Saint Paschal Baylon
Saint Paschal Baylon Saint Paschal offered his entire life to Jesus in the Eucharist. He spent most of his time before the Blessed Sacrament. He was known as the Saint of the Blessed Sacrament. After his return from France, he spent the rest of his life in this simple way, adoring Our Lord Jesus in the Eucharist. His superiors knew he could do more for the movement in the Chapel, than in working among the brothers. While they wanted the other Franciscans in the community to have the gift of experiencing him, as the Lord had allowed the Protestants in France to, the Lord also wanted to experience him, and He came first. So a compromise had to be struck. Brother Paschal would spend his time for the most part in the chapel. The brothers could find him any time they wanted, when he was off-duty from his various chores. Saint Paschal would be in the chapel in his famous pose, kneeling straight up with his arms above his head, in reverent adoration of his God. He became a great role model for the Franciscans in that community. Paschal Baylon was born on Pentecost Sunday; he died on Pentecost Sunday 1592, at the Franciscan friary at Villareal. Saint Paschal was fifty two years old. As a special gift to Paschal, he was allowed to close his eyes for the last time just as the bell rang out the Lord’s Presence during the Consecration of the Mass. He had just intoned the name of Jesus. An avalanche of miracles began to occur almost immediately after he died. So many miracles were confirmed that the ecclesiastical authorities spared no time opening the cause for his Beatification and Canonization. He was officially beatified in 1618, twenty years after his death. This is unheard of, for anyone to be beatified so quickly. Even Saint Thérèse of Lisieux took twenty-five years for her Beatification. Of course, she was canonized two years later, whereas Saint Paschal Baylon was canonized in 1690. But still, that was a great honor paid to our little Spanish brother who never became a priest, and is still the patron saint of Eucharistic Congresses. He has been powerfully honored by his Church. 
Saint Paschal Baylon book - dvd New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
