ, and our job is to bring Christ to them, and to pray for their conversion. For the Lord wants them, and whatever passion, intellect, creativity, and drive is within them, the Lord wants for the building up of the Church.

May the prayers of St. Paul help us to always be at work for the building up of the kingdom and the conversion of sinners, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -
 
That our bishops may be graced with Saint Paul’s zeal in teaching the Word of God. We pray to the Lord.

That our parish may build up missionary disciples who will go and proclaim the Gospel. We pray to the Lord.

For the conversion of all hardened sinners and all persecutors of the faith, that the Lord may touch their hearts and remove the blindness from their eyes. We pray to the Lord.

For all who have suffered as a result of violence or abuse, all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. We pray to the Lord.

For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. We pray to the Lord.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord