Saint Matthias

The 14th of May marks the feast of St Matthias. The Acts of the Apostles tell us how he was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot.

“We must therefore choose someone who has been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was travelling around with us…… and he can act with us as witness to his resurrection.”

“Having nominated two candidates Joseph known as Barsabbas and Matthias….. They then few lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, he was listed as one of the twelve apostles. ”

That is all we really know about him. There are many legends surrounding his life, none of which can be verified with any certainty. I find our lack of knowledge of him rather reassuring, I am reminded by the countless Bishops, priests and lay men and women who have laboured hard, produced much fruit and their work is either unknown or largely forgotten, except by Almighty God of course.