St. Matthias

Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Matthias.

In the Acts 1:15-26, it is found that during the days after the Ascension had occurred St. Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers which was about 120 of Jesus’ followers. Now that Judas had betrayed his ministry, it was necessary, Peter said, to fulfill the scriptural recommendation that another should take his office. “Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection” (Acts 1:21-22).

St. Matthias’ name actually has the meaning “gift of God.” St. Matthias was actually the disciple who was chosen to replace Judas and he became one of the twelve Apostles.

In The Acts of the Apostles it states that St. Matthias was actually chosen as one of the 72 disciples that Jesus had selected and sent out to preach the good news.

It is also stated that St. Matthias was a follower and he was with the Lord since His Baptism, and he was actually as St. Peter states in The Acts “a witness to Christ’s Resurrection.” St. Matthias was so close to Jesus that he remained with Jesus until His Ascension.

St. Matthias is actually said to have preached in Cappadocia, Jerusalem, the shores of the Caspian Sea (which is now known as modern day Turkey) and he also preached in Ethiopia. St. Matthias is believed to have been killed either by being crucified in Colchis or by being stoned in Jerusalem.

There is actually evidence in many of the early Church fathers works and teachings that there was actually a Gospel that was according to St. Matthias in circulation. How ever it has sadly been lost. I honestly hope that they find it, that would be amazing to have another perspective of the life of Christ. Sadly due to the fact that it has not been found it has been declared apocryphal by Pope Gelasius.

St. Matthias is the patron saint of alcoholics and his feast day is celebrated on May 14.

St. Matthias was able to truly witness Jesus in his life through prayer and entrusting himself to Jesus. We all have this chance, through prayer we allow ourselves to surrender ourselves to Jesus, and when we surrender ourselves to Jesus we slowly forget about all the old desires we may have had, that may have tried to pull us away from Christ, and as St. Matthias did at Jesus’ baptism we replace those bad desires with the desire to become more intimate and devoted to Jesus through prayer and service whether that service is helping around our houses or serving the poor. Let’s all repent for the past sins we have done, let’s all surrender ourselves to Jesus so that we may get rid of our old sinful desires and only desire to know Jesus, as a friend, and as a brother.

Prayer to St. Matthias:

St. Matthias you were able to witness the many graces from Jesus during your life due to the fact that you lived a life that only desired to follow him and deepen your relationship with him. St. Matthias help us, pray for us that we may be able to get rid of all the earthly desires we may have that may threaten our purity, generosity, holiness or relationship with God and help us to replace those desires with the single desire to know and deepen our intimacy with Jesus. Help us to overcome every temptation or trial we may encounter and help us to surrender ourselves to Christ.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord and Mary Our Mother in Heaven

Amen

St. Matthias pray for us

St. Joseph pray for us

May we continue to strengthen our journey to sainthood and keep others in our prayers.

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Works Cited

Information (read from, not taken):

Franciscan Media. "Saint Matthias. ”Saint Matthias | Franciscan Media. Accessed 14, May 2021.

Images:

St. Matthias. May 14, 2021. st. matthias - Google Search.