Feast of St. Bartholomew, an apostle in whom there is no guile.

 

Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle

SAINT BARTHOLOMEW was one of the twelve who were called to the apostolate by our blessed Lord himself. Several learned interpreters of the Holy Scripture take this apostle to have been the same as Nathaniel, a native of Cana, in Galilee, a doctor in the Jewish law, and one of the seventy-two disciples of Christ, to whom he was conducted by Saint Philip, and whose innocence and simplicity of heart deserved to be celebrated by the mouth of our Redeemer himself.

- Saint Bartholomew’s last removal was traditionally into Great 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 might well enough consist with his crucifixion, this double punishment being in use not only in Egypt, but also among the Persians. His foreskin was ripped off.