(1540 – 1592)
Easter: May 17th
Paschal Baylon (named after the day of his birth and death: Pentecost
Sunday
Pascha Pentekostes) was a simple, pious shepherd boy, who
later became an ardent spiritual son of St. Francis and the heavenly
patron of adorers of the Most Blessed Sacrament. He belongs to that
illustrious circle of saints, who by heroic holiness of life, refurbished
the Church's crown that had been desecrated by the heretics of the
sixteenth century. He hailed from the Spanish section of Valencia and
died at the age of 52. As he lay dead upon the bier, he opened and closed
his eyes twice when the sacred species were elevated at the consecration.
Leo XIII declared him the heavenly patron of all Eucharistic leagues and
societies.
One day Paschal heard the bells of a convent announce the approaching
consecration at Mass. Such an ardent longing for God overcame him that,
prompted by yearning and love, he involuntarily cried out: "O God,
most worthy of all adoration, please let me see You!" Hardly had he
uttered the prayer when a glowing star appeared in the sky. As he
watched, the heavens opened; the star disappeared and was replaced by a
chalice with the Host, flanked by two adoring angels. Christian art has
selected this vision to show his chief virtue, viz., love for the most
holy Eucharist.
During the Red Terror at the time of the Spanish Civil War, his grave was
desecrated and his relics burned by anticlerical leftists
Excerpted from
The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch
http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2013-05-17
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paschal_Baylon
