St. Bartholomew, Apostle (24 August): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

Today we commemorate St. Bartholomew the Apostle, one of the Twelve chosen by Our Lord and traditionally identified with Nathanael of Cana. In this reading from Butler’s Lives of the Saints, we hear of St. Bartholomew’s formation under Christ, his reception of the Holy Ghost, and the extraordinary apostolic zeal that carried the Gospel into distant nations. Tradition places his missionary labors throughout the East and even into India, where ancient testimony relates that Christians later possessed a Hebrew copy of St. Matthew’s Gospel said to have been brought there by Bartholomew. His final mission took him to Armenia, where he received the crown of martyrdom. Ancient traditions relate that he suffered crucifixion, flaying alive, or both. But Butler does more than recount history. He confronts us with the contrast between the Apostles’ heroic zeal and our own spiritual sloth. They crossed nations, endured prisons, dangers, persecution and death for Christ. Yet how easily do we claim we have no time for prayer, penance, charity, or the sanctification of our own souls? The characteristic virtue of the Apostles was zeal for the glory of God. May St. Bartholomew obtain for us that same courage, charity, and burning desire that God be known, loved and faithfully served. St. Bartholomew the Apostle, pray for us! 00:00 St. Bartholomew the Apostle 00:16 The Meaning of the Name Bartholomew 00:40 Was Bartholomew the Same Person as Nathanael? 01:10 Philip, Nathanael & the Twelve Apostles 01:35 Chosen by Christ as One of the Twelve 01:59 Pentecost & the Spirit of the Apostles 02:16 How the Apostles Converted Nations 02:31 Why Apostolic Preaching Bears So Little Fruit Today 03:01 Humility, Zeal & Charity in Evangelization 03:34 St. Bartholomew Carries the Gospel East 04:06 Christianity in India & St. Matthew’s Gospel 04:22 Bartholomew’s Missionary Travels 04:38 The Astonishing Labors of the Apostles 04:55 Our Spiritual Sloth Compared With the Apostles 05:20 No Time for Prayer, Fasting or Penance? 05:44 The Apostles Called Themselves Unprofitable Servants 06:01 St. Bartholomew’s Mission in Armenia 06:10 His Martyrdom 06:18 Flayed Alive & Crucified 06:36 The Relics of St. Bartholomew 07:07 St. Bartholomew’s Relics in Rome 07:32 The Famous Statue of St. Bartholomew 07:48 Feast of St. Bartholomew — August 24 07:56 The Apostolic Virtue of Zeal 08:13 Charity for Souls 08:26 That God May Be Known, Loved & Served 08:51 Devoting Every Action to God 09:06 Conclusion https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/august/st-bartholomew-apostle/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 #StBartholomew #SaintBartholomew #CatholicSaints #SaintOfTheDay #Catholic #CatholicChurch #Apostles #Nathanael #ChristianMartyrs #Martyrdom #CatholicHistory #LivesOfTheSaints #ButlersLives #ApostolicZeal #SensusFidelium