Matthias

Matthias   "During those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said,
   "'My brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled which the holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry. He bought a parcel of land with the wages of his iniquity, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out. This became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem, so that the parcel of land was called in their language 'Akeldama,' that is, Field of Blood.
   "'For it is written in the Book of Psalms: 'Let his encampment become desolate, and may no one dwell in it.' And: 'May another take his office.' Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection.'
   "So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.
   "Then they prayed, 'You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.'
   "Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles." (Acts 1:15-26)

Matthias. He was chosen by the remaining eleven apostles to bring the number back up to twelve; after Judas fell away. “While Matthias who was added to the list of apostles after the desertion and dead of Judas, as reported in the first chapter of Acts, plays no visible part in the subsequent narrative, he is credited in latter Christian tradition with having written a book called The Traditions of Matthias…Matthias is one of five apostles credited by Armenian tradition with evangelizing Armenia” (Edgar J. Goodspeed. The Twelve, The Story of Christ’s Apostles. New York: Collier Books, 1962. p. 54).

    Saint Matthias, the apostle whose feast day is celebrated on May 14, was chosen by lot to replace Judas shortly after the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven.   Little is known of St Matthias but tradition indicates he met his death by the sword, symbolized by the sword in his left hand,  In the window below we see the double edged axe and the Scriptures reminding us that Matthias was sent to preach the Gospel to the barbarians and cannibals of Ethiopia.  The top window shows the Rose of Sharon, a symbol of the suffering of Christ.  The five petals represent His five most precious wounds.  It is surmounted with the Cross .  St Matthias was known for his deep interior sacrifice and mortification and the window is entitled “Love of the Cross.”  (Compiled by Phyllis Evans)

Judas Iscariot and Matthias, General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI, 10/18/06