Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint Bartholomew

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'Tis the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle (floruit first century, A.K.A. Nathaneal): Apostle-link ūnus, Apostle-link duo, Wikipedia-link Bravo, & Wikipedia-link November; Wikipedia-link Apostles.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus from Jewish Israel. In the East, where Bartholomew's evangelical labors were expended, Nathanael is mentioned only in the Gospel of John, he was identified as Nathanael.

Scripture of This Day
Mass Readings—Feast of St. Bartholomew
The Book of Revelation, chapter twenty-one, verses nine(b) thru fourteen;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-five, verses ten & eleven, twelve & thirteen, & seventeen & eighteen;
The Gospel according to John, chapter one, verses forty-five thru fifty-one.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel Nathaniel declares to Jesus, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Nathaniel is also called Bartholomew, whose feast day we are celebrating.

Anglican Scripture scholar N.T. Wright has told us that when a first-century Jew spoke of the arrival of God’s kingdom, he was taken to mean something very specific. He was announcing that the Temple was going to be restored; that the proper worship of Yahweh would obtain; that the enemies of Israel would be dealt with; and that, above all, the tribes of the Lord—and through them, the tribes of the world—would be gathered.

This is why Jesus chose twelve disciples, evocative of the twelve tribes. They would be the prototype and the catalyst for the gathering of Israel and hence the gathering of everyone. They would be the fundamental community and sign of unity.

Video reflection by Fr. Edward Owens, O.Ss.T.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Bible Study—Wisdom Books
The Book of Psalms, psalm fifty-eight (verses one thru twelve);
The Book of Psalms, psalm fifty-nine (verses one thru eighteen);
The Book of Psalms, psalm sixty (verses one thru fourteen);
The Book of Psalms, psalm sixty-one (verses one thru nine).

Commentary: The Dethroning of Unjust Rulers (Psalm 58), Complaint against Bloodthirsty Enemies (Psalm 59), Lament after Defeat in Battle (Psalm 60), & Prayer of the King in Time of Danger (Psalm 61).

'Tis also the festival of Saint Audoin, Bishop (609-686, of Rouen; also spelt Ouen, Aldwin, etc.; A.K.A. Dado): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Edward Kaźmierski, Martyr (1919-1942), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, one of the One Hundred Eight Blessed Polish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link CVIII & Wikipedia-link CVIII.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Émilie de Vialar, Religious, S.J.A. (1797-1856), foundress of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Order-link S.J.A. & Wikipedia-link S.J.A..

Papal Quote o' This Day

"I call. I call you. I know that this is bold of me, maybe even vain, possibly a bit inconvenient. But I must call out as Jesus did: come with me. This is to ask for a precious gift, the gift of yourself to the Lord, a sacrifice without limitations."
—Pope Bl. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' This Day

"To offer oneself to God does not mean that one loses anything at all of one's natural tenderness."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' This Day

"After I discovered that there is a God, it was impossible for me not to live for Him alone."
—Bl. Charles de Foucald (1858-1916, feast day: 1 December)