My dear children, you are welcome to St. Paul's Sr. Sec. School, Kota. Do you know who St. Paul was? Let me brief you on your patron- St. Paul. He was a Jew called Saul. He was a great Jewish scholar. He knew all the rules and regulations of the Jewish religion. He lived at a time when christianity was a young religion and rap-idly growing. Saul,.a young man of the day, saw to it, that, he had authority from his religious head to persecute and kill people who were accepting Christ's teaching and becoming his followers. One day as he was going to Damascus to persecute and kill Christians, he was struck off his horse and he fell; he saw a dazzling light from heaven which blinded him and he.heard this voice "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?,,And Saul asked him "who are you Lord!" "l am Jesus whom you are persecut-ing" said Jesus.

That was the experience that changed Saul completely and Saul became a new per-son. From Saul he became Paul. Once he experienced Jesus, he accepted him as his God and master. He became a staunch believer and preacher putting his own life in danger. He taught about Christ and his values, which are eternal and universal. He has written a lot about these values in the New Testament of the Bible called Letters of St. Paul.

Let us see in short what our St. Paul was. He was wise, clever, and his writings in-spire all. He helps you in your studies, if you humbly ask for his help. He was an athlete. He knew much about boxing and running. So ask and he will help you do well in your sporting activities. He was very brave in facing his enemies. He spoke the truth, he did what was really good and that eventually cost him his life. So, St. Paul gives you an opportunity to decide, whether to do right or wrong. Ask St. Paul to help you stand for truth no matter what it costs you. He was good and holy and helped many to be good and holy - ask him, he will help you too.

He gives a lot of good advice. one such beautiful piece of advice is on love. He tells us about it in this way. "l may be able to speak the languages of men and even of an-gels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or clanging bell. I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all faith needed to move mountains - but if I have no love, I am nothing. I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burnt - but if I have no love, this does me no good. Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and it's faith, hope, and patience never fail. Love is eter-nal."

So ask St. Paul to help you love others & love dearly.

REV. FR. MARTIN ANTO
(Principal)