11/06/2026
Today is the feast day of St Barnabas, an early apostle and companion of St Paul.
He was born in Cypress into a family of Levites, the Jewish tribe designated for temple service. In his first recorded action, Joseph—his birth name—sold his possessions and laid the money at the feet of the apostles. This act of remarkable generosity defined his ministry.
The apostles named him Barnabas, meaning son of encouragement. Indeed he is known for encouraging early Christian communities to be steadfast in faith.
In the Acts of the Apostles, we read, ‘they sent Barnabas out to Antioch. There he was glad to see for himself that God had given grace, and he urged them all to remain faithful to the Lord with heartfelt devotion; for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith’ (Acts 11:22–24).
St Barnabas, pray for us that we may be ready to proclaim Christ as you did, by word and deed, in all that we do.
🎨 St Barnabas healing the sick, by Paolo Veronese.