Continued ππ½
They wrote letters to nurture faith, established church order, and handed down the mysteries they had received not only in doctrine, but in life itself, and were martyred in battle, laying down their lives as the ultimate testimony.
The Lord Himself said: βWhat I whisper in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.β And so they did lighting up the darkness, salting the bitterness of the world, and giving birth to the age of apostolic fruitfulness.
The Apostolic Roots of the Twelve
The twelve apostles, whom the Lord called and named, were connected mystically to the twelve tribes of Israel:
1. Peter and Andrew β Tribe of Reuben (mother from Simeon).
2. James and John β Tribe of Judah (mother from Levi).
3. Philip β Tribe of Zebulun.
4. Bartholomew β Tribe of Naphtali.
5. Thomas β Tribe of Asher.
6. Matthew β Tribe of Issachar.
7. James the son of Alphaeus β Tribe of Gad.
8. Simon the Zealot (Nathanael) β Tribe of Benjamin.
9. Thaddaeus (Lebedeus) β Tribe of Joseph.
10. Matthias (replacing Judas Iscariot) β Tribe of Dan.
This was the Lordβs new Israel built not on bloodline, but on faith, obedience, and grace.
Profiles of Apostolic Witness
Saint Peter (Cephas)
From Bethsaida, fisherman by trade.
Chosen at age 55.
Given the keys of the Kingdom (Matt. 16:17).
Evangelized in Palestine, Syria, Asia Minor, Rome.
Martyred by crucifixion under Nero Caesar.
Buried on Vatican Hill.
Saint John the Theologian
From Galilee, brother of James.
Entrusted with the Virgin Mary (John 19:26).
Exiled to Patmos, wrote Revelation.
Evangelized in Asia Minor, especially Ephesus.
Saint James (Son of Zebedee)
First of the Apostles to be martyred.
Beheaded by Herod Agrippa in 44 A.D. (Acts 12:2).
Pillar of the Jerusalem Church.
Saint Andrew
Preached in Russia, Bithynia, Greece.
Founded the Church of Constantinople.
Crucified on an X-shaped cross in 80 A.D..
Saint Philip
From Bethsaida.
Brought Nathanael to Christ.
Preached in Phrygia, Asia Minor.
Crucified for the faith.
Saint Thomas (Didymus)
Preached in Persia and India.
Expressed doubt, then exclaimed, βMy Lord and my God!β (John 20:28).
Martyred in India, flayed and salted alive (May 3, per Snaksar).
Final Thoughts
O blessed are the Apostles, whose lives were consumed like candles, that the world might be illumined with truth. They are not only messengers but foundation stones of the Church, pillars of faith, and torchbearers of eternity.
Let us, then, walk in the light they handed down rejoicing in the truth, guarding the apostolic faith, and invoking their prayers in our every struggle.
May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue that He has created, today and always.
May the blessings of God's mother, the virgin, and the cross be upon us.
Amen.
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