After the Ascension of Our Lord, His followers at Jerusalem chose a
replacement for Judas. The man chosen was Matthias, "and he was numbered
with the Eleven." Apart from the information given in the first chapter
of Acts, nothing is known of him. It would be a mistake to conclude from
this that he was a failure and a bad choice as an apostle. We know as
much as we do about Peter and Paul because Luke (a
travelling companion of Paul) wrote extensively about them. About most of
the other apostles (those belonging to the original twelve and later ones
like Matthias) we know little after Pentecost on an individual basis.
O Almighty God, who into the place of Judas didst choose thy Faithful servant Matthias to be of the number of the Twelve: Grant that thy Church, being delivered from false apostles, may always be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
O Almighty God, who in the place of Judas chose your faithful Servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve: Grant that your Church, being delivered from false apostles, may always be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.