Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew
Image: Fr. Doyle.com
(CNA) Saint Bartholomew is one of Christ’s Twelve Apostles, mentioned sixth in the three Gospel lists: Matthew 10:2-3 Mark 3:18 Luke 6:14 and seventh in the lists of Acts 1:13
Besides being listed as an Apostle, Bartholomew is not otherwise mentioned in the New Testament at least not under the name Bartholomew. Many ancient writers and Catholic traditions have identified Bartholomew as Nathaniel in the Gospel of John: John 1:45-51 and John 21:2
The Gospel passage read at Mass on today’s ‘Feast of St. Bartholomew’ is precisely the passage from John 1:45-51 where Nathaniel is introduced to Jesus by his friend Phillip and Jesus says of him: “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him.” –John 1:47
We are presented with the Apostle’s character in this brief and dialogue with the Lord Jesus: “Nathaniel said to him, ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” —John 1:48 Nathaniel responded, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” —John 1:49
Being a true child of Israel, Nataniel was a man well read in the Scriptures, knew what they said of the Messiah and where He would come from. This is why he was skeptical of Philip’s claim that Jesus is the Messiah: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” —John 1:46 Nathaniel heart was undivided and his intentions pure–his openness to reality was always ready to recognize and surrender to the truth whenever he encountered it.
In encountering Jesus and hearing His words, Nathaniel found himself face-to-face with the Truth himself and like ‘John the Baptist’ leap in his mother’s womb at the Lord’s presence, Nathaniel’s words leaped out of his own heart in a clear and simple confession of faith: ” Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” —John 1:49
Jesus in Matthew 5:8 says: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” In Nathaniel we have an example of a pure man who sees–recognizes God when confronted with Him and on seeing Him believes in Him and upon believing in Him, follows Him.
Nothing for certain is known of the life of Nathaniel/Bartholomew after the Ascension of Jesus but tradition holds that he ministered in the East and died a Martyrs death in Armenia Albanopolis being flayed alive and then crucified head downward by Order of Astyages, for having converted his brother Polymius to the Lord Jesus.
More here on Saint Bartholomew from EWTN
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