The Feast of Saint Matthew the Apostle

(First Century)

His story

+ Honored as the author of the Gospel that bears his name, Matthew was born in Capernaum and is listed as one of the Twelve Apostles.

+ Called “Levi” by both Mark and Luke, the Gospels tell us that he was a tax collector before choosing to follow Christ.

+ Although we know nothing certain about his ministry after Pentecost, tradition relates that he preached the Gospel in Judea and later traveled Ethiopia or Persia.

+ The Roman Martyrology states that Matthew was martyred in Persia and his relics were transferred to Salerno, Italy, in the tenth century.

+ Saint Matthew is honored as the patron saint of accountants, bankers, and bookkeepers.

+ The Gospel of Matthew was composed for a community that included many Jewish Christians. And so, in this gospel we find many references to the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament) and the many ways Jesus fulfills the promises and prophecies found there. What we now know as the Gospel of Matthew was composed around the year 85 and incorporates material from the older Gospel of Mark and other oral traditions about Jesus.

For prayer and reflection

“Like Matthew the tax collector, each of us trusts in the grace of the Lord regardless of our sins. We are all sinners, we have all sinned. By calling Matthew, Jesus shows sinners that he does not look at their past, at their social status, at external conventions, but rather, he opens a new future to them.”—Pope Francis, General Audience of April 13, 2016

Spiritual bonus

On this day, the Church also remembers Saint Iphigenia of Ethiopia. Also known as “Ephigenia,” she is said to have been converted to the Christian Faith by Saint Matthew and for that reason her memory is also celebrated on his feastday. No other information about her has come down to us.

Prayer

O God, who with untold mercy
were pleased to choose as an Apostle
Saint Matthew, the tax collector,
grant that, sustained by his example and intercession,
we may merit to hold firm in following you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.