ST. Paul's tide. 25 



JAN. 25. CoTvvERsioN OF St. Paul. 



SS. Juventuis and Maximinus, mm. a.d. 363. 



SS. Projectus, Poppo, Publius, &c. 



Obs. The history of the Conversion of St. Paul is too well known 

 to need any comment. His sudden conversion while he was on his 

 way to Damascus was effected by means of a great light, from 

 whence issued a voice, saying Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute 

 me. He proceeded on his journey, but changed his purpose with 

 his name, and instead of persecuting the Christians, converted 

 many heathens to the Christian religion. This Festival was insti- 

 tuted very early, and was for a time a holiday of obligation, com- 

 manded by Pope Innocent III. to be kept with great solemnity. 

 It is mentioned as a solemn Festival in the Council of Oxford held 

 in the reign of Henry III. in 1222. 



Yellow Hellebore Helleborus hyemalis flowers. 



The Yellow Hellebore or Winter Aconite is a small yellow ranun- 

 culaceous plant, with a bright yellow flower : it is one of our earliest 

 primaveral plants, and blows even before the Snowdrop and Crocus, 

 which i: mixes agreeably with during February and March. 



This day is called Prognostick Day, from the antient superstitious 

 observance of the weather of this day considered as ominous of the 

 future year, of which the following quotations will give the best 

 account. An old proverb says, 



Clari dies Pauli bona tempora denotat Anni. 

 Se fuerint venti designant poeilia genti. 

 Si fuerint nebulae pereunt animalia quaeque. 

 Si nix, si pluvia, designant tempora cara. 

 Ne credas certe, nam fallit regula saepe. 



Which has been thus paraphrased : 



If St. Paul's day be fair and cleare. 



It doth betide a happy yeare ; 



But if by chance it then should raine. 



It will make deare all kinds of graine ; 



And if the clouds make dark the skie. 



Then Neate and Fowles this year shall die ; 



If blustering winds do blow aloft, 



Then wars shall trouble the realm full oft. 



Hospitian observes — Est hie dies apud pl,bem criticus, ntpote 

 cuius serenitas fructuum abundantiani, lenti bella, nebulae pestem, 

 nix et pluvia caritatem indicare creduntur. 



D 



