Hello all, Happy feast day to all born, baptized and married today Happy feast day to all Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, Monks, Nuns, Rev Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus Happy feast day to all those named Bartholomew and parents of all named Bartholomew. Happy feast day to all those named Nathaniel and parents of all named Nathaniel Happy feast day to all Catholic Missionaries and all devoted to Saint Bartholomew Today (August 24) marks the feast of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle He is also known as Saint Bartholomew the Martyr He was born 1st century AD in Judaea (Palaestina) He is also referred to as Saint Nathaniel Saint Bartholomew is one of the Twelve Apostles, mentioned sixth in the three Gospel lists (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14), and seventh in the list of Acts of the Apostles (1:13). He was probably a close friend of Saint Philip Saint Bartholomew is always named in the company of Saint Philip It was Philip who brought Bartholomew to Jesus. Though Saint Bartholomew is listed among the Twelve Apostles in the three gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke, he also appears as one of the witnesses of the Ascension (Acts 1:4, 12, 13), Saint Bartholomew is one of the apostles of whom no word is reported nor any individual action recorded in the New Testament. Saint Bartholomew is associated with the name “Nathanael”, mentioned only in the Gospel according to Saint John In the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Saint Philip and Saint Bartholomew are always mentioned together, while the name “Nathanael” is never mentioned While in Saint Johns gospel, on the other hand, Philip and Nathanael are similarly mentioned together, but nothing is said of Bartholomew Many ancient writers, and Catholic tradition have identified Bartholomew as Nathaniel in the Gospel of John (John 1:45-51, and 21:2). In the Gospel of John (John 1:45-51), Nathanael is introduced as a friend of Philip. Saint Bartholomew is described as initially being skeptical about the Messiah coming from Nazareth, saying: Can anything good come out of Nazareth?, but nonetheless, follows Philips invitation. Jesus immediately characterizes him as an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit. The Gospel passage read at Mass on the feast of Saint Bartholomew is precisely this passage from John (1:45-51) where Nathaniel is introduced to Jesus by his friend Phillip and Jesus says of him Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him from the Gospel of John (1:47). We are presented with the Apostles character in this brief and beautiful dialogue with the Lord Jesus. He is a good Jew, honest and innocent, a just man, who devotes much time to quiet reflection and prayer- under the fig tree from the Gospel of John (1:48) At Jesus mention that Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you (1:48), Nathaniel responded Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel - John (1:49)! Being a true child of Israel, Saint Nathaniel was a man well-read in the Scriptures and knew what they said of the Messiah and where he would come from. This is why he is skeptical of Phillips claim that Jesus is the Messiah, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? But Saint Nathaniel was lacking duplicity - that is, his heart was undivided, his intention pure - his openness to reality was always ready to recognize and surrender to the truth when he encountered it. He remained open to his friend Phillips invitation to Come and see – John (1:46). In encountering Jesus and hearing His words, Saint Nathaniel found himself face to face with the Truth Himself, and, like Saint John the Baptists leap in his mothers womb at the Lords presence, Saint Nathaniels words lept out of his own heart in a clear and simple confession of faith, Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! Jesus, in Matthew 5:8, says, Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. In Nathaniel we have an example of the pure man who sees - recognizes - God when confronted with Him, and on seeing Him believes in Him, and upon believing in Him follows Him. Nothing is known for sure about the life of Nathaniel/Bartholomew after the Ascension of Jesus. But tradition has it that he preached in the East and died a martyrs death in Armenia, being flayed alive for having won converts to the Lord Jesus. Along with his fellow Apostle Jude, Bartholomew is reputed to have brought Christianity to Armenia in the 1st century. Tradition tells us that Saint Nathaniel was skinned alive then crucified head down He died 1st century AD in Armenia. He was Flayed and then crucified After his martyrdom in this country, his body is said to have been washed to Lipari (a small island off the coast of Sicily), where a large piece of his skin and many bones are kept in the Cathedral of St. Bartholomew the Apostle. The Holy Roman Emperor Otto II brought his relics to Rome (at the basilica of San Bartolomeo allIsola) in 983. Some of his skull was transferred to Frankfurt, while an arm is venerated in Canterbury Cathedral today. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saint Bartholomew is the patron Saint of bookbinders He is also the patron saint of butchers He is the patron saint of corn-chandlers and dyers He is also the patron saint glovers, furriers and vine-growers He is the patron saint of leather-workers, plasterers and shoemakers He is also the patron saint tailors and tanners He is the patron saint of Florentine cheese and salt merchants. He is invoked against nervous disorders and neurological diseases He is also invoked against twitching. He is the patron saint of Italy and Malta ------------------------------------------------------- Let us pray that by the works, spiritual direction, spiritual maturity, intercession and martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew, we may in this group find the spiritual motivation to win our souls for God. Amen Summary of the works and martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew can be viewed by clicking the photo of the Martyr in our groups photo section. Saint of the day, would be communicated to you as promptly and consistently as humanly possible, by Gods grace. May we all in this group and beyond this group, Christians and non Christians alike, Catholics and non Catholics alike, be saved from the fires of hell and lifted up into heaven after our stay here on this exile. Amen May our Lord Jesus Christ, through the intercession of Saint Bartholomew and other Saints and martyrs before and after him, through Gods Divine Mercy strengthen our souls, open out the way for us all, and above all, intoxicate us with HIS love. Amen May Christ make us into blazing fires to enkindle the earth with the heavenly fire HE brought us. Amen Jesus we love you, all we have is yours, yours we are and yours we want to be, please do with us whatever you will. Amen Jesus, Mary we love you, please save our souls. Amen God bless you and grant your heart’s desire. Amen Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, pray for us. Amen.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 06:30:49 +0000
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