We have already seen how the Gentiles in the person of the Three Magi offered their mystic gifts to the Divine Child of Bethlehem, and received from Him, in return, the precious gifts of faith, hope and charity. The harvest is ripe. It is time for the reaper to come. But who is to be God’s labourer? The Apostles of Christ are still living under the very shadow of mount Sion. All of them have received the mission to preach the gospel of salvation to the uttermost parts of the world, but not one among them has, as yet, received the special character of Apostle of the Gentiles. Peter, who had received the Apostleship of Circumcision (Galatians ii. 8) is sent specially, as was Christ Himself, to the sheep that are lost of the house of Israel (Matthew xv. 24). And yet, as he is the Head and the Foundation, it belongs to Him to open the door of Faith to the Gentiles (Acts xiv. 26), which he solemnly does by conferring Baptism on Cornelius, the Roman centurion. But the Church is to have one more Apostle — an Apostle for the Gentiles — and he is to be the fruit of the martyrdom and prayer of Saint Stephen. Saul, a citizen of Tarsus, has not seen Christ in the flesh and yet Christ alone can make an Apostle. It is then, from Heaven, where He reigns impassible and glorified, that Jesus will call Saul to be His disciple just as, during the period of His active life, He called the fishermen of Genesareth to follow Him and hearken to His teachings. The Son of God will raise Saul up to the Third Heaven, and there will reveal to him all His mysteries: and when Saul, having come down again to this Earth, will have seen Peter (Galatians i. 18) and compared his Gospel with that recognised by Peter (Galatians ii. 2) — he can say, in all truth, that he is an Apostle of Christ Jesus (Galatians i. 1) and that he has done nothing less than the great Apostles (2 Corinthians xi. 5).
It is on this glorious day of the Conversion of Saul, who is soon to change his name into Paul, that this great work is commenced. It is on this day that is heard the Almighty voice which breaks the cedars of Libanus (Psalm xxviii. 5) and can make a persecuting Jew become first a Christian, and then an Apostle. This admirable transformation had been prophesied by Jacob when, on his death-bed, he unfolded to each of his sons the future of the tribe of which he was to be the father. Judah was to have the precedence of honour. From his royal race was to be born the Redeemer, the Expected of nations. Benjamin’s turn came. His glory is not to be compared with that of his brother Judah, and yet it was to be very great — for, from his tribe is to be born Paul, the Apostle of the Gentile nations.
These are the words of the dying Prophet: Benjamin, a ravenous wolf, in the morning will eat the prey, and in the evening will divide the spoil (Genesis xlix. 27). Who, says an ancient writer, “is he that in the morning of impetuous youth goes like a wolf in pursuit of the sheep of Christ, breathing threats and slaughter against them? Is it not Saul on the road to Damascus, the bearer and doer of the high priest’s orders, and stained with the blood of Stephen whom he has stoned by the hands of all those over whose garments he kept watch? And he, who, in the evening, not only does not despoil, but with a charitable and peaceful hand, breaks to the hungry the bread of life — is it not Paul, of the tribe of Benjamin, the Apostle of Christ, burning with zeal for his brethren, making himself all to all, and wishing even to be an anathema for their sakes?
Oh the power of our dear Jesus! how wonderful! How irresistible! He wishes that the first worshippers at His crib should be humble Shepherds — and He invites them by His Angels, whose sweet hymn was enough to lead these simple-hearted men to the stable where lies, in swaddling-clothes, He who is the hope of Israel. He would have the Gentile Princes, the Magi, do him homage — and bids to arise in the Heavens a star whose mysterious apparition, joined to the interior speaking of the Holy Ghost, induces these men of desire to come from the far East and lay, at the feet of a humble babe, their riches and their hearts. When the time is come for forming the Apostolic College, He approaches the banks of the sea of Tiberias, and with this single word “Follow me,” He draws after Him such as He wishes to have as His Disciples. In the midst of all the humiliations of His Passion, He has but to look at the unfaithful Peter, and Peter is a penitent. Today, it is from Heaven that He evinces His power: all the mysteries of our redemption have been accomplished, and He wishes to show mankind that He is the sole author and master of the Apostolate, and that His alliance with the Gentiles is now perfect: He speaks. The sound of His reproach bursts like thunder over the head of this hot Pharisee who is bent on annihilating the Church. He takes this heart of the Jew and by His grace, turns it into the heart of the Apostle, the Vessel of election, the Paul who is afterwards to say of himself: “I live not I, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians ii. 20).
The commemoration of this great event was to be a Feast in the Church, and it had a right to be kept as near as might be to the one which celebrates the martyrdom of Saint Stephen, for Paul is the Proto-martyr’s convert. The anniversary of his martyrdom would, of course, have to be solemnised at the summer solstice. Where, then, place the Feast of his Conversion if not near Christmas, and thus our own Apostle would be at Jesus’ crib and Stephen’s side? Moreover, the Magi could claim him as being the conqueror of that Gentile-world, of which they were the first-fruits.
