ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE

This suncather window is centered on St. Paul. St. Paul is the second most prolific contributor to the New Testament (after Luke, whose two books amount to nearly a third of the New Testament). Thirteen letters are attributed to him. The letters are written in Koine Greek. The Pauline epistles contain the earliest systematic account of Christian doctrine, and provide information on the life of the infant Church. They are arguably the oldest part of the New Testament. Paul also appears in the pages of the Acts of the Apostles, attributed to Luke, so that it is possible to compare the account of his life in the Acts with his own account in his various letters. His letters are largely written to the churches, which he had founded or visited. He brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ, first to Jews and then to Gentiles. His letters are full of expositions of what Christians should believe and how they should live. He provides the first written account of the relationship of the Christian to the Risen Christ — what it is to be a Christian — and thus of Christian spirituality.

St Paul let himself be so transformed into his Lord and savior by the Holy Spirit that he was able to say, “ I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.” (GAL 2:20). St Paul became a living icon of Jesus and so became a true example of Christ to all people - able to bring Jesus to many in his lifetime and beyond through his intercession and writings.

In this suncather window just above St. Paul is the Holy Spirit who transformed Paul and inspired him in all his words, deeds and writings. Surrounding the Holy Spirit in the outer edge of the window are seven winged shapes that represent the seven spirits of God that surround His throne in Heaven as related in the book of Revelations. On the outer edge of the window are twenty small aqua blue circles that represent the twenty mysteries of the rosary, which is a contemplative prayer on the life of Jesus while on earth and his glory now in heaven. In between the rosary beads are eighteen yellow- orange-red diamond like shapes that symbolize the angels assigned to protect and inspire St Paul during his ministry. Below the central icon of Paul is the Sacred Heart of Jesus that symbolizes his human- divine love and to which St Paul’s heart was transformed. To the left of the Sacred Heart is the glorious Cross of Christ of which Paul spoke and wrote about so much that he summarized all his preaching with these words: “ I preach Christ and Him crucified”. To the left is a scroll of the Holy Scriptures, which St. Paul lived and breathed to the point that he was used by the Holy Spirit to write some of the word of God himself.