Tag: stmatthew

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on MERCY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 21 September – “Why does your Master eat with publicans and sinners? ” – Matthew 9:11

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 21 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, Martyr – Ezekiel 1:10-14, Matthew 9:9-13– – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Why does your Master eat with publicans and sinners? ” – Matthew 9:11

REFLECTION – “Our Lord chose Matthew, the Tax Collector, to encourage his fellows to join him. He looked on sinners, called them and brought them to sit beside Him. What a wonderful sight! Angels stand trembling while Publicans, seated, rejoice! The Angels are struck with awe before the Lord’s greatness, while sinners eat and drink with Him! The Scribes choke with hatred and indignation, the Publicans rejoice because of his mercy. The heavens saw the sight and were filled with wonder; hell saw it and was maddened. Satan saw it and was enraged; death saw it and withered; the Scribes saw it and were much troubled.

There was joy in Heaven and happiness among the Angels because the rebellious had been persuaded, the recalcitrant quieted and sinners reformed and because, Publicans had been made righteous. Just as our Lord did not turn away from the shamefulness of the Cross, in spite of the entreaties, of His friends (Mt 16:22) so, He did not refuse the company of Publicans in spite of the taunts of His enemies. He despised mockery and scorned praise, thus, accomplishing all that is for mankind’s good!” – St Ephrem (306-373) Deacon in Syria, Father and Doctor of the Church (Commentary on the Gospel).

PRAYER – May we be helped, O Lord, by the prayers of the blessed Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew that what we ourselves cannot obtain, maybe granted by his intercession. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Saint of the Day – 21 September – Saint Iphigenia of Ethiopia (1st Century) Virgin, Converted, Baptised and Consecrated to God by St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 21 September – Saint Iphigenia of Ethiopia (1st Century) Virgin, Princess, Abbess, Converted, Baptised and Consecrated to God by St Matthew, the Apostle and Evangelist and sharing his Feast day today. Also known as – Ephigenia, Iphigenia of Abyssinia.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “In Ethiopia, St Iphigenia, virgin, who being Baptised and Consecrated to God by the blessed Apostle, St Matthew, ended her holy life in peace.”

Iphigenia was born a Princess to the Royal House of Ethiopia in the 1st Century. As a nation steeped in the paganism of the era, Ethiopia was to become witness to St Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, who spread the Gospel there and converted much of the people.

Although we know little for certain about the events that transpired, an idea of her conversion and the efforts of the Apostle can be garnered from the 13th Century, “Golden Legend” by Blessed James of Voragin OP c1226-1298) the Archbishop of Genoa. Originally in Latin, it was the most widely read book during the late Middle Ages. This legend gives detail to St Matthew’s travels in Africa – his story is closely bound to the Princess Iphigenia.

“The Ethiopian King, at the time of St Matthew’s arrival, was named Egippus. He sent for all the men in his Provinces saying to them: “Come and see ye God in the likeness of a man.” Upon this, the people came with crowns of gold and divers manner of sacrifices and would have sacrificed to him. St Matthew beheld them and said: “What do ye men? I am not God but I am servant of our Lord.“

[Therefore, from the resources brought, they instead built a Church for the glory and honour of the Lord]. In which Church the Apostle sat three and thirty years and converted all Ethiopia to the Faith of Christ. The King Egippus, with his wife and his daughter,Iphigenia and all the people, were Baptised. And then the apostle hallowed to God Iphigenia the King’s daughter and made her mistress and governess of more than two hundred virgins.

And after this, Hirtacus succeeded to the King and coveted the said virgin Iphigenia and the Apostle said to him that after the custom of his predecessor, he should come on the Sunday to the Church and Iphigenia being present with the other virgins, he should hear what he should say of the goodness of lawful marriage.

And when the virgins and all the people were assembled, he spoke long of good and lawful matrimony and he made rehearsal of his sermon saying that marriage is good if it be truly held by good alliance. But ye that be here, know ye well that if any servant would take the wife of a king wedded, he should not only run to the offence of the king but above that, he should deserve death and not for to wed her but for that he in so taking the spouse of his lord should corrupt the marriage joined. And thou the king that knew that Iphigenia is made the spouse of the King perdurable [eternal] and is sacred with the holy veil, how mayst thou take the wife of a more puissant [powerful] king and couple her to thee by marriage?

And when the King heard this he began to enrage and departed [in a] frantic rage. And the Apostle without dread confirmed all the others to patience. And Iphigenia, Iying before him for dread, he blessed and all the other virgins too. And after the solemnities of the Mass, the King sent a tormentor, with a sword behind him, which slew Matthew, who was standing by the Altar holding up his hands unto Heaven and so was consecrated a Martyr.

[Following Hirtacus’ death sometime later] the people then established for to be King, the brother of Iphigenia whom the Apostle had Baptised too and reigned seventy years and established his son for to be King after him and increased much the honour of Christianity and replenished all Ethiopia with noble Churches of our Lord.”

