THEOLOGICAL CLUE

Liturgical purists might call this "skin them alive" Sunday, according to the long-standing tradition that St. Bartholomew, whose day may be celebrated near this Sunday, depending on the lectionary followed and calendar year, was actually skinned while alive. Of course, that is only conjecture and the truth is that no one knows for certain when he died, or how, or where. In iconography, St. Bartholomew is represented by a skinning knife and a book, and sometimes he is pictured holding a knife with the devil under his foot. There is little doubt, despite the uncertainties of tradition and conjecture, that Bartholomew, who may also be known as Nathanael, died a martyr, as did all of the disciples, except John. Actually, St. Bartholomew's day is a day of infamy in the church…