February 24 + Saint Matthias the Apostle

After the Ascension of Jesus, Peter proposed to an assembled group that they choose a disciple of Christ to fill the place of the traitor Judas. Lots were drawn, with the result in favor of Matthias. Matthias had known Jesus personally during Jesus' public ministry, from the time John the Baptist baptized Jesus until Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension. The Church venerates Matthias on an equal footing with the other Apostles, whose voices resound throughout the world, from generation to generation, giving testimony of what they saw and heard in their life with our Lord. He was martyred by crucifixion and received "the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him."

Matthias is a patron saint of alcoholics and is invoked for assistance against alcoholism and for support by recovering alcoholics. He also serves as the patron saint of carpenters, tailors, people who need hope and perseverance as they struggle with any kind of addiction, and caregivers of addicted people.

Clement of Alexandria said that Matthias, like all the other apostles, was not chosen by Jesus for what he already was, but for what Jesus foresaw he would become. He was elected not because he was worthy but because he would become worthy. Jesus chooses us in the same way.