Saint of the Day: St. Barnabas, Apostle


San Barnabas Altarpiece - detail (Madonna Enthroned with Saints)
Saint Barnabas with the Virgin and Child
Sandro Botticelli1 490
Tempera on wood, 268 x 280 cm
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence


Barnabas was not one of the original apostles, but was a Levite from Cyprus, originally named Joseph but renamed Barnabas, which means "Son of Encouragement" by them. It was Barnabas who presented St. Paul to the other Apostles when, after his long retreat in Arabia, he came to Jerusalem for the first time after his conversion to submit for Peter's approval the mission to the Gentiles entrusted to him by the Master Himself. He was present with Paul at the Council of Jerusalem (ca. 50). Barnabas was Paul's companion and helper on his first missionary journey and returned with him to Jerusalem, but left him when he set out on his second journey and went to Cyprus. After having converted many souls to Christ, Barnabas died in Cyprus during Nero's reign; tradition has it that he was stoned to death. The name of St. Barnabas is mentioned in the Canon of the Mass.

Name Meaning: son of encouragement; son of consolation
Patronage: against hailstorms; Antioch; Cyprus; invoked as peacemaker; Marino, Italy Representation: ax; lance; middle-aged bearded apostle, often bearing a book or olive branch; standing on or near a pile of stones while holding a book; stones; with Saint Paul.

St. Luke describes Barnabas as a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of Faith". (Catholic Encyclopedia)
You can learn more about St. Barnabas at the Catholic Encyclopedia and in the Acts of the Apostles.
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