St. Bartholomew, Apostle and Martyr

Deus, in adjutorium meum intende.  Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina.
O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me.

   I couldn't pass up the feast of St. Bartholemew. The feasts of the Apostles are spread throughout the liturgical year, after Pentecost.  It is said that's because it shows that the Apostles are the foundation on which the Church rests.

   St. Bartholomew is the sixth listed by the four Evangelists. Today's Gospel, St. Luke, 6:12-19, lists the Apostles in order. Philip and Bartholomew are listed together. The name, Bartholomew, means son of Tholomy. However, it is commonly held that he is the one brought to Our Lord by Philip. St. John's Gospel doesn't mention Bartholomew, but says that Philip and Nathanael came together to see Jesus, and he was among the disciples to whom He appeared after the resurrection, on the shore of Galilee. The other Gospels don't use the name of Nathanael, but after Philip they always mention Bartholomew.

   Bartholomew preached in Arabia. According to tradition he was flayed alive and then beheaded. His statues always show him holding the instruments of his martyrdom, some even holding what looks to be a piece of skin. His relics are in Rome in the church named for him, on an island in the Tiber.

   From John 1: 45-49.  "Philip met Nathanael and said to him: The one of whom Moses has written in the law and whom the prophets have announced we have found: it is Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said to him: Can anything good come from Nazareth? Phiip said to him: Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards Him and said of him: That is a true Israelite in who there is no guile. Nathanael said to Him: Whence knowest Thou me: Jesus answered: Before Philip called thee when thou wast under the fig tree I saw thee. Nathanael replied: Rabbi Thou art the Son of God, Thou are the King of Israel."

   As might be noted, Church history and the development of liturgy, etc. fascinates me. Although it might be boring to some, or inconsequential, there is method to the formation of the liturgical year. Pentecost is called the birth of the Church, with the Holy Ghost descending upon the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Apostles were no longer cowering, uncertain individuals, but strong preachers, graced with tongues, converting and ministering to their flocks, spreading the Gospel throughout the known world, willing to give up their lives for the salvation of souls in the following of Christ.

   The season after Pentecost is the longest of the Church's seasons, and is called the Cycle of the Saints. Besides St. John the Baptist, St. Stephen the First Martyr, the Holy Innocents and the Apostles, there are the feasts of those whom the Holy Ghost chose to fill the place of Judas (Matthias) and the one to share in the work of St. Paul (Barnabas).  The liturgy takes great pains to honor God's chosen ones.

   Mirificavit Dominus Sanctos suos.
   The Lord hath glorified His saints.