Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
Today is the feast of St. Matthias. After the death of Judas, the apostles needed to replace him. Two candidates were chosen: Joseph Barsabas and Matthias. They decided between these two by drawing lot. It was Matthias who was chosen as the twelfth Apostle. However, there were qualifications: he must be a follower of Jesus from His baptism to Ascension, and he had to have seen the risen Lord.
Matthias preached in the territories of Judaea and Cappadocia. He promoted mortification, which is the practice of strengthening the will in order to overcome one’s sinful tendencies (this practice helps one to grow in the likeness of Christ). It is thought that he suffered martyrdom by either means of crucifixion or beheading.
It is easy to say that since little is known about Matthias, he would quickly fade into obscurity. But since he was an apostle, his name is etched into the heart of the early Church as a dedicated follower of the Lord and a feast day is designated for his celebration.
Another reason I will personally never forget St. Matthias is because, on a sunny spring morning on May 14, 1975, 37 of my classmates and I were ordained for the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Chicago. There are certain dates that are burned into one’s memory - it’s usually a day that changes your life forever.
I had always wanted to be a priest and now, with the imposition of hands for a few brief seconds by John Cardinal Cody, that desire would be fulfilled. Every year has produced its challenges and one never feels adequate to possess the gift of priesthood. However, in my 38 years as a priest, I have encountered the love of Jesus in a multitude of ways, which has allowed me to grow in my priestly office. Each year, I grow in my gratitude to God for calling me to serve His Church.
Today, I offer a special prayer for Cardinal Cody who, through the power of Apostolic succession, ordained me to the priesthood. I would hope that through the inspiration of St. Matthias the Apostle, I might strive to become more like Jesus and challenge my brothers and sisters to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Note: This blog originally appeared as the May 14, 2013 "Love One Another" email sent to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki. If you are interested in signing up for these email messages, please click here.