Apostles Window: St. Paul

St. Paul:  "Blessed be God the 
Father of Mercies" (II Corinthians 1:3)

The fourth window from the left, paired with St. Peter in terms of color (a red background), presents St. Paul.  Although not one of the original twelve, St. Paul considered himself an apostle because he also saw Jesus in person on the road to Damascus, and he was commissioned by Jesus to preach to the Gentiles.  

Many of his letters begin, "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ..." (I Cor. 1:1), and he defines his "calling" in Galations 1:15-16: "But when it pleased God...to reveal his Son to me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles."  

The Lord similarly defines his calling in Acts 9:15:  "For he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel."

In the image medallion, Paul carries a sword, the symbol of his martyrdom:  he was beheaded in Rome by order of Nero, sometime between AD 64-68.  

According to legend, his head bounced three times, and a fountain sprang up each place the head touched.  The Church of St. Paul at the Three Fountains was built at the site of his martyrdom in the 5th century; today the three fountains are capped because of pollution, but are still visible.

Therefore, Paul also carries a book (which reminds us of his many letters in the Bible) with the three fountains depicted on its cover.

St. Paul has two celebrations in the Church calendar: 

 (1) The Conversion of St. Paul, celebrated January 25 

(2) The Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles, celebrated June 29

Prayer (from the Lutheran Book of Worship):

Lord God, through the preaching of your apostle Paul, you established one Church from among the nations.  ... [W]e pray that we may follow his example and be witnesses to the truth in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.