“Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection. “So, they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed...they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles." Acts 1:21-26

After Judas killed himself, it was imperative that one person had to be elected to replace him and maintain “The Twelve” chosen by Jesus. Two were named of equal merit, Joseph called Barsabbas, and Matthias. After praying to God, who knows the hearts of all men, to show which of these He had chosen, they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, who was thereby numbered with the Apostles.

Matthias was also present with the other Apostles at Pentecost. After receiving the Holy Spirit with the other apostles on the day of Pentecost, he left to preach the gospel in Judea and Colchis. The appointment came from the group, or college, of Apostles, led by Peter. Thus, was established, just days after Christ left the earth, a form of Church preservation and growth which would be repeated, and is still repeated, tens of thousands of times in Christian history.

St. Jerome and the early Christian writers Clement of Alexandria and Eusebius of Caesarea attest that Matthias was among the 72 disciples paired off and dispatched by Jesus.

Matthias ministered in Judaea and also carried out missions to other foreign places. Greek tradition states that he Christianized Cappadocia, a mountainous district now in central Turkey, later journeying to the region about the Caspian Sea, where he was martyred by crucifixion and, according to other legends, axed to death.

His symbol, related to his martyrdom, is either a cross or an axe. St. Helena, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great, reportedly transported Matthias’ relics from Jerusalem to Rome some 250 years later. A church there bears his name.

His feast was originally celebrated on February 24 (or February 25 in leap years) but in 1969 was moved to May 14. The Church placed the Feast of St. Matthias purposefully close to the Feast of the Ascension, just as his election in Acts occurred so soon after that event in the Bible.

Saint Matthias is the patron of carpenters, tailors, those with smallpox, and in prayers for perseverance and for hope.

Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Maria Mazzarello
2. Saint Michael Garicoïts
3. Saint Ampelio
4. Saint Carthage the Younger
5. Saint Costanzo of Capri