Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Hail, Saintly Apostle, Evangelist and Martyr



Today is the feast of St. Matthew.   St. Matthew was a tax collector from Capernaum originally named Levi, who was called by Jesus in the famous episode recounted in the Gospels.  Jesus also bestowed upon Levi the new name Matthew, which means "gift of Yahweh."   The magnificently expressive depiction of St. Matthew's call shown above was painted by Caravaggio. 

Of St. Matthew's career after Our Lord's Ascension little is known for sure, though most ancient writers agree St. Matthew evangelized in the East, in the vicinity of the Caspian Sea.  Neither is it known for sure what manner of martyrdom St. Matthew suffered.  What are believed to be St. Matthew's relics were transferred from the site of his martyrdom to the Cathedral in Salerno in the 10th century AD.

St. Matthew, pray for us. 

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