Sep. 21 Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist; Ember Saturday, Feast

Today is the Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. At the time that Jesus summoned him to follow Him, Matthew was a publican, that is, a tax-collector for the Romans. His profession was hateful to the Jews because it reminded them of their subjection; the publican, also, was regarded by the pharisees as the typical sinner. St. Matthew is known to us principally as an Evangelist. In the early Church, Matthew's Gospel was thought the first to be written, which explains its position in the New Testament.