St. Barnabus

St. Barnabus is an apostle featured heavily in the book of Acts and some Epistles. He was influential in the other apostles' acceptance of St. Paul, as well as in the conversion efforts among the Gentiles. After the Paul himself, Barnabas may be the most esteemed man of the first generation of Christians besides the Twelve.


Lifetime: Unknown to ~60
Region: Roman Cyprus
Patronages: Cyprus; Antioch; Against hailstorms
Iconograpy: Flame; Gospel scroll; Olive branch
Feast Day: June 11

Barnabas appears in scripture in the book of Acts, where he is introduced as a landowner who sold all he owned and laid it at the feet of the apostles. He is identified as being known as Joseph, or Joses prior to the apostles bestowing his new name upon him.

Barnabus was a Levite, the tribe of Israel dedicated to religious and educational duties serving the priests and other tribes. After his conversion, he becomes an apostle in his own right, and is entrusted with several important missions.

Barnabus introduced Paul to the other apostles when Paul first arrived in Jerusalem after his famous and dramatic conversion. The other apostles were wary of Paul, who had persecuted Christians severely, but Barnabas, who may have known Paul from school, sponsored him and the other apostles accepted Paul to their mission.

The duo was then sent to Antioch, the site of the first Gentile Christian church, and the site where followers of Jesus were first described as "Christians". The community there was thriving, but the apostles wished to send one of their own to investigate personally how it was doing. Paul and Barnabas spent a year helping in Antioch, before returning to Jerusalem with donations the Antiochians wanted to send for the poor.

Paul and Barnabas soon retuned to Antioch, along with Barnabas' cousin John Mark. The church in Antioch were called to send out Paul and Barnabas, with John Mark as a helper, to begin witnessing to the other Gentile communities around them. The church laid hands on them and sent them off, first to Cyprus, Barnabas' birthplace.

They preached at many locations in the area, even into hostile territories. They faced increasing persecution as word of their ministry spread, and were attacked and wounded, but escaped with their lives and eventually returned to Antioch, having made many successful converts on their journey.

Barnabas and Paul stayed in Antioch for a while, but soon controversy came to their booming community. Some preachers from Jerusalem came to Antioch and told the church there that they couldn't be true Christians unless they underwent circumcision, a Jewish ritual procedure that was painful for adult men. The church in Antioch was especially worried that requiring this procedure would severely hamper their mission to the Gentiles and sent some of their own to Jerusalem to debate it. Peter ruled in favor of Antioch and their mission was able to continue.

Barnabas and Paul eventually were called to go out again on mission, this time choosing to go separate ways. Barnabas and John Mark returned to Cyprus to preach. Barnabas lived and worked for a while. He is considered the founder of the Church of Cyprus, and while the exact time and place of his death is unknown, he is traditionally believed to have been martyred for his ministry in Cyprus.

Prayer to St. Barnabas

With the Apostles, Barnabas the Levite

Shines in the glory won by many labors,

Through love of Jesus, he despised as nothing

     All that he suffered.

 

Land and possessions he abandoned also,

Charity’s ardor marked his earnest teaching;

Antioch’s converts won the name of Christians,

     Proof of their fervor.


Quickly perceiving Paul’s sincere conversion,

Gladly he welcomed such a keen companion,

By divine choosing, many miles they traveled,

     Spreading the Gospel.


Tireless and eager, he would spare no effort,

Preaching Christ Jesus by his words and goodness,

‘Til martyr’s glory sealed his never failing

     Life-long devotion.


Lord God Almighty, through the intercession

Of your great servant, give us strength to labor

For our salvation, that we may in heaven

     Praise you for ever. Amen. 

Popular posts from this blog

St. Muirgen the Mermaid

Image
Wait, an actual mermaid? That can't be real. Mermaids aren't real, so they can't be saints! Well, yes and no. Lifetime: 90 to 558 Region: Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland Patronages: People who like mermaids; Storytellers; Converts from pagan faiths (I made these up.) Iconograpy: Water; Otter; She's an actual mermaid Feast Day: January 27 Muirgen was born Li Ban and lived as a princess in her father's palace. But one day, a spring opened up under the palace, swallowing the entire building into a lake. Li Ban's whole family drowned, but Li Ban's room remained intact and continued holding air. She lived trapped in this underwater room for a year with only her dog to keep her company. After a year, Li Ban turned into a mermaid. Her faithful dog was also changed, becoming an otter to keep his master company. As a mermaid, Li Ban's lifespan was lengthened and she swam through the lake, playing with her otter for hundreds of years. Li Ban learn
Read more

St. Hildegard von Bingen

Image
Hildegard von Bingen -- or Hildegard of Bingen, in English -- was a true Renaissance woman, which is a bit ironic since she lived a full two centuries before the Renaissance began. Her feast day is today, September 17. Saint Hildegard, now one of the only four women Doctors of the Catholic church, was gifted in art, cooking, herbology, music composition, writing, and medicine. She was given "visions" (though she experienced them in all five senses) and instructions from God throughout her life starting when she was three years old. Lifetime: 1098 to 1179 Region: Roman Empire (current-day Germany) Patronages (informal): Artists; Musicians; Cooks; Creativity Iconograpy: Book & quill; Harp; Plants; Flame upon her head Feast Day: September 17 Frankly, it's hard to write about Hildegard because she did so much. Her beer recipe is the oldest known recipe to contain hops. Her collection of "spice that bring joy" are now key ingredients in the incre
Read more

St. Modomnoc of Ossory

Image
I recently discvovered that the area where Saint Modomnoc died, Kilkenny, Ireland, is where my own Irish ancestors are from. Sometimes it's those little connections that imbue so much more meaning than even the big, flashy miracles. I first learned about Saint Modomnoc from a children's book which was recommended to me by Amazon. See, sometimes algorithms can be good! The book is called The Saint and his Bees and it's an adorable story with beautiful illustrations. There's not a lot of existing information on St. Modomnoc, so much of my post today will be inspired by this book. Also, as always, I've taken a few creative liberties of my own. Lifetime: ~500 to ~550 Region: Ireland & Wales Patronages: Bees & Beekeepers; Kilkenny, Ireland Iconograpy: Bees or beehive; Green robe; Red or gray hair & beard Feast Day: February 13 Modomnoc was named Dominic during his life (putting "Mo" in front was an Irish way of adding familiarity). He
Read more