St. Bartholomew, whose feast day we celebrate today, lived in the First Century and was one of the Twelve Apostles.
We know little about him from Scripture, except that he is mentioned in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, as well as the Acts of the Apostles as one of the original Twelve. Scripture scholars believe that he was the Nathaniel who was mentioned today’s Gospel passage from John. John said that he was from Cana in Galilee and that Jesus called him a true child of Israel, with no dishonesty in him.
The Roman Martyrology indicates that Bartholomew preached in India as well in Mesopotamia, Persia, and Egypt, and Greater Armenia. It was in the latter that he was scourged and beheaded by King Astyages at Abanopolis on the west coast of the Caspian Sea. and that he also preached in Mesopotamia, Persia, and Egypt.
He is the patron saint of tanners, plasterers, tailors, leatherworkers, bookbinders, farmers, house painters, butchers, and glove makers.
Let us pray… LORD, teach us to treasure, proclaim, and practice the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, which Saint Bartholomew so eloquently preached and finally sealed with his heroic martyrdom. Through his intercession may we be fearless in our expressions of faith and in our desire to bring the faith to others. Through Christ our LORD. Amen.+
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free