The Proper of the Day: St. Bartholomew the Apostle

Today the Church remembers and celebrates the ministry of St. Bartholomew the Apostle, one of the Twelve. (We tranferred it this year to Monday since August 24 fell on a Sunday, which is always a Feast of the Lord.) Not much is known about him, and although he is said to have preached in both India and Armenia. He is the Patron of Armenia and of cobblers and of leatherworkers, as tradition has it he was skinned alive in Albanopoli, Armenia. It's often thought that St. Bart is the same as Nathaniel as listed in John ch 1, since John doesn't list Bart and the synpotics (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) don't list Nate.

In some ways, St. Bart is Patron of the anonymous. We don't know much about him except (possibly) one encounter with Jesus in the Fourth Gospel. So perhaps the best way to honor St. Bartholomew is to do something anonymously for someone else. What can you do for someone tomorrw without letting him or her know it was you?

In honor of Bartholomew here's something from Anonymous 4:




Almighty and everlasting God, who gave to your apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach your Word: Grant that your Church may love what he believed and preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

RFSJ