Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint Bartholomew

The Popish Plot
"Bible Bites for 24 August 2019: Feast of St. Nathanael"

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

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Bartholomew is one of the Twelve Apostles. The moment Jesus saw Bartholomew, He praised him, saying that He could see there was no dishonesty in his heart. Bartholomew immediately began to believe in Jesus. Jesus told Bartholomew that he would see great things because of his faith.

Scripture of the 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.

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 Marc DelMonico, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Scripture Study—Day 91: Progeny Point, Day 27
The Book of Genesis, chapter forty-one, verses fifty-three thru fifty-seven.

Commentary: Joseph's Rise to Power in Egypt (concluded; Genesis, 41:53-57).

'Tis also the festival of Saint Audoin of Rouen, Bishop (circa 605-686; also spelt Ouen, Aldwin, etc.; A.K.A. Dado), Bishop of Rouen: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Rouen & Wikipedia-link Rouen.

Commentary: Son of St. Authaire of La-Ferté [24 April].

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

'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 Polska & Wikipedia-link Polska.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Veronica Antal, Virgin & Martyr, T.O.S.F. (1935-1958), martyred by her attempted rapist, Pavel Mocanu: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"When faith becomes the force that supports a person & the person relies entirely on God, then faith automatically becomes love. The great figures of faith—from Paul via Francis of Assisi down to Maximilian Kolbe & Mother Teresa—show us this. Where faith deteriorates, love also grows cold & selfishness increases."
—Pope Benedict XVI (born 1927, reigned 2005-2013)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Pain without Christ is suffering. Pain with Christ is sacrifice."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)