ST. PAUL'S CHARACTERISTIC GIFT
Introductory Note. This discourse on St. Paul, delivered in Dublin, 1857, forms one of the Sermons on Various Occasions. Paul—that godlike man who longed to be anathema from Christ if thereby he could serve the brethren—was Newman's saint by predilection; and allusions to his character and mission are frequent in the Cardinal's writings.
As these selections for study began with Saul, they may well finish with a sketch of the greater Saul—the Apostle of the Gentiles.
251: 17. Theological virtues. Faith, hope, and charity; so-called because God is their direct object and motive.
252: 19. Heavenly Bread. The Holy Eucharist. "I am the living bread which came down from heaven." St. John vi. 51. "And the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." St. John vi. 52.
254: 9. Conversion of St. Paul. Commemorated January 25.
256: 12. Heathen poet. Terence. There is much philanthropy in these latter times,—even to altruism,—but less of charity, which loves the neighbor for God's sake.
257: 5. St. Philip Neri. Lived in the sixteenth century. Founder of the Oratorians, a congregation devoted to preaching and works of charity. Newman introduced the Oratorians into England.
259: 28. Lycaonians. People of south central part of Asia Minor; evangelized by St. Paul.
262: 26. Stephen. The first Christian martyr; stoned to death by the Jews, outside the walls of Jerusalem.
263: 6. (a) Josias. (b) Mathathias. (c) Machabeus. (a) King of Juda, seventh century B.C. A great warrior and defender of the Jewish religion. (b) "Gift of God." Lived in the second century B.C. and fought bravely in defense of Juda during the bloody persecutions of Antiochus. He appointed Judas Machabeus, the most famous of his five sons, to succeed him in the struggle, (c) "The Hammer." Judas gained glorious victories over the Idumeans, Ammonites, and other heathen tribes, and the Bible immortalizes his character as that of one of the greatest of the sons of Juda. "He made Jacob glad with his works and his memory is blessed forever."
The books of the Machabees are the history of the final struggles of the Jews against their Syrian and Persian foes.
265: 2. Ecumenical Doctor. A teacher of the universal Church.
265: 31. And now my time is out. This conclusion exhibits once more the felicity of diction, the delicate rhythm of structure, the simple grace, the direct force—above all, the unconsciousness, almost disdain of producing literary effect, that everywhere characterize Newman's writings, whatever be the subject.
267: 4. Reverend Prelate. Paul Cardinal Cullen, primate of Ireland in 1850.
Transcriber's Note.
There were a few minor printers' errors which have been amended. For example, ascendency is now ascendancy, rebrobate is now reprobate and offically is now officially.
In the original book the line numbers ran from 1 to 30 on each page. In the Notes, the first figure represents the page number and the second number represents the line number. For example, in the third note:
13: 7. Manna. Miraculous food supplied to the Jews, wandering in the desert of Sin, after their exodus from Egypt. The taste of manna was that of flour mixed with honey.
the 13 refers to the page number and the 7 refers to the line number on that page.
Links to the end notes have been made to the nearest line number, for the convenience of the reader.