Calling of St. Matthew

St. Matthew recognized by all Christians to be one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ and the author of St. Matthew's Gospel of the New Testament.

As seen in the Gospel of Matthew 9:9, Jesus calls Matthew to follow Him, "As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

The calling of St. Matthew by Jesus was not understood by the first followers of Jesus. St. Matthew was a despised tax collector for Herod and considered a sinner, oppressing the people he collected the money from.

Jesus explains in (Matthew 9:10-13) 10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

12On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Patron Saint Matthew

St. Matthew is the patron saint of Christians who deal with money as an occupation:

* Accountants
* Bankers
* Bookkeepers
* Tax collectors

Many Christians who have St. Matthew as a patron saint wear a St. Matthew medal or a St. Matthew pendant. They recite a prayer to St. Matthew, asking for his intercession in helping them to be honest and true to Jesus Christ in their careers. Wearing a St. Matthew necklace reminds them to keep in mind the teachings of Jesus as they deal with the monetary issues of other people.
Prayer to St. Matthew
Dear Levi, now known as Matthew, you were first a publican, a taxcollector, and then a gatherer of souls for Christ after immediately following his call. Later you wrote wonderful accounts for your Jewish brethren of what Jesus, descendant of David, said and did as Teacher and Savior.

Make all accountants imitate your example in giving careful and honest accounts.

Prayer to Saint Matthew the Apostle

Dear publican become a Saint, after once gathering taxes and tolls how wonderful was your conversion by grace when discarding your earthly possessions you followed the Poor Man of Nazareth. The Mammon of Money is still worshiped. Inspire bankers with kindness and with the desire to help where they can; for what is done to the least, to the poor, is done to Jesus, the Son of Man. Amen.