Double Major of the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul


Missa "Scio cui crédidi"

White Vestments


       Since the 8th century the feast of the conversion of St. Paul has been set apart by the Church to return thanks to almighty God for His act of grace in bringing the future apostle to the Faith. After the miracle of Christ's Resurrection no other wonder in the history of the early Church is a stronger proof of the divine origin of Christianity than the marvelous conversion of St. Paul. Just as there was a commemoration of St. Paul on the Feast of St. Peter's Chair at Rome last week, there is a commemoration today of St. Peter at the Collect, Secret and Postcommunion.

      We want to thank the Friends of Our Lady of Fatima for expediting these resources of the Propers. Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945 Bio: Catholic Encyclopedia 1913 edition. Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945


There are commemorations for Saint Paul the Apostle at the Collect, Secret and Postcommunion.
Historical Feast of Saint Volusian, Bishop who died in 496
No commemoration for the Historical Feast Saints



Abbe Dom Prosper Gueranger's reflections for the conclusion of Church Unity Octave on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul


    On this final day of the Church Unity Octave the venerable Abbot Dom Prosper Gueranger prays: 'Glorious Vessel of election! pray for the conversion of sinners who have forgotten their God. When on this earth, thou didst spend theyself for the salvation of souls; continue thy ministry, now that thou art 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...Raise up in the Church, apostolic men, who may continue thy work.'

    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 laborer? 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 (Gal. ii: 8), is sent specially, as was Christ Himself, to the sheep that are lost of the house of Israel (St. Matt. 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 xvi: 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 St. 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, shall have seen Peter (Gal. i: 18), and compared his Gospel with that recognized by Peter (Gal. i: 1 and frequently elsewhere), he can say, in all truth, that he is an Apostle of Christ Jesus (Galatians), and that he has done nothing less than the great Apostles (2 Cor. 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 there is heard the Almighty voice which breaketh the cedars of Libanus (Ps. 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 upon his deathbed he unfolded to each of his sons the future of the tribe of which he was to be the father. Juda was to have the precedence of honor; from his royal race was to be born the Redeemer, the Expected of nations. Benjamin’s turn came; his glory is not be compared with that of his brother, Juda, 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 shall eat the prey, and in the evening shall divide the spoil (Gen. 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 St. 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 worshipers 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, in swaddling-clothes, He lies Who is the Hope of Israel. He would have the Gentile Princes, the Magi, do Him homage—and bids a star to arise in the heavens, whose mysterious apparition, joined to the interior speaking of the Holy Ghost, induces these men of desire to come from the 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 now, not I, but Christ liveth in me (Gal. 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 St. Stephen; for St. Paul is the Protomartyr’s convert. The anniversary of his martyrdom would, of course, have to be solemnized 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; St. Peter with his Keys, and St. 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.

The above taken from pages 401-04, Volume 3, The Liturgical Year, Christmas, Book II


Missa "Scio cui crédidi"

Go to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS MASS OF THE CATECHUMENS

INTROIT:   Psalm 36: 30-31
      Scio cui crédidi et certus sum, quia potens est depósitum meum serváre in illum diem, justus judex. (Ps. 138: 1, 2) Dómine, probásti me, et cognovísti me: tu cognovísti sessiónem meam. Et resurrectiónem meam. V. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
      Repeat Scio cui crédidi...
      I know whom I have believed and I am certain that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him, against that day; being a just judge. (Ps. 138: 1, 2) Lord, Thou hast proved me and known me: Thou hast known my sitting down, and my rising up. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
      Repeat I know whom I have believed...
      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE MASS OF THE CATECHUMENS
      COLLECT
      Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

      Oremus. Deus, qui univérsum mundum beáti Pauli Apóstoli prædicatióne docuísti: da nobis, quæsumus; ut, qui ejus hódie Conversiónem cólimus, per ejus ad te exémpla gradiámur..Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.

      Commemoration of St. Peter
      Oremus. Deus, qui beáto Petro Apóstolo tuo, collátis clávibus regni coeléstis, ligándi atque solvéndi pontifícium tradidísti: concéde; ut, intercessiónis ejus auxílio, a peccatórum nostrórum néxibus liberémur: Qui vivis et regnas, cum Deo Patre in unitáte Spíritu Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.
      The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

      Let us pray. God, Who hast taught the whole world by the preaching of blessed Paul, Thy apostle, we beseech Thee, grant us, who this day celebrate his conversion, that we may advance toward Thee by following his example.Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God,
      world without end.
      R.Amen.

      Commemoration of St. Peter
      Let us pray. God, Who, committing to blessed Peter, Thine apostle, the keys of the heavenly kingdom, didst bestow on him the pontifical function of binding and loosing, grant that, by the help of his intercession, we may be delivered from the bonds of our sins. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God,
      world without end.
      R.Amen.

