St. Matthew the Apostle – Patron Saint of Accountants and Bankers

St. Matthew the Apostle Biography

St. Matthew, also known as Matthew the Apostle, is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and is believed by many to be the author of the Gospel of Matthew, one of the four gospels in the New Testament of the Bible. He is also honored as a saint by the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican Church. His feast day is celebrated on September 21st.

Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector, an occupation that was considered to be unethical among the Jewish community of his time, by Jesus, and was called to be one of his twelve apostles. Matthew was working at a toll booth in Capernaum, where he collected taxes for the Roman Empire, when Jesus called him to be his disciple. Matthew responded to the call and left everything to follow Jesus.

Matthew’s Gospel is the first book of the New Testament and is believed to have been written for the Jewish community. It is characterized by its emphasis on the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in the person of Jesus and its emphasis on the teachings of Jesus.

Matthew is also known for his calling of a public meeting in which he presented Jesus to a mixed crowd as the Messiah, and his gospel also includes the Sermon on the Mount, one of the most famous teachings of Jesus, where he presented the Beatitudes.

Matthew, like the other apostles, was present at many of the significant events in Jesus’s life, such as the Transfiguration and the Last Supper, and he was also one of the twelve apostles present at the Resurrection.

After the ascension of Jesus, Matthew continued to spread the message of Jesus, and he is believed to have preached in Palestine and other countries, including Ethiopia and Persia. He is also believed to have written his gospel in the 60s AD and was one of the early leaders of the Christian community.

According to tradition, Matthew preached the gospel in Ethiopia, then went to Parthia, now Iran, and eventually died a martyr, killed by a sword. His relics were said to have been brought back to Salerno in Italy in 954 and today, St. Matthew the Apostle is the patron saint of tax collectors, accountants and bankers.

Matthew’s Gospel is widely considered one of the most important texts in the New Testament and his life serves as an inspiration for people of all walks of life, especially those who feel like outsiders, and who

The Life of St. Matthew the Apostle

St. Matthew, son of Alphaeus and a native of Galilee, was employed as a publican, or tax-collector, for the Romans. As he sat one day in the customhouse by the lake at Capharnaum, Jesus passed by. The Savior said to him, “Follow Me”; and Matthew rose from his place and follow Him. Thus he was one of the Twelve chosen by Jesus to be an Apostle; he is also one of the four Evangelists.

One of the Four Evangelists

St. Matthew wrote his Gospel, prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., to prove to the converts from Judaism that Jesus was their Savior and King Who had been foretold by the Prophets. The Jews considered the Romans as enemies of their country, as outcasts, and as notorious sinners; the Pharisees even refused to sit at table with a Roman. After his conversion, St. Matthew invited Jesus and His disciples and some of the publicans to dine at his home. When the Pharisees complained because the Master with romans and sinners, Jesus said to them, “They that are in health need not the physician. I have not come to call the just, but sinners to penance”.

St. Irenaeus says that St. Matthew preached the Gospel among the Hebrews; whilst St. Clement of Alexandria states that this mission lasted fifteen years. Other ancient writers claim that St. Matthew labored in Persia, Syria, Greece and Ethiopia. His shrine is at Salerno, Italy, whither his relics were translated in the 11th century.

Popular St. Matthew Medal and St. Matthew Rosary

Today, the Catholic church regards St. Matthew as the patron saint of accountants and bankers. As a tax collector by trade St. Matthew is a model for all accountants and financial professionals of how to live a life in service to God and to follow Jesus.

Prayers to St. Matthew the Apostle

O Glorious St. Matthew,
in your Gospel you portray Jesus
as the longed-for Messiah
who fulfilled the Prophets
of the Old Covenant and
as the Lawgiver who founded
a Church of the New Covenant.
Obtain for us the grace to see
Jesus living in His Church and
to follow His teaching in our lives
on Earth so that we may live forever
with Him in heaven.
Amen.

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Prayer to St. Matthew during financial hardships

O Glorious St. Matthew, in your Gospel you portray Jesus as the longed-for Messiah who fulfilled the Prophets of the Old Covenant and as the new Lawgiver who founded a Church of the New Covenant. Obtain for us the grace to see Jesus living in his Church and to follow his teachings in our lives on earth so that we may live forever with him in Heaven.

Prayer to St. Matthew the Apostle

Dear St. Matthew, as one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus himself, you have a special place in the hearts of all Christians. You left behind your former life as a tax collector to become a faithful follower of Jesus, sharing his message of love and salvation with all you encountered. Intercede for us now, as we strive to live out the teachings of Jesus in our own lives.

