(in the Cerasi Chapel of the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo)
Paul lies sprawled beneath his horse,
arms opened, hands extended, upraised,
creating a cup for his spilled head.
His face is half-hidden, turned aside.
His rich red robe is crumpled under him.
His helmet has rolled off to one side.
Caravaggio knew well what the texts
tell: that Saul became Paul, regained
his sight and then began to write letters
to the world. But in this small chapel
in central Rome, he’s stopped the story
here—leaving us to fill the future in.
Dear Reader,
Can I be direct with you?
War abroad. Socialists on the rise. AI upending human life. Endless uproar online. The modern attention economy doesn’t want readers — it wants users enslaved to the tyranny of the present.
First Things is the antidote: literary excellence, timeless truths, and a fixed point of reference in a culture that has lost its bearings.
But we can’t do it without readers like you.
Our goal: Raise $150,000 by November 1 to sustain First Things in the year ahead.
Your gift anchors readers in the permanent things.
Make your Fall Campaign gift now using the button below.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Giovanni Del Piero, Director of the Editor’s Circle, at gdelpiero@firstthings.com or 212-627-1985.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
A Culture of Parricide
I learned a new word the other day: déploration. It’s the French, directly from the Latin, for “lament.”…
Prime Rib of Unicorn
Of all the titles I’ve been tracking this year, the one I am most delighted to have…
The Real World of Francisco de Zurbarán
Throughout the summer, I visited the National Gallery in London at least once a week. This is…
