Benedictus Deus

Today is the Feast of St. Matthias, the apostle who replaced Judas among the twelve.  His selection as the first “apostolic successor” is recorded in Acts 1:15-26.  According to St. Clement of Alexandria (as well as Jerome and Eusebius) tell us that he was one of the seventy two disciples sent out by our Lord (Luke 10:1).

There is little know for certain about his life, but several sources indicate that he spread the Gospel around Cappadocia and in areas around the Caspian Sea, ultimately being martyred in Ethiopia after preaching to barbarians and cannibals there.  Some sources say he was crucified, others that he was stoned to death, and then beheaded with an axe, which why he is often depicted with an axe.

He was well known for his emphasis on mortification of the flesh, which makes this a very appropriate feast day for Lent.  St. Clement quotes a saying attributed to Matthias: “It behooves us to combat the flesh, and make use of it, without pampering it by unlawful gratifications. As to the soul, we must develop her power by faith and knowledge.”  (Stromata 3.4)  So he would be a good saint to pray to for help during Lent.  Another saying recorded by Clement is: “if the neighbor of an elect man sin, the elect man has sinned. For had he conducted himself as the Word prescribes, his neighbor also would have been filled with such reverence for the life he led as not to sin.”  (Stromata 7.13)  There is a Gospel of St. Matthias, but Eusebius attributes it to heretics.

He is a popular saint in Eastern Europe, especially around Budapest.  But he doesn’t seem to be very well known elsewhere as far as I know.

Catholic Encyclopedia
Patron Saint Index
EWTN (excerpt from Butler’s Lives of the Saints)