--- title: St. Paul's story is not unique, but he was description: Pam Spano reflects on St. Paul's dramatic conversion and what it can teach us about the way God works in our lives. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Saint_Paul_Rembrandt-F.jpg --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/01/24/st-pauls-story-is-not-unique-but-he-was/#) # St. Paul's story is not unique, but he was Jan 24, 2019 1:30:28 PM  |  by [Pam Spano](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/pam-spano) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Saint_Paul_Rembrandt-F.jpg) [!["St. Paul's story is unique" by Pam Spano (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/St-Paul.png)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/St-Paul.png) Image created in Canva by Pam Spano. Image credits: [St. Paul](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_the_Apostle#/media/File:Bartolomeo_Montagna_-_Saint_Paul_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg) and [St. Catherine of Siena](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_of_Siena#/media/File:Giovanni_Battista_Tiepolo_096.jpg), both Public Domain.[/caption] On January 25, we celebrate the conversion of St. Paul. St. Paul's story is not unique, but he was. Conversion stories fascinate me. I love that Jesus comes to us in our own uniqueness. Saul sought permission from the synagogues to bring Christians back to Jerusalem ... in chains! He wanted to imprison those who belonged to "The Way." Jesus came to Saul in a violent way by knocking him down and blinding him. Drastic measures to get someone's attention, don't you think? [!["St. Paul's story is unique" by Pam Spano (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1-Conversion_on_the_Way_to_Damascus-Caravaggio_c.1600-1.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1-Conversion_on_the_Way_to_Damascus-Caravaggio_c.1600-1.jpg) By [Caravaggio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Caravaggio) - scan, Public Domain, [Link](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15219516)[/caption] Jesus then used Ananias to lay hands on Saul to regain Saul's sight. I find it interesting that Jesus didn't heal Saul himself, but used another. Perhaps Jesus was already showing Saul what community was? The process of Paul's conversion was as violent as Paul's own "murderous threats" towards Christians. Paul then used that drive toward preaching the very "way" he had opposed. Converts I know didn't have violent conversions. It was a process started by a person or an experience. Once that seed was planted, the conversion began to grow. I do know people who had a "let's make a deal" bargain with the Lord and it worked! The most amazing conversion I've ever witnessed was of a young man who started out wanting to be a police officer, went to RCIA, became a Catholic, and then entered the seminary and became a priest. That's not the amazing part. The amazing part is the conversion of his own mother whom he baptized at Easter while he was a deacon. St. Paul's conversion is a reminder to us that God does indeed come to us in our own uniqueness. --- *Copyright 2019 Pam Spano* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F01%2F24%2Fst-pauls-story-is-not-unique-but-he-was%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F01%2F24%2Fst-pauls-story-is-not-unique-but-he-was%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F01%2F24%2Fst-pauls-story-is-not-unique-but-he-was%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=St.%20Paul%27s%20story%20is%20not%20unique%2C%20but%20he%20was) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F01%2F24%2Fst-pauls-story-is-not-unique-but-he-was%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F01%2F24%2Fst-pauls-story-is-not-unique-but-he-was%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Pam Spano](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Pam%20Spano%202024.jpeg) ### [Pam Spano](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/pam-spano) Pam Spano converted to the Catholic faith as an adult over 30 years ago. Her conversion story started when she sarcastically said to her Catholic boyfriend at the time, "I suppose if we were to get married, you would want me to convert." He thought for a moment and said, "Well, I am worried about your soul." And so the journey began ... ## Related Blog Articles [ Saint Ananias … Saint Who?! Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/02/25/saint-ananias-saint) [ Saints Joachim and Anne: Powerful intercessors for every marriage Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/07/26/saints-joachim-and-anne-powerful-intercessors-for-every-marriage/) [ When you say Our Father, God's ear is next to your lips Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/06/20/say-father-gods-ear-next-lips) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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