St. Matthew was one of the Twelve Apostles called by Our Lord. He is best known as the tax collector whom Jesus called and as one of the four Evangelists. As Catholics, we pray the novena to St. Matthew to ask for courage in answering God’s call and for the grace of conversion, so that we may leave behind whatever prevents us from following Christ without hesitation.
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Tradition identifies St. Matthew with Levi, the son of Alphaeus, a Galilean who worked as a tax collector at Capernaum and collected customs under Herod Antipas. Although he was Jewish, his profession was widely despised, and tax collectors were commonly regarded as public sinners. Traditional accounts describe publicans as being shunned in trade, at table, and in public prayer with other Jews. The name Levi is associated with attachment, while the name Matthew means "Gift of God." Traditional retellings picture him seated at a table with account books and money when Jesus looked at him and said, "Follow me." St. Matthew rose at once, leaving the silver of his former trade behind to follow Christ. As a disciple and Apostle, he accompanied Christ until the time of His Passion and was among the witnesses of His Resurrection in Galilee.
Ancient Church tradition attributes the first Gospel to St. Matthew. Around the year 130, Papias of Hierapolis wrote that St. Matthew compiled the sayings of the Lord in the Hebrew tongue and that each person interpreted them as best he could. The Hebrew or Aramaic text mentioned by the ancient sources has not survived. Traditions about St. Matthew’s later mission and death differ. One longstanding tradition holds that he preached and suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia. The Latin Church celebrates his feast on September 21, and the Greek Church celebrates it on November 16. The novena is traditionally prayed from September 12 through September 20 in preparation for his feast on September 21. His conversion reminds the faithful that Christ calls sinners to leave their former lives, receive His mercy, and follow Him without delay. In sacred art, St. Matthew is traditionally represented by a winged man and is sometimes shown holding a lance as an emblem of his martyrdom.
