St. Bartholomew is the patron of our parish
Feast Day: August 24
St. Bartholomew is the patron of bookbinders, butchers, furriers, leather-workers, plasterers, shoemakers, tailors, tanners, vine-growers, and Florentine salt and cheese merchants. He is invoked against nervous disorders and twitchings.
Pray the St. Bartholomew Novena!
Learn a St. Bartholomew Hymn!
Who is St. Bartholomew?
When Jesus sees Nathanael approaching, he exclaims: "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile!" (Jn 1: 47). This provokes the curiosity of Nathanael, who answers in amazement: "How do you know me?" (Jn 1: 48). Jesus says: "Before Philip called you when you were under the fig tree, I saw you" (Jn 1: 48). We do not know what had happened under this fig tree. It had to do with a decisive moment in Nathanael's life. Jesus' words move his heart, and he feels understood: "This man knows everything about me. He knows and is familiar with the road of life; I can truly trust this man". And so he answers with a clear and beautiful confession of faith: "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" (Jn 1: 49). This confession is the first step in the journey of attachment to Jesus.
According to information handed down by Eusebius, the fourth-century historian, a certain Pantaenus is supposed to have discovered traces of Bartholomew's presence even in