Conversion of St Paul

This last week, perhaps because of jet-lag, I've slept a lot, and prayed little (hence my grumpiness?): the Office has been neglected, I'm sorry to say.

That said, I am continuing to use my small Dominican Diurnal: it presents some very interesting prayers and antiphons and so forth, being of Roman form but perhaps a tad more florid than the austerities of the Roman Breviary.

Take to-day at Lauds, for instance: Holy Church keeps a festival day in honour of the conversion of the Apostle of the Gentiles, and the Black Friars heed her call - here is the Benedictus anthem:

Celebremus Conversionem sancti Pauli Apostoli, quia hodie ex persecutore effectus est vas electionis: ideo gaudent Angeli, lætantur Archangeli et collaudant in cælis Filium Dei.

Let us celebrate the Conversion of St Paul the Apostle, for to-day from a persecutor he was made a vessel of election: therefore the Angels joy, the Archangels rejoice and together praise in the heavens the Son of God.

(This text is obviously based on the festal Introit originally for St Agnes, I think, that later was adapted for many Masses.)

The psalm antiphons are also different to the Roman ones.  Another little difference: unlike in the Roman books, the Dominicans have not the rule that every time there is a collect for St Paul, a collect for St Peter must be added (and vice versa), so there is only one collect for to-day.

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Here is the Anglican Collect for the Conversion of St Paul, based upon the Latin, but amplified and watered down in the end - so that instead of simply per ejus ad te exempla gradiamur (by his example may we mount up unto thee), which echoes his bold words, "Be ye imitators of me, as I am of Christ" (see how Protestant fears of seeming to encourage the veneration of saints here entails straying from Scripture), the BCP prayer states that "by following the holy doctrine which he taught" may our thankfulness be expressed (a much weaker sentiment than that of the original!):

O God, who, through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Saint Paul, hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we beseech thee, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may shew forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same, by following the holy doctrine which he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Chrysostom on St Paul

From the Divine Office for the 25th of January, quoting from St John Chrysostom's 2nd Homily on St Paul:

"It was Saint Paul more than anyone else who showed what man is and how great is the nobility of our nature, as well as what capacity for virtue this human animal has. Every day he advanced in stature, every day he fought ith ever-renewed keenness against the dangers threatening him; he showed this when he said: 'I forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead.' ... It was not simply that he looked for more, he looked for much more."

I recall that the Barnabites, or Clerks Regular of St Paul, were established by St Anthony Mary Zaccaria and others to emulate and imitate the manners and virtues of this great Apostle.

I heard the voice of...

I felt pretty tired and headache-y when I got up yesterday morning; couldn't drag myself further than the kitchen, so I sat there, eyes closed, sore-headed, feeling sorry for myself. I did have the benefit, tho', of hearing my housemates singing Lauds in our chapel (you could say we are fairly Catholic!), and it was really wonderful, especially since the tones for the psalmody were so melodious. Somehow, the awful noise each man thinks he's making (speaking only for myself: I can't sing immediately upon awaking) becomes a fine strong sound when heard from a slight remove. So I did pray Lauds yesterday shortly after 6am, despite not making a sound: because that's what participatio actuosa truly is, really partaking of the liturgical act of Christ and His Church, by uniting one's heart and all else to what's going on to the extent possible, raising one's mind to God - De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine.


After the others finished singing the Tota pulchra - we add something Marian after Lauds - they came in, and one found for me some panadol, after taking which I went back to bed for the morning, till I felt better. Thanks, guys!


In the evening, it was time to head out and attend Low Mass for the feast of the Conversion of St Paul, after making a quick confession beforehand: the last few days have been difficult. The Pro. was not so much like an oven as like a sauna - it was warm but not humid outside, but inside the sweat ran through my hair. At least, when I joined the others for Friday Night Catechism in the parish centre, the air-conditioning was on!


My laptop has been fixed, thanks be, but the Internet connexion at home is playing up (Murphy's Law in action). At least I could watch a DVD before turning in for the night.