The conversion of St. Paul is one of the most important moments in the history of the Church. Until he arrived on the scene, the focus of the Church’s ministry had been for the Jewish people. Paul will change all of that. Paul’s conversion also became a model for future generations of Christians.
   
Paul began life as Saul of Tarsus. He was a Pharisee and was a fierce anti-Christian. He believed that Christianity was a perversion of the Jewish religion and was, as such, a sacrilege and a blasphemy. He was determined to stamp it out completely. He launched a campaign to have Christians arrested and even put to death. He was travelling to Damascus to enforce letters of arrest there when his great conversion took place.
   
Travelling along, there was a great light that surrounded Saul, and he fell to the ground and was blind. He heard a voice say, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  “Who are you?” Saul responded. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Jesus instructed Paul to go into Damascus where he would meet a man named Ananias, who would help him. When Paul regained his sight, the local community reluctantly accepted him and began his education in the life and teachings of Jesus.
   
It was through Paul that the Gentiles would become the new focus of the ministry of the Church. Paul would come to be known as the Apostle to the Gentiles. He would also be known as the Apostle of Grace, as his theology was based on God’s mercy, for he had been met by Christ when he was trying to destroy the new religion and did not deserve God’s favor.

Friday, Jan. 26, is the Feast of Sts. Timothy and Titus.  Each of them was a young man who was converted to the faith by St. Paul. He worked with them for a few years and made them each a bishop of a particular community. Each was also a recipient of some letters from St. Paul, as he wrote to them giving guidance in dealing with various problems. Because of their relationship with St. Paul, their feast day is the day after the feast of his conversion.