Volumes might be written on the subject of the Last Supper. It extends before me, as I think and write, into endless suggestive associations, which, for the present, I dare not follow out: but I shall have occasion to return to it hereafter.[244] ST. BARNABAS. _Ital._ San Parnabà. _Fr._ Saint Barnabé. (June 11.) St. Barnabas is usually entitled the _Apostle_ Barnabas, because he was associated with the Apostles in their high calling; ‘and,’ according to Lardner, ‘though without that large measure of inspiration and high authority which was peculiar to the TWELVE APOSTLES, properly so called, yet he is to be considered as _Apostolical_, and next to them in sanctity.’ For this reason I place him here. St. Barnabas was a Levite, born in the island of Cyprus, and the cousin-german of Mark the evangelist. The notices of his life and character scattered through the Acts invest him with great personal interest. He it was who, after the conversion of Paul, was the first to believe in his sincerity, and took courage to present him to the other apostles, ‘who were afraid of him, and would not believe that he was a disciple.’ (Acts xv. 39.) Barnabas afterwards became the fellow-labourer of Paul, and attended him to Antioch. We are told that ‘he was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith;’ and to this the legendary traditions add, that he was a man of a most comely countenance, of a noble presence, grave and commanding in his step and deportment; and thence, when he and Paul were at Lystra together, ‘they called Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercurius.’ Subsequently, however, Paul and Barnabas fell into a dispute concerning Mark, and separated. The tradition relates that Barnabas and Mark remained for some time together, being united by the ties of friendship, as well as by those of kindred. Barnabas preached the Gospel in Asia Minor, Greece, and Italy; and there is an old legendary tradition that he was the first bishop of Milan. The legend also relates that everywhere he carried with him the Gospel of St. Matthew, written by the hand of the evangelist, preaching what was written therein; and when any were sick, or possessed, he laid the sacred writing upon their bosom, and they were healed; (a beautiful allegory this!) and it happened that as he preached in a synagogue of Judea against the Jews, they were seized with fury and took him, and put him to a cruel death. But Mark and the other Christians buried him with many tears. The body of St. Barnabas remained in its place of sepulture till the days of the Emperor Zeno, when, according to Nicephorus, it was revealed in a dream to Antemius, that the apostle rested in a certain spot, and would be found there, with the Gospel of St. Matthew lying on his bosom. And so it happened: the remains were found; the Gospel was carried to the emperor at Constantinople; and a church was built, dedicated to St. Barnabas. * * * * *