Saint of the day June 11: Saint Barnabas the Apostle. Catholic Saints

Every June 11 the Church celebrates Saint Barnabas, Apostle, considered this way by the first Fathers of the Church and by Saint Luke, although he was not part of the initial group of the twelve chosen by Jesus.

Call to apostolic task

Once converted to the cause of Christ, the Holy Spirit entrusted Barnabas with specific missions, which he fulfilled with zeal and generosity. This earned him, in fact, being counted among the Apostles in a very similar way to that of Saint Paul.

Barnabas was appreciated for being “a kind man, full of the Holy Spirit and of great faith” (Acts 11:24). He was born in Cyprus and belonged to the tribe of Levi; His real name was “Joseph”. Those who changed his name were the other apostles, who began to call him “Barnabas”, which according to Saint Luke means “the one who encourages and excites”, or “the mighty one”; although etymologically, given the Aramaic root of the term, he could also be understood as “the son of the prophet.”

In the Acts of the Apostles it appears in chapter 4, where there is the story according to which he sold his property and gave the money collected to the Twelve, to be distributed among the poor.

The proper thing for the apostle is to do ‘apostolate’

Saint Paul says: “Well, how could I boast that I announce the Gospel? I am obliged to do so, and woe betide me if I do not proclaim the Gospel!” (1 Cor 9, 16).

Barnabas collaborated very closely with the Apostle of the Gentiles, and with him he learned to bear witness and announce the Good News of Jesus. Both spent a time in Antioch, a place that became the epicenter of the evangelization of Asia Minor, and where for the first time the followers of Christ were called “Christians.” From Antioch, Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem carrying the collection for the hungry in Judea. While there, the Holy Spirit entrusted them both with the announcement among the teachers of the Law, from whom they received the laying on of hands and then left accompanied by the Evangelist Mark, cousin of Barnabas.

After touring different cities, confirming the converts and ordaining presbyters, they returned to Antioch; They then participated in the Council of Jerusalem, in which it was declared that the Gentiles were not subject to the mandate of circumcision. This Council, with this measure, closed the controversy that the issue had caused in the young Church and that, just as it had produced a dispute between Paul and Peter, it also gave rise to a certain distance between Paul and Barnabas.

For the second missionary journey, Saint Paul left accompanied by Silas, and Barnabas by Mark; On that occasion the two apostles took different paths. Later, both would meet in Corinth.

Pastor of the nascent Church

What happened to Saint Barnabas after that encounter is more or less uncertain. There are sources that indicate that he accompanied Saint Peter to Rome, and that he then traveled north, where he founded the Church in Milan. Other sources place him on his return to Cyprus, where he would have been bishop. As it were, today both places recognize him as the founder of their respective ecclesial communities and as the first bishop.

It is said that Barnabas was stoned to death because of an accusation made by a group of Jewish teachers from the Diaspora, jealous of his wisdom. His remains were buried near Salamis – the island of Cyprus – and found in the year 488. The testimonies of the discovery show that the apostle carried on his chest a copy of the Gospel of Saint Matthew, written by his own hand. Later his remains were transferred to Mancheras (Cyprus).

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If you want to know a little more about Saint Barnabas, we recommend reading this article from the Catholic Encyclopedia: https://ec.aciprensa.com/wiki/San_BernabIt is.

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