Happy Feast of Saint Bartholomew - August 24th!

SAINT BARTHOLOMEW

Feast Day: August 24

Saint Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles who was called by our blessed Lord Himself. The Church has always taught that this apostle is the same as Nathaniel, a native of Cana, in Galilee, whom Saint Philip brought to Jesus, and whose innocence and simplicity of heart were praised by Jesus. 

Bartholomew carried the Gospel through the most barbarous countries of the East, penetrating into the remoter Indies. He then returned again into the northwest part of Asia, and met Saint Philip, at Hierapolis, in Phrygia. From there he traveled into Laconia, where he instructed the people in the Christian Faith.

Saint Bartholomew’s last mission was into Armenia, where, preaching in a place obstinately addicted to the worship of idols, he was flayed alive. Thus, Bartholomew is the patron saint of plasterers and butchers. Traditionally, artists portray Bartholomew with a knife as his symbol. Michelangelo created a very expressive portrait of the flayed apostle, and the scene below pictures Saint Bartholomew at the Last Judgment, as seen in the Sistine Chapel, where he is holding his own skin!

During World War II, the Fascist regime in Italy looked for ways to finance their activities. The order was given to take the silver statue of Saint Bartholomew from the Cathedral of Lipari and melt it down. The statue was weighed, and it was found to be only a few grams, so it was returned to the Cathedral. In reality, the statue is made from many kilograms of silver and it is considered a miracle that it was not melted down!

Happy Feast of Saint Bartholomew!