      EPISTLE:   Acts 9: 1-22
      Léctio Actuum Apostolórum. In diébus illis: Saulus adhuc spirans minárum, et coedis in discípulos Dómlni, accéssit ad príncipem sacerdótum, et pétiit ab eo epístolas in Damáscum ad synagógas: ui si quos invenísset hujus viæ viros, ac mulíeres, vinetos perdúceret in Jerúsalem. Et cum iter fáceret, cóntigit, ut appropinquáret Damásco: et súbito circumfúlsit eum lux de coelo. Et cadens in terram, audívit vocem dicéntem sibi: Saule, Saule, quid me perséqueris? Qui dixit: Quis es, Dómine? Et ille: Ego sum Jesus, quem tu perséqueris: durum est tibi contra stímulum calcitráre. Et tremens, ac stupens, dixit: Dómine, quid me vis fácere? Et Dóminus ad eum: Surge, et ingrédere civitátem, et ibi dicétur tibi quid te opórteat fácere. Viri autem illi, qui comitabántur cum eo, stabant stupefácti, audiéntes quidem vocem, néminem autem vidéntes. Surréxit autem Saulus de terra, apertísque óculis nihil vidébat. Ad manus autem illum trahéntes, introduxérunt Damascum. Et erat ibi tribus didéus non videns, et non manducávit, neque bibit. Erat autem quidem discípulus Damásci, nómine Ananías: et dixit ad illum in visu Dóminus: Ananía. At ille ait: Ecce ego, Dómine. Et Dóminus ad eum: Surge, et vade in virum, qui vocátur Rectus: et quære in domo Judæ Saulum nómine Tarsénsem: ecce enim orat. (Et vidit virum, Ananíam nómine, introëúntem, et imponéntem sibi manus, ut visum recípiat.) Respóndit autem Ananías: Dómine, audivi a multis de viro hoc, quanta mala fécerit sanctus tuis in Jerúsalem: et hic habet potestátem a princípibus sacerdótum alligándi omnes, qui invócant nomen tuum. Dixit autem ad eum Dóminus: Vade, quóniam vas electiónis est mihi iste, ut portet nomen meum coram géntibus, et régibus, et fíllis Israël. Ego enim osténdam illi, quanta opórteat eum pro nómine meo pati. Et ábiit Ananías, et introívit in domum: et impónens ei manus dixit: Saule frater, Dóminus misit me Jesus, qui appáruit tibi in via, qua veniébas, ut videas, et ímpleáris Spíritu Sancto. Et conféstim cecidérunt ab óculis ejus tamquam squamæ, et visum recépit: et surgens baptizátus est. Et cum accepísset cibum, confortátus est. Fuit autem cum discípulis, qui erant Damásci, per dies áliquot. Et contínuo in synagógis prædicábat Jesum, quóniam hic est Fílius Dei. Stupébant autem omnes, qui audiébant, et dicébant: Nonne hic est, qui expugnábat In Jerúsalem eos, qui invocábant nomen istud: et huc ad hoc venit, ut vinctos illos dúceret ad príncipes sacerdótum? Saulus autem multo magis convalescébat, et confundébat Judæos, qui habitábant Damásci, affírmans quóniam hic est Christus.
      Deo Gratias.
      Lesson from the Acts of the Apostles. In those days, Saul, as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues; that if he found any men and women of this way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus: and suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him. And falling on the ground he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? Who said, Who art Thou, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus of Nazareth, Whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad. And he trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? And the Lord said to him, Arise, and go into the city, and there it shall be told thee what thou must do. Now the men who went in company with him stood amazed, hearing indeed a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. But they leading him by the hand, brought him to Damascus. And he was there three days without sight; and he did neither eat nor drink. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold I am here, Lord. And the Lord said to him, Arise and go into the street that is called Strait, and seek in the house of Judas one named Saul of Tarsus; for behold he prayeth. (And he saw a man, named Ananias, coming in, and putting his hands upon him, that he might recover his sight.) But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints in Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that invoke Thy name. And the Lord said to him, Go thy way; for this man is to Me a vessel of election, to carry My name before the gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house, and laying his hands upon him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, He that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and rising up he was baptized. And when he had taken meat, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples that were at Damascus for some days. And immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that He !s the Son of God. And all that heard him were astonished, and said, Is not this he who persecuted in Jerusalem those who called upon this name: and came hither for that intent, that he might carry them bound to the chief priest? But Saul increased much more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, affirming that this is the Christ.
      Thanks be to God.

      GRADUAL:   Galatian 2: 8-9


      Qui operátus est Petro in apostolátum, operátus est et mihi inter gentes: et cognovérunt grátiam Del, quæ data est mihi. V. Grátia Dei in me vacua non fuit: sed grátia ejus semper in me manet.

      He who wrought in Peter to the apostleship, wrought in me, also among the gentiles, and they knew the grace of God which was given to me. V. The grace of God in me hath not been void; but His grace always remaineth in me.

      TRACT:  Psalm 111: 1-3
      Tu es vas electiónts, sancte Paule Apóstole: vere digne es glorificándus. V. Prædicátor veritátis, et doctor géntium in fide et veritáte. V. Per te omnes gentes cognovérunt gratiam Dei. V. Intercéde pro nobis ad Deum, qui te elégit.
      Thou art a vessel of election, O holy apostle Paul: truly worthy art thou to be glorified. V. Preacher of the truth and teacher of the gentiles in faith and truth. V. By thee have all nations known the grace of God. V. Intercede for us with God, Who chose thee.

