July 18 – Bl. Bartholemew Fernandes dos Mártires, friar and bishop

Blessed Bartholomew of Braga (3 May 1514 - 16 July 1590) - born Bartolomeu Fernandes and in religious Bartolomeu dos Mártires - was a Portuguese Roman Catholic and a professed member from the Order of Preachers as well as the Archbishop Emeritus of Braga. Fernandes participated in the Council of Trent and also collaborated with Saint Charles Borromeo at the council while also establishing a series of hospitals and hospices in Braga while publishing a range of works from catechism to other topics. Pope John Paul II beatified Fernandes in Saint Peter's Square on 4 November 2001.

The Martyrology of the Sacred Order of Friars Preachers for Tomorrow, July 19
(always read one day in advance)

St. Vincent de Paul, priest and confessor, the founder of the Priests of the Congregation of the Mission and the Sisters of Charity. He is heavenly patron of all charitable organizations. He died in the Lord on September 27. A duplex feast.

At Colossae in Phrygia, the birthday of St. Epaphras, whom St. Paul the Apostle calls his fellow-captive [Colossians, 1:7, 4:12; Philemon, 5:23.]. He was ordained Bishop of Colossae by that Apostle and, renowned for his merits, gained the palm of martyrdom for courageously defending the sheep committed to him. His body is buried at Rome in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

At Treves, St. Martin, bishop and martyr.

At Seville in Spain, the suffering of the holy virgins Justa and Rufina. For confessing the Lord, they were seized by Diogenian the prefect, and were first tortured by the rack and torn with hooks. Afterward they were afflicted with imprisonment, starvation, and various torments. At last Justa died in prison, while Rufina was strangled.

At Cordoba in Spain, St. Aura, virgin, the sister of the holy martyrs Adulphus and John. For a while she apostatized through the persuasion of a Muslim judge, but quickly repenting of what she had done, she overcame the enemy in a second contest by the shedding of her blood.

At Rome, St. Symmachus, Pope, who, worn out at length by schismatical factions, passed to the Lord, remarkable for holiness.

At Verona, St. Felix, bishop.

At Skete, a mountain in Egypt, St. Arsenius, a deacon of the Roman Church. In the reign of Theodosius, he retired to the desert; there he died after having been enriched with the gift of tears and every virtue.

In Cappadocia, St. Macrina, virgin. She was the daughter of Ss. Basil and Emmelia, and the sister of the holy Bishops, Ss. Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, and Peter of Sebaste.

And elsewhere, many other holy martyrs, confessors and holy virgins. R. Thanks be to God.