St. Matthew
Patron Bankers
St. Matthew, one of the twelve Apostles, is the author of the first Gospel. This has been the constant tradition of the Church and is confirmed by the Gospel itself. He was the son of Alpheus and was called to be an Apostle while sitting in the tax collectors place at Capernaum. Before his conversion he was a publican, i.e., a tax collector by profession. He is to be identified with the "Levi" of Mark and Luke.
His apostolic activity was at first restricted to the communities of Palestine. Nothing definite is known about his later life. There is a tradition that points to Ethiopia as his field of labor; other traditions mention of Parthia and Persia. It is uncertain whether he died a natural death or received the crown of martyrdom.
St. Matthew's Gospel was written to fill a sorely-felt want for his fellow countrymen, both believers and unbelievers. For the former, it served as a token of his regard and as an encouragement in the trial to come, especially the danger of falling back to Judaism; for the latter, it was designed to convince them that the Messiah had come in the person of Jesus, our Lord, in Whom all the promises of the Messianic Kingdom embracing all people had been fulfilled in a spiritual rather than in a carnal way: "My Kingdom is not of this world." His Gospel, then, answered the question put by the disciples of St. John the Baptist, "Are You He Who is to come, or shall we look for another?"
Writing for his countrymen of Palestine, St. Matthew composed his Gospel in his native Aramaic, the "Hebrew tongue" mentioned in the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. Soon afterward, about the time of the persecution of Herod Agrippa I in 42 AD, he took his departure for other lands. Another tradition places the composition of his Gospel either between the time of this departure and the Council of Jerusalem, i.e., between 42 AD and 50 AD or even later. Definitely, however, the Gospel, depicting the Holy City with its altar and temple as still existing, and without any reference to the fulfillment of our Lord's prophecy, shows that it was written before the destruction of the city by the Romans in 70 AD, and this internal evidence confirms the early traditions.
ST MATTHEW MEDALS, AND ROSARIESMADE IN USA - Detailed medals of St. Matthew in 14K gold, sterling silver and pewter. Also: quality St. Matthew rosaries. Large selection. Fast shipping. CLICK HERE!
Previous Saint
< Bl. Matthew Flathers
Next Saint
St. Matronian >
Rate This Saint
1 - 20 of 138 Comments
Leave a Comment
Previous Saint
< Bl. Matthew Flathers
Next Saint
St. Matronian >
Find Saints
Catholic Online offers the largest searchable database of Catholic Saints on the internet.
| Browse Saints by Alphabet |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
| Patron Saints by Alphabet |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Videos
St. Francis of Assisi 78,993 views View Video
Padre Pio 47,420 views View Video
Black Saints Vol I 30,637 views View Video
Black Saints Vol II 27,167 views View Video
Most Popular
Pope Francis says atheists can do good and go to heaven too! Read More
California teenager invents device that can charge cell phone in 20 seconds - flat Read More
Receiving the Eucharist: I Have Decided to Kneel For Jesus Read More
Culture of Corruption: Why Obama's misuse of Marines is wrong Read More
British soldier hacked to death in brazen attack by Islamic terrorists, stopped by prayerful, courageous women Read More
Daily Readings
Reading 1, Sirach 17:1-15
The Lord fashioned human beings from the earth, to consign them ... Read More
Psalm, Psalms 103:13-14, 15-16, 17-18
As tenderly as a father treats his children, so Yahweh treats ... Read More
Gospel, Mark 10:13-16
People were bringing little children to him, for him to touch ... Read More
Saint of the Day
St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi
May 25: It would be easy to concentrate on the mystical experiences God ... Read More
Latest Videos
Commento al Vangelo del 26 Maggio 2013 a cura di don Domenico Luciani View Video
May 25 - Homily: Ask Mary To Send Her Spouse View Video
May 25 - Homily: Our Lady of Consolation View Video
Reign of Love - 2 Pillars #36 View Video
Rottweiler Puppies in a Easter Basket View Video
Marketplace
Volume Two: The Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Read More
SACRED RELICS: PADRE PIO and SAINT THÉRÈSE LISEUX! Read More
Very inspiring, I am very thanful i came across this site. Thank you God, thank you St. Mathew. Thank you too St. Joseph Cupertino. You gave me a 100% in my exams. Thank you so much.
omg im doing a saint project this was so helpful thank you! (dont worry, i put you in my bibliography) :P
awesome
THIS SAINT HELPED ME A LOT
THANK YOU
THANX FOR THIS SIT IM DOING A SAINT PROJECT AND THIS HELPED ME ALOT!!!!!! ;)
you are amazing
the information is quiet simple and informative. it will give more knowledge to those people who didn't know the story of st. Matthew.
St. Matthew.......pray for us.
best saint ever, he is awesome
St Matthew, pray for me & intercede for my needs. Thank you !
St. Mathew, you are the patron saint of my son, who is named after my beloved father. Please protect him from all evil influences, intercede for him and for all of us.
St. Matthew, Apostle and martyr, happy feast-day. Pray for us to recommend our cares to God, who already knows what they are. Help us to receive all the heavenly graces we need to be healed of illnesses. Give us health of mind and body. Amen
Dear St. Matthew,
As a Security Officer I need you to intercede for me with Our Lord. I am having a difficult time right now. I am homeless and in financial trouble. Please go to our Lord on my behalf and ask him to help me.
Thank you in advance for prayers answered.
st matthew is awesome im doing a project on him
My question for confirmation... Why is he special?
Dear St. Matthew, hear my prayer and place this petition on behalf of our agency. Bless us the thirty one so that we can continue to serve the poor, render aid whenever possible, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the needy, heal the sick. Provide for us so we do not have the worries of tomorrow and protect us so that we are able to continue HIS work. Stay with us so that we are in continual reminder of God's grace and that we remain committed to our hearts endeavor. In HIS glorious name, we thank you! Amen.
Please Saint Matthew pray for us. We're naming our unborn baby boy ''Matthew" My husband and i are expecting our 4th child and we were told on thursday that he has hypoplastic left heart, please heal our baby's little heart and make the left side grow please save our baby. Our kids are our life, please pray for us and our baby boy. I put my trust in you. xxxxxx
If you love St. Matthew, then you will want to love this band to. Useless Society is the most righteous band out there in the Christian world. Go to youtube.com/uselesssocietyband
People shouldnt be leaving bad comments about a holy man. you probably should get a l ife like his.
St Matthew pray for us,help us to overcome our debt and live for today, help us see tomorrow will look after itself.
so much info i need it thanx