From: trudie.Miller@cox.net   
      
   August 24th - Saint Bartholomew, Apostle and Martyr   
   (d. ca. 71)   
      
   Saint Bartholomew, Bar-Tolmai or son of Tolmai, was one of the twelve   
   Apostles called to the apostolate by our Blessed Lord Himself. His name is   
   more adequately rendered by his given name, Nathanael. If one wonders why   
   the synoptic Gospels always call him Bartholomew, it would be because the   
   name Nathanael in Hebrew is equivalent to that of Matthew, since both in   
   Hebrew signify gift of God; in this way the Evangelists avoided all   
   confusion between the two Apostles. He was a native of Cana in Galilee, a   
   doctor of the Jewish law, and a friend of Philip.   
      
   Philip, advised by Peter and Andrew, hastened to communicate to his friend   
   the good news of his discovery of Christ: "We have found Him whom Moses in   
   the Law, and the Prophets, wrote! Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming   
   to Him, and said of him, "Behold a true Israelite, in whom there is no   
   guile." (Cf. John 1:45-49) His innocence and simplicity of heart deserved to   
   be celebrated with this high praise in the divine mouth of Our Redeemer. And   
   Nathanael, when Jesus told him He had already seen him in a certain place,   
   confessed his faith at once: "Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God, Thou art the   
   King of Israel!"   
      
   Being eminently qualified by divine grace to discharge the functions of an   
   Apostle, he carried the Gospel through the most barbarous countries of the   
   East, penetrating into the remoter Indies, baptizing neophytes and casting   
   out demons. A copy of the Gospel of Saint Matthew was found in India by   
   Saint Pantænus in the third century, taken there, according to local   
   tradition, by Saint Bartholomew. Saint John Chrysostom said the Apostle also   
   preached in Asia Minor and, with Saint Philip, suffered there, though not   
   mortally, for the faith. Saint Bartholomew's last mission was in Greater   
   Armenia, where, preaching in a place obstinately addicted to the worship of   
   idols, he was crowned with a glorious martyrdom. The modern Greek historians   
   say that he was condemned by the governor of Albanopolis to be crucified.   
   Others affirm that he was flayed alive, which treatment might well have   
   accompanied his crucifixion, this double punishment being in use not only in   
   Egypt, but also among the Persians.   
      
   Bartholomew is the patron of bookbinders, butchers, corn-chandlers, dyers,   
   glovers, furriers, leather-workers, plasterers, shoemakers, tailors,   
   tanners, vine-growers, and Florentine salt and cheese merchants. He is   
   invoked against nervous disorders and twitchings (Roeder).   
      
   Reflection: The characteristic virtue of the Holy Apostles was zeal for the   
   divine glory. A soldier is always ready to defend the honor of his prince,   
   and a son that of his father; can a Christian say he loves God if he is   
   indifferent to His honor?   
      
   Sources: Dictionnaire de la Bible, Ed. F. Vigouroux (Letouzey et Ané: Paris,   
   1912), Vol. 5, "Philippe, Apôtre"; Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a   
   compilation based on Butler's Lives of the Saints and other sources by John   
   Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither   
   intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity.   
   -Saint Therese of Lisieux   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is   
   willing, but the flesh is weak. St. Matthew 26:41   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   A prayer during affliction:   
      
   O God! keep me from bitterness. Tis so easy to nurse sharp bitter thoughts   
   in such dull dark hours! Against self-pity, Man of Sorrows, defend me with   
   Thy deep sweetness and Thy gentle power! Help me to harvest a new sympathy   
   for suffering humanity, and a wiser pity for those who lift a heavier cross   
   with Thee.   
      
   Nihil Obstat - Rev. Martin S. Rushford - Diocesan Censor   
   Imprimatur Most Rev. Francis J Mugavero, DD - Bishop of Brooklyn, NY -   
   2/28/78   
      
      
      
   **Don't forget to pray the Stations of the Cross on Fridays   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)