Saint Matthew (Levi) (F), Apostle and Evangelist
Dates:
September 21 d.65
Place:
preached among Hebrews and Ethiopians; shrine in Salerno, Italy;
possibly martyred in Persia
Importance:
writer of first gospel; originally a tax collector; writer of Mt. 16:18
(Primacy of Pope); messianic and prophecy-fulfillment emphasis
Name means:
gift of God
Food/Symbol: young man, book cake, gold coins
Patron:
bankers, bookkeepers
Prayer: “O God, you chose St. Matthew the tax
collector to share the dignity of the apostles.
By following his example and benefiting by his prayers, may we always
follow and abide by your will.”
We beseech You, Lord, with the prayers of Matthew, Your apostle and evangelist,
to assist us that those things
which by ourselves we cannot obtain may be granted to us through his intercession.
Quotes: “There are points of contact between Matthew
and rabbinical writings that are not found in the other gospels. These points of contact are more than an
interest in the Law and allusions to Jewish institutions. Matthew sometimes moves in the world of
rabbinical thought. He not only is
familiar with rabbinical dialect; he uses it.”—John L. McKenzie
Readings: Eph 4:1-7,11-13; Ps. 19; Mt. 9:9-13
(Caravaggio's Call of St. Matthew, found on Pinterest: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggio?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=organic#mediaviewer/File:Caravaggio,_Michelangelo_Merisi_da_-_The_Calling_of_Saint_Matthew_-_1599-1600_(hi_res).jpg)