Today is the Feast Day of St. Batholomew! He was one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. Traditionally, he is identified as Nathanael, his other name according to the Gospel of John. (Meaning Bartholomew and Nathanael are considered to be the same person.) Jesus described St. Bartholomew as a man of complete honesty and "no deceit". Jesus saw Nathaniel under a fig tree before they ever met, showing divine knowledge. When told about Jesus, Nathaniel famously asked, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Upon meeting Jesus, Nathaniel declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." St. Bartholomew spent his life preaching the Gospel in regions of India, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Armenia. His unique martyrdom is noted by great artists such as Michelangelo’s famous “The Last Judgement” in the Sistine Chapel as he was horrifically flayed alive (skin removed) before being beheaded. Therefore, in many works of art, he is depicted as holding his own skin. Hence he is the patron saint of leatherworkers, tanners, bookbinders, butchers, and tailors. St. Bartholomew/St. Nathaniel, pray for us!!