Feast of St. Matthew
Saint Matthew was a Galilean by birth. In the Gospel he humbly relates the story of his own conversion. To the glory of an apostle he adds that of an evangelist. He wrote his Gospel in Aramaic, and it was afterwards translated into Greek. The Aramaic text has perished. This Gospel is a divinely inspired work included in Sacred Scripture.
He gives the line of ancestors from whom Jesus descended as a man, and on this account is presented by the animal with a human face in the symbolical vision of Ezekiel.
Little is known of his life; the Fathers in general say that he died in Persia. St. Paulinus of Nola asserts that he died amongst the Parthians. When his remains were discovered at Velia and brought to the Cathedral of Salerno, Pope Gregory VII began his journey there, but died on the way, and was buried near the tomb of St. Matthew.
Os justi meditábitur sapiéntiam, et lingua ejus loquétur judícium (Introit, Mass of St. Matthew)
[The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgment]
May we be assisted, O Lord, by the prayers of the blessed apostle and evangelist, Matthew, that what our effort obtaineth not, may be granted us by his intercession. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever. Amen. (Collect, Mass of St. Matthew)
"Matthew put together the oracles [of the Lord] in the Hebrew language, and each one interpreted them as best he could..." (Fragments of Papias, 6)
He gives the line of ancestors from whom Jesus descended as a man, and on this account is presented by the animal with a human face in the symbolical vision of Ezekiel.
Little is known of his life; the Fathers in general say that he died in Persia. St. Paulinus of Nola asserts that he died amongst the Parthians. When his remains were discovered at Velia and brought to the Cathedral of Salerno, Pope Gregory VII began his journey there, but died on the way, and was buried near the tomb of St. Matthew.
Os justi meditábitur sapiéntiam, et lingua ejus loquétur judícium (Introit, Mass of St. Matthew)
[The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgment]
May we be assisted, O Lord, by the prayers of the blessed apostle and evangelist, Matthew, that what our effort obtaineth not, may be granted us by his intercession. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever. Amen. (Collect, Mass of St. Matthew)
At that time, Jesus saw a man sitting in the custom-house, named Matthew; and He said to him, "Follow Me." And he rose up, and followed Him. And it came to pass, as He was sitting at dinner in the house, behold many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and His disciples. And the pharisees seeing it, said to His disciples, "Why doth your master eat with publicans and sinners?" But Jesus hearing it, said, "They that are in health need not a physician: but they that are ill. Go, then, and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice. For I am not come to call the just, but sinners. " (Matt. 9:9-13; Gospel Reading, Mass of St. Matthew)
"Matthew put together the oracles [of the Lord] in the Hebrew language, and each one interpreted them as best he could..." (Fragments of Papias, 6)
<< Home