And lastly, it was necessary, in order to give the court of our Infant-King its full beauty that the two Princes of the Church — the Apostle of the Jews and the Apostle of the Gentiles —should stand close to the mystic crib: Peter, with his Keys, and Paul, with his Sword. Bethlehem thus becomes the perfect figure of the Church, and the riches of this season of the Cycle are abundant beyond measure.
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We give you thanks, O Jesus, who has this day prostrated your enemy by your power and raised him up again by your mercy. Truly are you the Mighty God, and your victories will be praised by all creatures. How wonderful are you in your plans for the world’s salvation! You make men your associates in the work of the preaching of your word and in the dispensing of your Mysteries, and in order to make Paul worthy of such an honour you use all the resources of your grace. It pleased you to make an Apostle of Stephen’s murderer so that your sovereign power might be shown to the world, your love of souls be evinced in its richest gratuitous generosity, and grace abound where sin had so abounded. Sweet Saviour! Often visit us with this grace which converts the heart, for we desire to have the life of grace abundantly, and we feel that its very principle is often in danger within us. Convert us, as you did your Apostle, and after having converted us, assist us: for, without you, we can do nothing. Go before us, follow us, stand by our side. Never leave us, but as you have given us the commencement, secure to us our perseverance to the end. Give us that Christian wisdom which will teach us how to acknowledge, with tear and love, that mysterious gift of grace which no creature can merit and to which, nevertheless, a creature’s will may put an obstacle. We are captives: you alone are master of the instrument with which we can break our chains. You put it into our hands, bidding us make use of it so that our deliverance is your work, not ours — but our captivity, if it continues, can only be attributed to our negligence and sloth. Give us, O Lord, this your grace, and graciously receive the promise we now make, that we will render it fruitful by co-operating with it.
Assist us, holy Apostle of Jesus, to correspond with the merciful designs of God in our regard. Obtain of Him, for us, that we may be overcome by the sweetness of an Infant-God. His voice does not make itself heard. He does not blind us by the glare of His divine light. But this we know — He often complains that we persecute Him! Oh that we could have the courage to say to Him, with a heart honest like yours: “Lord! what will you that we do?” He would answer and tell us to be simple, and to become little children, like Himself — to recognise now, after so many Christmases of indifference, the love He shows us in this mystery of Bethlehem — to declare war against sin — to resist our evil inclinations — and to advance in virtue, by walking in His divine footsteps. You have said in one of your Epistles: “If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema!” (1 Corinthians xvi. 22)
Oh teach us to know this dear Jesus more and more that so we may grow in His love, and by your prayers preserve us from that ingratitude which turns even the sweet Mysteries of this holy season into our own greater condemnation. Glorious Vessel of election, pray for the conversion of sinners who have forgotten their God. When on this Earth you spent yourself for the salvation of souls. Continue your ministry now that you are reigning in Heaven and draw down upon them that persecute Jesus the graces which triumph over the hardest hearts. Apostle of the Gentiles, look with an eye of loving pity on so many nations that are still sitting in the shadow of death. During your mortal life, you were divided between two ardent desires — one, to be with Christ, the other, to remain longer on Earth labouring for the salvation of immortal souls: now that you are united forever with the Jesus you preached to men, forget not the poor ones to whom their God is a stranger. Raise up in the Church apostolic men who may continue your work. Pray to our Lord that He bless their labours and the blood of such among them as are Martyrs of zeal. Shield, with your protection, the See of Peter, your Brother-Apostle and your Leader. Support the authority of the Church of Rome which has inherited your power and looks on you as her second defence. May your powerful intercession lead her enemies into humble submission, destroy schisms and heresies and fill her Pastors with your spirit, that, like you, they may seek, not themselves, but solely and in all things the interests of our Lord Jesus Christ.Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At Damascus, the birthday of St. Ananias, who baptised Saint Paul. After he had preached the Gospel at Damascus, Eleutheropolis and elsewhere, he was scourged under the judge Licinius, had his flesh torn, and lastly being overwhelmed with stones, ended his martyrdom.
At Antioch, in the time of Julian the Apostate, the holy martyrs Juventinus and Maximus, who were crowned with martyrdom. On their birthday, St. John Chrysostom preached a sermon to his people.
At Clermont in Auvergne, the Saints Projectus, bishop, and Marinus, a man of God, who were murdered by the leading men of that city.
Also the holy martyrs Donatus, Sabinus and Agape.
At Tomis in Scythia, St. Bretannion, bishop, who by his great sanctity and his zeal for the Catholic faith shone in the Church, under the Arian emperor Valens, who he opposed with fortitude.
At Arras in France, St. Poppo, abbot, renowned for miracles.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
