Being the most prolific writer of the New Testament with over half of the books being written by him, about him, or connected with his preaching, St. Paul stands as a giant in the New Testament. Alternatively known as Saul, St. Paul began his career by persecuting Christians. One one occasion, as he was on his way to arrest more Christians, St. Paul encountered a bright light that cause him to fall off of his animal. He heard a voice say "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Bewildered, he asked, "Who are you Lord?" The voice responded, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." Following this moment, Paul's life changed. He began to zealously proclaim the message that he had once persecuted and soon became one of the greatest models of missionary evangelization that the Church has ever known. His writings have deeply formed the Church throughout her history. At the end of his life, Paul was gifted the crown of martyrdom, receiving the sentence of beheading in Rome.
This rosary is inspired by a moment in Paul's life while being transported by ship to Rome for trial. During the trip, they were caught in a terrible storm and through Paul's advice obtained through prayer, the ship wrecked not far from Malta, where they swam to safety clutching boards and wreckage. We have used cobalt blue/crystal faceted AB czech glass for the beads to represent the storm and the waves. It should remind us that we too should abandon ourselves to God, even when it seems there is no hope. The Box-Edged Crucifix is used to represent the wreckage that Paul used to swim to shore. In our greatest difficulties, we should always cling to the Cross. The Ecce Homo center is used to remind the user of Paul's conversion when Jesus declared himself saying, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." Finally, the rosary is completed with a St. Paul the Apostle medal.