Today is the feast day of Saint Matthias the apostle. After the ascension of Jesus, but before the Holy Spirit had descended on them, the apostles and disciples were all together getting ready for the mission Jesus would be sending them on. 

One day, Peter stood up and addressed all of them, and there were about 120 in that group and said it was time to replace Judas Iscariot. He told them to elect 2 men who had been with Jesus from the very beginning. Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias were chosen. Then they said a prayer which we find in the 1st chapter of Acts: “You, lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these 2. You have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” 

Then they drew lots, and Matthias became an apostle. 

St. Matthias, please pray for us.