St. Paul Day

Every January 25, the Catholic Church celebrates the miracle of the conversion of St. Paul, Apostle of the Lord, whom we also call "Apostle to the Gentiles" or "Apostle to the nations"; not without reason, since he played a decisive role in the formation of the Church of Jesus Christ, alongside St. Peter.

Paul, of Jewish origin, had become a fierce persecutor of Christians. His zeal for the preservation of the Jewish Law had transformed him into an enemy of anyone who proclaimed himself a disciple of the Lord. For him, Jesus had been an impostor, someone who proclaimed himself to be the Son of God and Messiah without being so.

But when he was on his way to Damascus, God intervened by making him fall off the horse he was riding, thus beginning one of the most beautiful stories of conversion and subsequent surrender in existence.

For example, Ayerbe, Spain celebrates its winter feast in honor of San Pablo (Saint Paul). Bonfires, pilgrimages, and disco enliven the feast in honor of the patron saint.