Saint of the day · August 24
St Bartholomew, Apostle
FeastLiturgical colour : Red
St Bartholomew the Apostle is honored as one of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus Christ. While the Gospels mention him by name, particularly in the synoptic lists, little is known with certainty about his life beyond his calling. Bartholomew is often identified with Nathanael, whom Jesus called in the Gospel according to John, but this identification, though ancient, cannot be stated with complete historical certainty.
Tradition holds that after Pentecost, Bartholomew preached the Gospel in various regions, including parts of Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, and possibly India and Armenia. There are many legends about his missionary journeys, especially in the East, but precise historical details are lacking. He is said to have faced martyrdom for his faith, with different traditions recounting that he was flayed alive and then beheaded. His relics have been venerated in various places, most notably in Rome at the Church of St. Bartholomew on the Island (San Bartolomeo all’Isola).
St Bartholomew’s feast has been celebrated in the Church since at least the early centuries, reflecting the apostolic foundation of the Church and the spread of the faith through the witness of the apostles. His life challenges Christians to embrace the call to witness even amidst uncertainty and suffering, and he is seen as a model of faithfulness and perseverance. The Church honors his memory with a feast to recall the gift and labor of the apostles, who carried the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
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Mass readings
“The foundations bore the twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb” — Ap 21, 9b-14
I, John,
saw an angel who said to me:
“Come, I will show you
the Woman, the Bride of the Lamb.”
In the Spirit, he carried me away
to a great, high mountain;
he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God:
it had the glory of God within it;
its radiance was like that of a very precious stone,
like crystal-clear jasper stone.
It had a great, high wall,
with twelve gates, and on the gates, twelve angels;
names were written on them:
those of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.
There were three gates on the east,
three on the north,
three on the south,
and three on the west.
The wall of the city was built on twelve foundations
bearing the twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
– The word of the Lord.
Ps 144 (145), 10-11, 12-13ab, 17-18
May your works, Lord, give you thanks
and may your faithful bless you!
They shall speak of the glory of your reign,
they shall tell of your mighty deeds.
They will make known to men your mighty deeds,
the glory and splendor of your reign:
your reign is a reign for all ages,
your kingdom, for generations and generations.
The Lord is just in all his ways,
faithful in all he does.
He is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call on him in truth.
“Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” — Jn 1, 45-51
At that time,
Philip found Nathanael and said to him:
“The one about whom it is written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets,
we have found him:
it is Jesus son of Joseph,
from Nazareth.”
Nathanael replied:
“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Philip answered:
“Come and see.”
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him,
he said about him:
“Here truly is an Israelite:
there is no deceit in him.”
Nathanael asked him:
“How do you know me?”
Jesus answered:
“Before Philip called you,
when you were under the fig tree,
I saw you.”
Nathanael answered him:
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God!
You are the King of Israel!”
Jesus replied:
“I told you I saw you under the fig tree,
and this is why you believe!
You will see greater things than these.”
And he added:
“Amen, amen, I say to you:
you will see heaven opened,
and the angels of God ascending and descending
above the Son of Man.”
– Let us acclaim the Word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org