👉🏽👉🏽👉🏽 What Does #Apostle ( #Apostles ) Mean? A Sacred Teaching of the Church
Part 2
Dearly beloved in Christ,
We greet you with the peace of God. Let every ear be attentive and every heart be humbled, for the teachings of the saints are not merely history they are living examples for our salvation. The meaning and mission of the Apostles are not only to be read, but to be embraced, lived, and honored. The following is a sacred unfolding of who the Apostles were, their divine calling, and the wondrous works they performed in the name of our Crucified and Risen Lord.
Who Are the Apostles?
The word Apostle comes from the Greek "Apostolos," meaning "one who is sent." The Apostles were chosen by Christ as His closest disciples eyewitnesses of His life, death, and resurrection. They were entrusted to proclaim the Gospel and establish the Church upon the solid rock of faith. Through their teaching, preaching, and martyrdom, the good news reached the ends of the earth.
Lives of the Twelve Holy Apostles
1. Saint Peter (Simon)
Chief among the Apostles, he was called while fishing in the Sea of Galilee. Jesus said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Though he denied Christ three times, he repented bitterly and became a fearless preacher after the Resurrection. He authored two epistles and was crucified upside down in Rome, not considering himself worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.
2. Saint Andrew
The brother of Peter and the first disciple to follow Christ. After hearing John the Baptist declare, “Behold the Lamb of God,” he brought his brother Peter to Jesus. He preached in Asia Minor and Greece and was martyred on an X-shaped cross.
3. Saint James (Son of Zebedee)
Brother of John, and part of Christ’s inner circle, he witnessed the Transfiguration and the agony in Gethsemane. He became the first of the twelve to be martyred beheaded by King Herod Agrippa in Jerusalem.
4. Saint John the Theologian
Brother of James and the beloved disciple who rested on Jesus’ chest at the Last Supper. He stood by the Cross with the Virgin Mary and later authored the Gospel of John, three epistles, and the Book of Revelation. He was exiled to Patmos and died peacefully.
5. Saint Philip
Personally called by Christ with the words, “Follow Me.” He brought Nathanael (Bartholomew) to Jesus and preached in Asia and Syria. He was martyred in Hierapolis after converting the wife of a Roman official.
6. Saint Thomas (Didymus)
Famously doubted the Resurrection until he touched Christ’s wounds, proclaiming, “My Lord and my God!” He evangelized Persia and India and was martyred in Mylapore, India, by spears.
7. Saint Bartholomew (also known as Nathanael)
He is believed to have preached in Arabia, India, and Armenia, where he was eventually martyred. According to tradition, he was flayed alive or cast into the sea.
8. Saint Matthew (Levi)
A tax collector turned apostle. He followed Jesus immediately when called and later wrote the Gospel bearing his name. He preached in Palestine, Ethiopia, and Persia. Ethiopian tradition holds that he was martyred in Ethiopia.
9. Saint James (Son of Alphaeus)
Known as James the Less, he was likely the brother of Matthew. Some traditions associate him with James the Just, the first bishop of Jerusalem. He was martyred thrown from the temple and then beaten to death.
10. Saint Thaddeus (Judas son of James, also called Lebbaeus)
He preached in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Armenia. Renowned for his miracles, he died a martyr’s death in Persia.
11. Saint Simon the Zealot
He is often confused with other Simons. He preached in Egypt, Libya, and Persia. Tradition says he was martyred by being sawn in half or crucified.
12. Saint Matthias
He was chosen by the Apostles to replace Judas Iscariot after Christ’s Ascension (Acts 1:26). A faithful follower from the beginning, he preached in Cappadocia and was martyred possibly stoned or beheaded.
Continues 👇🏽