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 Paschal was
born on the feast of Pentecost in the year 1540 at Torre Hermosa in Spain. His
parents were poor in worldly goods but rich in piety and Christian virtue. The
child appeared to be endowed with all the gifts of the Holy Spirit in an
eminent degree. He was joyfully attentive and obedient to the good lessons his
parents taught him, and he so excelled other children of his age in
understanding of the divine truths and zeal for virtue that everybody marveled
at it.
As the lowly position of his parents demanded,
Paschal, already as a boy, had to tend the cattle of strangers. Although, due
to his work, he took no part in the noisy life of the other boys, he was,
never the less, well liked by them. They had a certain respect for him, they
had him settle their quarrels, and they willingly accepted reprimands from him
and listened to the Christian instructions he sometimes gave them.
His employer was so pleased with Paschal, who had
meanwhile grown to be a strong young man, that one day he declared to him his
intention to adopt him and make him his heir. But the young man answered
gratefully that he wished to remain poor and was minded to consecrate himself
to the service of God in the religious state.
Later, Paschal moved to another province, and at
the age of 24 begged for admission as a lay brother at the convent of the
Friars Minor at Monteforte. His request was granted, and Paschal seemed to run
the path of perfection with ease and alacrity. He was so humble that he
considered himself last of all. At the same time he was so charitable that he
cheerfully assumed the most burdensome duties for other brothers. He was so
strict with his body that even at the most arduous tasks he would permit
himself no relaxation in his way of living. He was so devoted to prayer that
he spent all his spare time at it.
On the road, while gathering alms, he always had
his rosary in his hand and God in his heart. Paschal fostered special devotion
to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom he called his Mother, and to the Blessed
Sacrament, and it proved a constant means to rekindle his zeal.
God showed how pleased He was with his devotion.
One day while out-of-doors, Paschal devoutly knelt down to adore the Blessed
Sacrament when the bell announced the Consecration. At that moment the Blessed
Sacrament was presented to him in a monstrance supported by angels hovering in
the air. In the convent church he was frequently found before the tabernacle
prostrate or with his arms outstretched, or even rapt in ecstasy. At such
times his soul was flooded with light from above. At any rate, the simple
brother, who had never learned to read or write, could discourse about the
deepest mysteries of religion with marvelous insight to the astonishment of
the most learned men.
Because of his heavenly enlightenment the Father
Provincial once sent him from Spain on a very important matter to the general
of the order, who at the time was staying in France. Paschal made the long and
wearisome journey across the Pyrenees barefoot, traveling through regions
infested with fanatical heretics, who on several occasions sought the life of
the religious brother. But God's angel protected him on the journey to France
and back, so that he escaped all danger.
After his return, Paschal remained the same humble
brother as before and advanced in every virtue until the day of his happy
death. He died at Villareal, on the feast of Pentecost, the feast on which he
was born, May 17, 1592. It was during high Mass in the convent church, at the
moment of the elevation of the Sacred Host, that Paschal breathed forth his
last.
At the funeral, according to custom, the body of
the deceased brother lay on an open stretcher in the church. When the Blessed
Sacrament was raised in the Requiem Mass, the dead body raised itself, bowed
to the Sacred Host, repeating the act of reverence at the elevation of the
Chalice, and then lowered itself again. Numerous other miracles occurred at
his grave.
Pope Paul V beautified Paschal and Pope Alexander
VIII canonized him in the year 1690. Pope Leo XIII in 1897 made him the patron
of all Eucharistic societies and congresses.
ON DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
1. Consider
that God showed by a miracle of the dead body of St. Paschal how pleasing to
him is devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. How it must offend God when
Christians in full health are too indifferent or comfortable to show respect
to the Blessed Sacrament. Does not the same Majesty reign in our churches in
the Blessed Sacrament before which the angels and archangels, and all the
saints and the just offer their homage in heaven? And is it too much for a
poor worm of earth to bend his knee in reverence? Where will such Christians
seek assurance when the same God appears in glory and majesty to judge the
living and the dead? -- Will you have no reason to tremble then?
2.
Consider the respect Holy Mother Church renders to the most holy Sacrament of
the Altar. The God-man really present in the Blessed Sacrament is the motive
that explains the magnificence of our churches, the splendor of our cathedrals
and convent churches, in some of which the chants are heard even at midnight.
According to the rubrics, even the poorest village church must keep the
sanctuary lamp burning steadily before the Blessed Sacrament day and night.
But should the light of the sanctuary lamp alone rise towards Him? Should it
not rather remind us that our hearts should glow like it with true inner
devotion to the Holy Sacrament? -- Have you up till now heeded this lesson of
the sanctuary lamp?
3. Consider that devotion to the Blessed Sacrament
should not be confined to the walls of the House of God. On the feast of
Corpus Christi the Blessed Sacrament is sometimes carried about in solemn
procession as in a public triumphal march. On the occasion everybody should do
what lies in his power to honor Him whom no words of praise or tokens of honor
can ever extol enough. Consider it an honor to take part in such processions.
Also on less splendid occasions when the Holy Sacrament is taken to the sick,
perhaps in your own home or in that of a neighbor, never omit to manifest your
deep devotion. Then our Lord will also come to you in holy Communion so much
the more graciously, notably on the day when He will be brought to you as your
Viaticum.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
O God, who didst adorn the
Blessed Paschal, Thy confessor, with a wonderful love for the mysteries of Thy
Body and Blood, mercifully grant that we may draw from the Divine Banquet the
same fullness of spirit that he did. Who livest and reignest forever and ever.
Amen.
from:
The Franciscan Book
of Saints, ed. by
Marion Habig, ofm., © 1959 Franciscan Herald
Press
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