Matthew the Apostle

Saint Matthew the Apostle was born in the land of Israel, and the Gospels remember him as a tax collector stationed at Capernaum. There, while he sat at the customs post, Jesus looked upon him with mercy and called him, “Follow me.” Matthew rose, left his former life behind, and became one of the Twelve—an enduring sign that no past is beyond the reach of Christ’s grace. After the Lord’s Ascension, Matthew remained with the disciples in Jerusalem, sharing in the Church’s first preaching that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Early Christian tradition holds that he first proclaimed the Gospel among the Jewish people in Judea, and then carried the good news to distant lands, often associated with regions called “Ethiopia” in ancient sources. The Church also venerates him as a martyr, faithful to Christ even unto death. Honored as an Evangelist, Matthew is traditionally linked with the Gospel that bears his name, guiding countless believers to know and love the Lord. He is patron of places including Asiago and Aurano. His feast day is November 16.