      GOSPEL:   Matthew 19: 27-29
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum.
      R.Gloria tibi, Domine

      In illo témpore: Dixit Petrus ad Jesum: Ecce nos relíquimus ómnia, et secúti sumus te: quid ergo erit nobis? Jesus autem dixit illis: "Amen dico vobis, quod vos, qui secúti estis me, in regeneratióne, cum séderit Fílius hóminis in sede majestátis suæ, sedébitis et vos super sedes duódecim, judicántes duódecim tribus Israël. Et omnis, qui relíquerit domum, vel fratres, aut soróres, aut patrem, aut matrem, aut uxórem, aut fílios, aut agros, propter nomen meum, céntuplum accípiet, et vitam ætérnam possidébit."
      Laus tibi Christe.

      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.
      The continuation of the holy Gospel according to Matthew. R. Glory to Thee, O Lord

      At that time, Peter said to Jesus, Behold we have left all things and have followed Thee: what therefore shall we have? And Jesus said to them, "Amen I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting."
      Praise be to Christ

      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE CREDO
      OFFERTORY:    Psalm 138: 17
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

      Mihi autem nimis honoráti sunt amíci tui, Deus: nimis confortátus est principátus eórum.
      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.

      But to me Thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honorable: their principality is exceedingly strengthened.
      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE OFFERTORY
      SECRET
      Apóstoli tui Pauli précibus, Dómine, plebis tuæ dona sanctífica: ut, quæ tibi tuo grata sunt institúto, gratióra fiant patrocínio supplicántis. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.

      Commemoration of St. Peter
      Ecclésiæ tuæ, guæsumus, Dómine, preces et hóstias beáti Petri Apóstoli comméndet orátio: ut, quod pro illíus glória celebrámus, nobis prosit ad véniam. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filius tuus Dominus noster, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.
      Through the prayer of Paul, Thy apostle, sanctify, O Lord, the offerings of Thy people, that what is pleasing to Thee by Thine own ordinance, may become more pleasing by the favor of his supplication. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
      Forever and ever.
      R.Amen.

      Commemoration of St. Peter
      We beseech Thee, O Lord, that the prayer of the blessed apostle Peter may commend the sacrifices and supplications of Thy Church, so that the celebration we hold for his glory may profit for our pardon. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
      Forever and ever.
      R.Amen.

      PREFACE OF THE APOSTLES
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Sursum corda.
      R.Habemus ad Dominum.
      Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
      R. Dignum et justum est.

      Vere dignum et justum est, æqum et salutáre, Te Dómine supplicíter exoráre, ut gregem tuum pastor ætérne, non déseras: sed per beátos Apóstolos tuos contínua protectióne custódias. Ut iísdem rectóribus gubernétur, quos óperis tui vicários eídem contulísti præésse pastóres. Et ídeo cum Angelis et Archángelis, cum Thronis et Dóminatiónibus, cumque omni milítia coeléstis exércitus, hymnum glóriæ tuæ cánimus sine fine dicéntes:
      SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS...
      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.
      Lift up your hearts.
      R.We have lifted them up to the Lord.
      Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
      R. It is meet and just.

      It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, to entreat Thee humbly, O Lord, that Thou wouldst not desert Thy flock, O everlasting Shepherd; but, through Thy blessed apostles, wouldst keep it under Thy constant protection; that it may be governed by those same rulers, whom as vicars of Thy work, Thou didst set over it to be its pastors. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dóminations and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:
      HOLY, HOLY, HOLY...

      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE CANON OF THE MASS
      COMMUNION:    Matthew 19: 28-29
      Amen dico vobis: quod vos, qui reliquístis ómnia, et secúti estis me, céntuplum accipiétis, et vltam ætérnam possidébitis.
      Amen I say to you, that you who have left all things, and followed Me, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.

      POSTCOMMUNION
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Oremus.
      Sanctificàti, Dómine, salutári mystério: quæsumus; ut nobis ejus non desit orátio, cujus nos donásti patrocínio gubernári. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum. Qui vivis et regnas in cum Deo Patri in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, unum Deum.
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.

      Commemoration of St. Peter
      Oremus. Lætíficet nos, Dómine, munus oblátum: ut, sicut in Apóstolo tuo Petro te mirábilem prædicámus sic per illum tuæ sumámus indulgéntiæ largitátem. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum. Qui vivis et regnas in cum Deo Patri in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, unum Deum.
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.
      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.
      Let us pray.
      Sanctified by this saving mystery, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that he, under whose patronage Thou hast vouchsafed to place us, may not fail to intercede for us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
      For ever and ever.
      R. Amen.

      Commemoration of St. Peter
      Let us pray. Let the gift we offer bring us joy, O Lord, that, as we declare Thee wonderful in Thine apostle Peter, so through him we may share the generosity of Thy forgiveness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
      For ever and ever.
      R. Amen.
      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS CONCLUSION OF THE HOLY MASS




      Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul