THE TRUTH LIES IN THE HEART

In the words of Our Blessed Lord, 'It is not what goes into a man that makes him unclean but what come out of a man, because what comes out of a man comes from the heart.'

One saint who has had a great influence on the direction the church has taken has been Saint Paul. Saint Paul died about 30 years after Jesus was crucified. Initially he pursecuted christians and approved of the martyrdom of the church's first saint, Saint Stephen. When on a mission to persecute christians he was knocked off his horse by a bolt of lightning and heard a voice say "Paul, Paul why do you persecute me?" He was blinded for three days and realised that in persecuting christians he was persecuting Jesus. He then completely changed, became a christian and began helping the church he used to persecute.

He travelled through many countries where people were not christian and converted many to christianity. He said that people not of the faith could be saved because the law is written in the heart. He wrote a number of letters to his followers.

The following poem is about a letter he wrote to the Romans.

SAINT PAUL TO THE ROMANS
by
J. A. Fullerton

All glory and honour belongs to you my God
I praise your holy name
From all the wickedness of the world
I pray I do refrain
I thank you O Almighty one
I’m grateful for everything
I’m grateful for sending us Your Son
I really do love my King
I do not judge my fellow man
For in doing so I condemn myself
Instead I do good works
And in heaven build up my wealth
I closely adhere to God’s law
And know that where the law is not a part
Good men can be saved alike
For the law is written in their heart
My name is Paul a messenger for mankind
And I pass on this news to you
Please do love your God above
And love your neighbour too.