Help us to have the courage to leave behind our old ways and embrace the truth of the Gospel, just as you did. Give us the strength to persevere in our faith, even in the face of opposition and persecution. And above all, help us to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to all those around us, that they too may come to know the love and grace of our Lord.

Prayer for the Intercession of St. Matthew

St. Matthew, as you were a witness to the ministry of Jesus, I ask that you intercede for me now. Help me to have a deeper understanding of the teachings of Jesus and the truth of the Gospel. Give me the courage to live out my faith in a world that often resists the message of the Lord.

Grant me the grace to be a faithful witness to Jesus in all that I do, and the wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent. May I always be an instrument of your Lord, spreading the good news of salvation to all those I encounter, that they too may come to know the love of God.

Prayer for Guidance through the Intercession of St. Matthew

Dear St. Matthew, I ask for your guidance as I seek to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. Help me to be a faithful disciple of Jesus, following in his steps and sharing his message of love and redemption with all those around me.

Grant me the wisdom to know what is right and the courage to do it, even when it is difficult. May I always be mindful of the needs of others and the call to serve my fellow man, spreading the love of Christ to all those I encounter.

Through your intercession, may I come to know the peace that only the Lord can provide, and may I be a faithful servant of God until the end of my days.

St. Matthew the Apostle: Patron Saint of Tax Collectors and Bankers

St. Matthew the Apostle is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and is remembered for his role as a disciple and writer of the Gospel of Matthew. He is venerated as the patron saint of tax collectors and bankers, and is also recognized as the patron saint of accountants and financial advisors.

Patron Saint of Tax Collectors

St. Matthew is remembered as a tax collector, or publican, who was called by Jesus to follow him as one of his disciples. Tax collectors in biblical times were often considered to be corrupt and were shunned by society, but Jesus saw the potential for good in Matthew and chose him as one of his apostles. St. Matthew is therefore venerated as the patron saint of tax collectors and is invoked by those who work in related fields, such as accountants and financial advisors.

Patron Saint of Bankers

St. Matthew is also remembered as the patron saint of bankers due to his former profession as a tax collector and his role as a financial advisor. Bankers and those in related fields are called upon to seek his intercession and guidance in their work, which often involves handling money and making financial decisions.

Patron Saint of Accountants

St. Matthew is also recognized as the patron saint of accountants, as his background as a tax collector required him to have a strong understanding of financial matters and the ability to keep accurate records. Accountants are therefore encouraged to seek his intercession and guidance in their work, and to follow his example of integrity and honesty in their dealings with others.

In conclusion, St. Matthew the Apostle is a revered and much-loved patron saint who is associated with a variety of professions and causes. From tax collectors and bankers to accountants and financial advisors, he is remembered for his role as a disciple of Jesus, his writing of the Gospel of Matthew, and his background as a tax collector, and is therefore invoked by many people seeking his intercession and guidance.

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Reflection on the feast day of St. Matthew the Apostle

The feast day of St. Matthew the Apostle is celebrated on September 21st in the Catholic Church.

St. Matthew, also known as Levi the son of Alphaeus, was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and is believed to be the author of the Gospel of Matthew. According to the Bible, he was a tax collector before he became an apostle and was called by Jesus to follow him. He is considered the patron saint of tax collectors and accountants.

As we celebrate the feast day of St. Matthew the Apostle, we are reminded of the importance of repentance and forgiveness in our lives. St. Matthew teaches us that no matter what our past may have been, we can always turn to God and ask for forgiveness, and that God is always willing to forgive us when we repent. He reminds us that we are all called to be ambassadors for Christ, sharing the good news of salvation with those around us.

St. Matthew is also a reminder of the importance of humility and obedience in our faith. He was a tax collector before he became an apostle and he left everything behind to follow Jesus. He reminds us that true wisdom and understanding come from humbly listening to the voice of God, and being open to His guidance and revelation.

As we celebrate the feast day of St. Matthew the Apostle, let us call on his powerful intercession and ask him to guide and protect us on our journey of faith. Let us also remember that just like St. Matthew, we too have the opportunity to be faithful servants of God, spreading the good news of the Gospel to all those around us. May God bless us all.

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Saints Similar to St. Mark the Evangelist

You may also be interested in reading the Biography of St. Maron and the Biography of St. Martin of Tours and the Biography of St. Martin de Porres. These saints share connections through their contributions to the Christian faith. St. Mark the Evangelist is known for writing the Gospel of Mark. St. Maron was a Christian hermit and the founder of the Maronite Church. St. Martin of Tours and St. Martin de Porres were known for their charitable works and piety. Next up: Biography of St. Maron

 

Also check out our handmade St. Mark the Evangelist Medal and St. Mark the Evangelist Rosary and St. Mark the Evangelist Rosary Bracelet.