Paschal
was born in Terra Hermosa, Spain on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 1540 the
son of Martin Baylon and Isabel Jubera, pious day laborers. The feast of
Pentecost in Spain being called “Pasch of the Holy Ghost,” the child
was named Paschal.
From age seven to twenty-four he tended sheep,
and early on showed signs of a great passion for the Holy Eucharist.
While out at pasture, he continuously contemplated from the book of
nature, and was ever attentive to the sound of bells announcing the
elevation at Mass.
His employer so esteemed Pachal’s virtues,
that he offered to adopt him, which offer the youth gratefully declined,
preferring to remain poor that he might better follow his chosen path
to God.
At around age eighteen he applied to the Franciscan
Friars Minors who, under St. Peter of Alcantara, then living, were
undergoing a salutary reform. At first the friars put Paschal off, but
when a few years later he was finally accepted, they soon realized what a
treasure of virtue they had taken in. Though little educated, through
his prayer life Paschal had reached a high degree of spiritual wisdom,
which astounded his peers.
Again, his great spiritual
characteristic was his devotion to the Holy Eucharist before which he
spent hours on his knees, his hands clasped high in front of his face,
at times rapt in ecstasy.
Once,
when Paschal was sent on a mission through France, which was then
undergoing fierce religious convulsions due to Calvinists and Huguenots,
he bravely defended the doctrine of the Eucharistic Presence against a
Calvinist preacher, barely escaping with his life afterwards.
Paschal
died at fifty-two years of age on May 17, 1592 with the Holy Name of
Jesus on his lips, just as the Host was being elevated after the
Consecration during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
His body was
exposed for three days as multitudes gathered to venerate him and
witnessed many miracles which God deigned to perform to confirm the
sanctity of His servant. Paschal Baylon was canonized in 1690.
Monday, May 17, 2021
St. Paschal Baylon
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