Saint Bartholomew, apostle who is generally accepted to be the Nathanael of chapter 1 of John's gospel was a special choice of Jesus. He is the one whom Jesus called a "true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him." (John 1:47) This compliment seems a bit odd given that one verse earlier Nathanael discounts Jesus by saying, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (John 1:46). Jesus seems to appreciate this plainspoken man, and promises him a wondrous vision of angels descending and rising on the Son of Man. Nothing more is known of him from the scriptures, except that he found in the list of apostles as Bartholomew.

Tradition lists him as one of the Apostles who goes to India, where he was put to death for his preaching by being skinned alive. Saint Bartholomew becomes one of the most important images of the Last Judgment by Michaelangelo in the Sistine Chapel. In the flayed skin of the saint, there is a self-portrait of the artist.

This day celebrates a number of foundresses of religious orders of the 18th and 19th centuries:

Saint Joan Antide Thouret (1765-1826)
Foundress, Daughters of Saint Vincent de Paul,

Saint Emily de Vialar (1797-1856)
Foundress, Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition

Saint Maria Michaela Desmaisieres (1809-1865)
Viscountess of Jorbalan
Foundress, Handmaids of the Blessed Sacrament and of Charity

Intercession based on the saints of the day:
For women religious throughout the world, for an increase in membership and continued dedication to the missions of their orders, we pray to the Lord.

Activity:
Find a version Michaelangelo's magnificent Last Judgment from the Sistine Chapel. Find the image of Saint Bartholomew and the self-portrait of the artist. Think about how he must have felt about the end times and his own fate.

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