Today, we celebrate the feast of Saint Bartholomew, apostle of the Lord.
SAINT BARTHOLOMEW was one of the twelve who were called to the apostolate by our blessed Lord himself.

Several learned interpreters of the Holy Scripture take this apostle to have been the same as Nathaniel, a native of Cana, in Galilee, a doctor in the Jewish law, and one of the seventy-two disciples of Christ, to whom he was conducted by Saint Philip, and whose innocence and simplicity of heart deserved to be celebrated by the mouth of our Redeemer himself.

He is mentioned among the disciples who were met together in prayer after Christ’s ascension, and he received the Holy Spirit with the rest. Being eminently qualified by the divine grace to discharge the functions of an apostle, he was reported, by various ancient traditions, to have carried the gospel through the most barbarous countries of the East, penetrating into the remoter Indies. He returned again into the northwest part of Asia, and met Saint Philip at Hierapolis, in Phrygia. Hence he traveled into Lycaonia, where he instructed the people in the Christian Faith; but we know not even the names of many of the countries in which he preached.

Saint Bartholomew’s last removal was traditionally into Great Armenia, where, preaching in a place obstinately addicted to the worship of idols, he was crowned with a glorious martyrdom. The modern Greek historians say that he was condemned by the governor of Albanopolis to be crucified. Others affirm that he was flayed alive, which might well enough consist with his crucifixion, this double punishment being in use not only in Egypt, but also among the Persians.

St. BartholomewPray for us!