Saint Matthias, Apostle

May 14 – St. Matthias, Apostle – (Feb 24 for some) –

So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:23-26). Matthias is often represented with an open Bible and a double-bladed battle-ax because he is said to have been beheaded after his mission work.

~Image: Saint Matthias, tempera on wood, Lesser Poland XV-XVI century

~Image taken by Mathiasrex, Maciej Szczepańczyk [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons