St. Mathew Feast day

Matthew the Evangelist (מתי/מתתיהו, "Gift of Yahweh", Standard Hebrew and Tiberian Hebrew: Mattay or Mattithyahu; Septuagint Greek: Ματθαῖος, Matthaios) was, according to Christian tradition, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus and one of the four Evangelists.

Matthew, a former tax collector, composed the Gospel of Christ. It was first published in Judea in Hebrew for Hebrew Christians. It was later translated into Greek. In addition, the Gospel according to the Hebrews is alleged to have been written by Matthew as well






The first major religious works of Michelangelo Merisi, detto Caravaggio, in Rome were the paintings ordered for the Contarelli Chapel of the French Church in the City, San Luigi dei Francesi. It was a time of celebration for French Catholics, as their new king, Henry of Navarre (IV), abandoned Protestant heresy and converted to the faith of his glorious ancestor Saint Louis (IX).


Few artists were as prepared to demonstrate in colors the spirit of Trent and the Catholic Reformation as Caravaggio. And his stark realism would astound the faithful who first saw the Vocazione di san Matteo (The Calling of Saint Matthew), in 1599-1600.