Saint Matthew The Apostle

Biography

Saint Matthew the Apostle, also known as Levi, was one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus Christ. He is also recognized as Matthew the Evangelist, as his Gospel holds a prominent place in the New Testament canon. Matthew's life and teachings are an inspiration for millions of Christians worldwide. Born as the son of Alphaeus, Matthew lived in Capernaum, a town located on the shores of Lake Genesareth. He held the occupation of a Roman tax collector, which was often considered dishonorable and associated with collaboration with the enemy. This made Jesus' decision to call Matthew to become one of his apostles surprising to his contemporaries. However, Jesus explained that he had come to call sinners and not just the righteous. Matthew's role as a tax collector allowed him to interact with people from diverse backgrounds, which later influenced his work as an evangelist. After his encounter with Jesus, Matthew chose to follow him and became a dedicated disciple. He witnessed the miracles performed by Jesus and listened to his teachings, which ultimately transformed his life. Matthew's Gospel is particularly significant as it was written to convince Jewish readers that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. It aimed to show the fulfillment of prophecies concerning the Messiah found in the Hebrew Scriptures. Matthew preached predominantly among the Jewish population for a period of fifteen years. It is believed that he may have even preached to the Jewish community in Ethiopia and other Eastern regions. In Christian art, Saint Matthew is often depicted by various symbols, including an angel holding a pen or inkwell, a bag of coins, a halberd, a king, a lance, a man holding money, a money bag, a money box, a purse, a spear, a sword, a winged man, and a young man. These representations reflect his role as a tax collector and his subsequent transformation as an apostle and evangelist. Saint Matthew is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church and was canonized at a time before formal canonization processes existed. He is recognized as the patron saint of several professions and places, including accountants, bookkeepers, bankers, tax collectors, customs officers, financial officers, guards, money managers, security forces, security guards, stockbrokers, the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers, the diocese of Trier in Germany, the archdiocese of Washington, DC, and various locations in Italy, such as Albanella, Asiago, Cannara, Covigliaio, Ortignano Raggiolo, Salerno, San Marco in Lamis, Trepunti, Villa d'Ogna, and San Mateo in Ibiza, Spain. Saint Matthew's feast day is celebrated on September 21st in the Western calendar, November 16th in the Eastern calendar, and May 6th to commemorate the translation of his relics. His life serves as a testament to the transformative power of Jesus Christ's calling and the importance of sharing the Gospel message with all people, regardless of their past.