St. Matthew: Patron Saint of Bookkeepers and Accountants
“Plans are made in human hearts, but from the LORD comes the tongue’s response. All one’s ways are pure* in one’s own eyes, but the measurer of motives is the LORD. Entrust your works to the LORD, and your plans will succeed. The LORD has made everything for a purpose, even the wicked for the evil day” (Proverbs 16:1-4).
Do you have a patron saint for your business? If you don't, you should. One way to find one is to look for a saint connected to the work you do. For me, that was easy. As a bookkeeper, my patron saint is St. Matthew, the tax collector whose feast we celebrate September 21st.
Now, tax collectors in the Bible operated much differently than tax collectors do in 2026. Matthew collected taxes for Rome, which meant his own people saw him as a traitor — not just someone with an unpopular job, but someone on the wrong side. And still, Jesus called him.
“As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.” — Matthew 9:9
One of the things I love most about this passage is where Matthew was when Jesus called him. He was at work. Matthew wasn't in the synagogue. He wasn't on a retreat or doing something that looked particularly holy. He was sitting at his tax booth, in the middle of an ordinary workday, when Jesus showed up.
As Catholic women in business, I think we can sometimes separate our faith from our work without even realizing it. We go to Mass, pray, volunteer at our parishes, and then we go to work. There are emails to answer, customers to help, orders to package, inventory to count, invoices to send and, my personal favorite, accounts to reconcile. Those things might not feel particularly holy. Matthew's story, however, reminds us that God can meet us right in the middle of our ordinary work.
Using the Gifts We Already Have
What I also love about Matthew is what he did after Jesus called him. He went on to become one of the twelve Apostles and the traditional author of the Gospel of Matthew. His Gospel is structured and detailed, and I like to think that the skills he developed in his previous work didn't simply disappear when he followed Jesus.
As a bookkeeper, I can relate to that. Order and attention to detail aren't particularly exciting qualities, but they're important ones. My clients trust me with their financial information. Most days, I reconcile accounts, categorize transactions, review reports, send them to my clients and move on to the next project. It's not dramatic work. Honestly when you spell it out it sounds extremely boring. But ordinary doesn't mean unimportant.
Doing our work accurately, honestly and faithfully is one way we can serve the people God has placed in our lives.
Invite St. Matthew Into Your Business
I know money — and especially taxes — can be scary words for business owners. Staying organized and paying attention to your finances can make them a lot less intimidating. And you don't have to leave your faith out of those decisions. I encourage you to ask for St. Matthew's intercession when you're making money-related decisions in your business. Here are a few times he might come in handy:
Pricing a Client — Charging what your work is worth, not just what feels “safe.”
Purchasing Inventory — Spending wisely instead of impulsively, especially as we try to prepare for the holiday season. Don’t fall for the “sale.” Make sure the products are ones your customers will love.
Reading Contracts — Slowing down before you sign instead of just skimming.
Sending an Invoice — Being honest and clear about what's owed.
Reviewing Financial Reports — Facing the numbers, even the ones you'd rather not look at. This is the most overlooked part of owning a business but the one that is most important. If you aren’t reviewing your numbers, it is really hard to plan for the months ahead.
What Is Your Tax Booth?
I keep coming back to the image of Matthew sitting at his customs post when Jesus called him. What does your “tax booth” look like?
Maybe it's your laptop at the kitchen table. Maybe it's your storefront, studio, or office. Maybe it's a stack of packages waiting to be shipped or a never-ending inbox. We can spend so much time looking for God in the obviously holy moments that we forget He can meet us in the ordinary ones, too.
Whatever your business does, there's probably a patron saint connected to the work you do. Find yours. Ask for their intercession. Buy a prayer card or statue for your work area. I have this card on my desk and I look at it everyday while I am working. It’s a simple reminder that we aren’t doing this business alone. We have Jesus and the Saints on our side to help us.
Where is Christ meeting you in the work you're already doing? And are you paying attention when He calls?
St. Matthew, patron saint of bookkeepers and accountants, pray for us.
Beth Anne Kaczmarczyk is a cradle Catholic who is passionate in helping others in her community with her husband through the Knights of Columbus. She is a QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor and runs her own Bookkeeping firm. She is passionate about helping small business owners have less stress and grow their businesses. You can connect with her on Instagram, or join her monthly newsletter to receive a Monthly Bookkeeping Checklist!