St. Paschal Baylon (1540-1592 AD)
St. Paschal was a Spanish Franciscan friar and shepherd. He is best known for his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the holy Mother of God.
THE YOUNG SHEPHERD
St. Paschal was born in the small town of Torre Hermosa in Aragon (Spain). His parents were humble workers of great piety and devotion. From his earliest youth, St. Paschal showed sings of future holiness. Once when he was still a toddler, his mother lost him. She frantically searched for him, only to find him in the town church. He had crawled there all the way from his home so that he could make a visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament! As he grew older, his parents could not afford to send him to school, but desiring to learn to read he would carry a book with him into the fields as he watched the sheep (barely age 7) and begged any learned passerbys to teach him. Thus he learned to read and thereafter only read that which was advantageous to his growth in piety, most notably the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin. He also read the lives of the saints, and above all, the life of Christ.
Once he was old enough, he apprenticed himself to a shepherd and grew to greatly love this simple and solitary life. Though he was very poor, he still shared what he could of his dinner with those in need. Always he was seen reading spiritual books or practicing self-denial. He was often rapt in mystical prayer. Beneath his shepherd's cloak, he wore the rough habit of a religious. He was very honest. When his grazing sheep caused damage to a neighbor's fields, he always made sure that proper restitution was made.
He is noted for saying: "The consolation with the Holy Ghost frequently infuses into pious souls is greater than all the pleasures of the world together, could they be enjoyed by one man. It makes the heart to dissolve and melt through excess of joy, under which it is unable to contain itself."
On days when he could not assist at Holy Mass, he would remain kneeling for hours in the fields among his sheep, deep in prayer his eyes would remain riveted upon the distant church dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Sierra. Fifty years later, after his death, other shepherds who had known him, solemnly testified to having seen – on several occasions – angels bring him the Sacred Host above a chalice, so that Paschal could adore and worship the most Holy Eucharist.
A FRANCISCAN FRIAR AND MYSTIC
On account of his excellence in work, he found himself being entrusted with other cattle and soon was inspecting numerous flocks. This however brought him into contact with companions not having the same piety as his own. Though he tried to correct them charitably and gently, he found them far too addicted to their cursing, quarreling, drinking, fighting, and other vices. Thus he redoubled his prayers, austerities and fasts and discerned that God was calling him to leave the world even more completely by entering the religious life. Several confidants encouraged him to enter noble and wealthy monasteries, but he replied: "I was born poor, and I am resolved to live and die in poverty and penance."
St. Paschal searched and eventually found a poor convent of Franciscans which satisfied his desire to live in poverty. St. Francis and St. Clare had each appeared to him to let him know that God desired for him to wear the Franciscan habit. He joined the Order of Friars Minor as a lay-brother in 1564. He continued to shepherd flocks for the monastery and was known through the whole country as The Holy Shepherd. He always kept the strict rule of his order and even added greater austerities. He only had one threadbare habit and walked without sandals, even in the snow. He never allowed himself a moment's repose between Church, cloister and his duties and work. He was also known for always taking cheerfully the unwanted and menial jobs.
St. Paschal was sent to Paris to conduct important matters for the Order and had to travel through land controlled by Huguenots (militant French Calvinists). The Hugenonts had killed many other Catholics and desecrated numerous Churches and hatefully trampled upon the Sacred Species. Yet St. Paschal was not afraid to go into their midst wearing his habit. He suffered at their hands many beatings, jailings, and twice near escaped death by the hand of Divine Providence. On one occasion he received a wound so serious that he remained lame as long as he lived. St. Paschal was convinced it was his Guardian Angel that prevented his death. Moreover, on account of his intense and fervent Eucharistic devotion, he did bring many of the Hugenots back to the One True Faith.
SAINT OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
St. Paschal had a singular devotion to the Mother of God and the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar was the object of his most tender devotion. Especially towards the end of his life, he often spent the night awake at the foot of the altar or prostrate before the Blessed Sacrament with arms outstretched in cruciform. Whenever he found a spare moment, he would rush to the chapel in order to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. It was his greatest delight to serve Mass for the priests and would often beg permission to serve one Mass after another. He was often favored by God with ecstasies and raptures.
He died peacefully on Pentecost Sunday (May 17, 1592) the convent of Villa Real near Valencia, Spain at the age of 52 He breathed his last with the word “Jesus” upon his lips and at the very moment that the bells of the church announced the consecration during High Mass. His corpse lay exposed for three days during with great multitudes came to visit the holy saint and witnessed many miracles in their midst. One of the best known miracles witnessed by many took place at his Requiem Mass. When the priest reached the moment of consecration, the corpse of St. Paschal awoke and reverently adored the Blessed Sacrament one more time. This miracle was repeated at the consecration and elevation of the Precious Blood. Thus, we may rightly say that this saint so devoted to the Holy Eucharist "died" at the very moment of Transubstantiation, giving great witness to the Mystery of Faith.
Pope Paul V beatified him in 1618 and he was canonized in 1680.
This saint, so notable for his great innocence, burned with a tender and steady love for the Eucharist, a love which he manifested even in death, when, lying on his bier, he opened and closed his eyes twice at the elevation of the sacred Host, to the astonishment of all present. Even though he was never ordained a priest, Pope Leo XIII nonetheless declared and constituted him the special heavenly patron of all Eucharistic congresses and of all associations in honor of the most Holy Eucharist.
It is noteworthy that this wondrous saint who paid such reverence and adoration to the Holy Eucharist lived during the time of the Protestant Revolution. Surely, no time prior in the history of Christianity had great blasphemies and profanations been hurled against the Blessed Sacrament. How fitting in the plan of Divine Providence that St. Paschal lived at this time to offer such pure and perfect reparation to Our Lord. Surely he believed, adored, hoped and loved in atonement for those who did not. Let us imitate his example, in this our age, when even greater offenses are levied against the Blessed Sacrament and even more adorable reparation is required.
SEEKING HIS INTERCESSION
Many of you know Brother Paschal - well, this is his patron saint! So, please say a special prayer for him. Perhaps the following: "O God, who didst imbue blessed Paschal, Thy confessor, with wondrous love for the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood: vouchsafe that we, and especially Brother Paschal, may draw from this divine banquet the same spiritual riches as he received. Amen." (From today's Collect)