Also called Levi, Matthew was born at Capernaum, the son of Alphaeus. He worked as a tax collector for the Romans, a despised profession, when he was called by the Lord at Capernaum. Nevertheless, Jesus called him to be an apostle. After the Ascension he may have travelled to Persia or to Ethiopia; wherever it was, he was martyred. The gospel attributed to him stands first in the New Testament. His name appears among the other apostles in the Roman Canon. – CTS New Daily Roman Missal 2012, p 3010
