Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of John (1: 45-51) in which Philip tells Nathaniel about finding Jesus of Nazareth. After reading the Gospel, Fr Paul shares a little bit about St Bartholomew whose memorial we celebrate today.

Fr Paul says Bartholomew was born at Cana and brought by the Apostle Philip to meet Jesus and apart from this there is nothing much else known for certain. Eusebius speaks of him in India, but the Roman Martyrology has him martyred in Armenia, skinned alive according to the Persian custom. Because his relics were enshrined on the island in the Tiber that is principally used as a hospital, he has become a patron saint of the sick.

Today, Fr Paul invites us to pray ‘St Bartholomew, Pray for us!’