Blessed James of Voragin OP c1226-1298)
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/13/saint-of-the-day-13-july-blessed-james-of-voragine-op-c-1226-1298-author-of-the-golden-legend/

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

St Matthew – Apostle and Evangelist, Beata Vergine del Tresto / The Blessed Virgin of Tresto, Italy (1468) and Memorials of the Saints for 21 September

Posted on by AnaStpaul

St Matthew – Apostle and Evangelist
St Matthew!:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/09/21/saint-of-the-day-21-september-the-feast-of-st-matthew-apostle-and-evangelist-martyr-and-a-prayer-to-st-matthew-as-your-patron-saint/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/09/21/feast-of-st-matthew-apostle-and-evangelist/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/09/21/saint-of-the-day-21-september-the-feast-of-st-matthew-apostle-and-evangelist-2/
AND:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/09/21/saint-of-the-day-21-september-the-feast-of-st-matthew-

Beata Vergine del Tresto / The Blessed Virgin of Tresto, Ospedaletto Euganeo, Italy (1468) – 21September:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/21/feast-of-st-matthew-apostle-and-evangelist-beata-vergine-del-tresto-the-blessed-virgin-of-tresto-ospedaletto-euganeo-italy-1468-and-memorials-of-the-saints-21-september/

St Alexander of the Via Claudia
St Eusebius of Phoenicia
St Gerulph
St Iphigenia of Ethiopia 1st Century) Virgin converted by St Matthew, the Apostle and Evangelist
St Isaac of Cyprus
St Jonas the Prophet
St Landelino of Ettenheim

Blessed Mark Scalabrini of Modena OP (c 1420-1498) Priest and Friar of the Order of Preachers, Prior, Miracle-worker. Blessed Mark was Beatified on 10 September 1857 by Pope Pius IX.
Biograohy:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/21/saint-of-the-day-21-september-blessed-mark-scalabrini-of-modena-op-c-1420-1498/

St Maura of Troyes
St Meletius of Cyprus
St Pamphilus of Rome

Martyrs of Gaza – 3 Saints: Three brothers, Eusebius, Nestulus and Zeno, who were seized, dragged through the street, beaten and murdered by a pagan mob celebrating the renunciation of Christianity by Julian the Apostate. They were burned to death in 362 on a village garbage heap in Gaza, Palestine.

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, MARIAN QUOTES, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 21 September – St Matthew

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 21 September – The Feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, Martyr

“Of her was born Jesus,
Who is called Christ.”

Matthew 1:16

“Not on bread alone,
is man to live
but on every utterance
which comes from the Mouth of God.”

Matthew 4:4

“You are the light of the world
you are the salt of the earth…”

Matthew 5:14

“But I say to you,
love our enemies
and pray for those
who persecute you”

Matthew 5:44

“Why are you fearful,
O you of little faith?
Then he arose and rebuked the wind
and the sea
and there came a great calm.”

Matthew 8:25

“According to your faith,
be it done to you …”

Matthew 9:30

“Amen I say to you.
there hath not risen
among them that are
born of women,
a greater than
John the Baptist.”

Matthew 11:11

“Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona
because flesh and blood
hath not revealed it to thee
but my Father,
Who is in Heaven….”

Matthew 16:17

MORE on and by St Matthew:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/21/quote-s-of-the-day-21-september-the-calling-of-st-matthew/

Posted in CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 21 September – For I have come to call sinners, not the just.- Matthew 9:13

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 21 September – “The Month of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Cross” – The Feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, Martyr – Ezekiel 1:10-14, Matthew 9:9-13

“It is not the healthy who need a physician but they who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call sinners, not the just.”- Matthew 9:12-13

REFLECTION – “The Apostles, those who all as one and each in particular, possessed the Good News of God, went to the ends of the earth proclaiming the news of all the blessings God sends us and announcing Heaven’s peace towards men (Lk 2:14). Specifically, Matthew produced a written form of the gospel for the Hebrews in their own language, while Peter and Paul evangelised Rome and founded the Church there. After their deaths, Mark, who was Peter’s disciple and interpreter (1 Pt 5:13), also handed down Peter’s preaching to us in writing. Likewise, Luke, Paul’s companion, set down in a book, the Gospel preached by the latter. And then John, the disciple of the Lord, the one who leaned back on his breast (Jn 13:25), also published the Gospel during his stay at Ephesus.

In his Gospel,Matthew relates the genealogy of Christ as man: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham: now this is how the birth of Christ came about” (Mt 1:1, 18). Thus, this Gospel, presents Christ in human form, which is why it always represents Christ as being moved by sentiments of humility and remaining a man of gentleness … The Apostle Matthew knows none but One and the same God, Who promised Abraham that He would multiply his descendants like the stars in the sky (Gen 15:5) and, Who, through His Son, Jesus Christ, has called us from the worship of stones to knowledge of Him, (Mt 3:9) in such a way, that “those who were no people have become His people and she who was unloved has become beloved” (cf. Hos 2:25; Rom 9:25).” – St Irenaeus (130-202) Father of the Church, Bishop of Lyons, Theologian, Martyr (Against the heresies, III, 11,8 ; 9,1 – One of the first historical testimonies to the Evangelists).

PRAYER – We thank You, heavenly Father,
for the witness of Your Apostle
and Evangelist, Matthew,
to the Gospel of Your Son, our Saviour
and we pray, that, after his example,
we may with ready wills and hearts,
obey the calling of our Lord, to follow Him;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect).

Posted in HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Our Morning Offering – 21 September – Præclara qua tu Gloria – O Matthew, Christ Just Bade You Come

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 21 September – The Feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, Martyr

Præclara qua tu Gloria
O Matthew, Christ
Just Bade You Come
Trans: The Benedictines of Saint Cecilia’s Abbey, Ryde, UK

The glory that surrounds your name,
O blessed Levi, is a proof
Of God’s all loving clemency
Besides a sign of hope for us.

While seated at your counting board,
O Matthew, Christ just bade you come,
Without a word of all the wealth
Of grace He had in store for you.

Your heart no hesitation knew,
From then your house became His own,
In following, you gave up all
To earn the triumph of the Twelve.

The life the Son of David led,
The words He spoke, you stored as gold,
Which, handed down the centuries,
Have fed and taught the Christian world.

You spread the Gospel fearlessly;
Until at last you shed your blood,
In witness to your faith in Christ
And pledge of your undying love.

Apostle and evangelist
With Martyrdom as final crown,
Bring us to heaven, that with you
God’s praises we may ever sing.
Amen.