Bishop(355-432)
His life
+ Paulinus was born in Bordeaux, France.
+ He was serving as a successful government official with a wife and son, he became attracted to the Christian Faith. After his baptism, he provided for his family and left his old life behind to live with a community of monks at Nola in 393.
+ Paulinus was later made bishop of Nola and he promoted devotion to the martyr Saint Felix (who died in Nola).
+ Dedicated to providing hospitality to the pilgrims who visited Saint Felix’s shrine, Paulinus was committed to responding to the pastoral needs of his people in the best way he could.
+ Saint Paulinus of Nola died on June 22, 432, and was honored as a saint immediately after his death.
Spiritual bonus
Today the Church also celebrates Saint John Fisher and Saint Thomas More. Fisher, a gifted scholar and a cardinal, and More, a husband, father, and chancellor of England, were martyred for their refusal to acknowledge King Henry VIII as supreme head of the Church in England. Beheaded in 1535, the two men were canonized together in 1935 and Saint Thomas More is honored as the patron saint of lawyers and politicians.
For reflection
“Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”—Luke 12:33-34
Prayer
O God, who made the Bishop Saint Paulinus of Nola
outstanding for love of poverty and for pastoral care,
graciously grant that, as we celebrate his merits,
we may imitate the example of his charity.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal)
And today we celebrate...