Suffering for Christ

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Bartholomew (also known as Nathaniel in John's Gospel).

Like most of the other Apostles, he preached in different parts of the world and was put to death for his faith in Christ.

An ancient tradition says that he was flayed alive. That is why he appears in Michelangelo's Last Judgement holding in one hand the skin that was cut from his body and the knife that was used in the other: signs of hateful violence and horrific suffering endured on account of faith and love and thus signs of his triumph.