Bartolomeu do Quental

Bartolomeu de Quental, C.O. (22 August 1626 – 20 December 1698) was a Portuguese Catholic priest, theologian, and preacher. Quental was the founder of the first Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip in Portugal in 1668.

The cause for his canonisation was officially opened c. 1720. In 1748, Pope Benedict XIV officially recognised that Quental had lived a life of "heroic virtue", and he has since been referred to as "venerable", although the cause for his beatification has lain dormant since the time of the Marquis of Pombal and the weakening of the Congregation of the Oratory in Portugal.

Early life Bartolomeu de Quental was born on 22 August 1627 in Fenais da Luz, São Miguel Island in the Azores. He was the son of Francisco de Andrade Cabral and of Ana de Quental Novais. He was baptised in the Parish of Our Lady of Light (Nossa Senhora da Luz) and was named "Bartolomeu" due to the proximity of the feast day of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle. The family was devoutly Catholic.

He was an accomplished student as a young man: he had a firm grasp of Latin at the age of twelve and concluded his studies of grammar ahead of his peers. It was customary at the time for only the first born, in this case his older brother Pedro de Matos de Quental, to pursue further studies, which meant Bartolomeu would not be able to travel to Mainland Portugal to study Philosophy as he wished. At the last moment, his brother gave Bartolomeu the opportunity instead.

Quental arrived in Lisbon at the age of 16, travelling to Évora to enroll in the Royal College of Arts (Real Colégio das Artes) of the Jesuit-run University of Évora. He achieved the degree of Artium Magister in 1647 after studying under Fr. Diogo Fernandes, one of the most distinguished professors in Évora. at the age of 27. Quental was at this time already famous around Lisbon for his learned sermons.

Meanwhile, in 1664, Quental stepped down from his role of court confessor to focus on his missionary work with the poor in rural areas of the archdiocese. He worked long days in this service:

"He rose at the break of dawn and immediately engaged in mental prayer and mass. After a light meal, he went to the confessional, where he spent nearly all day hearing innumerable penitents. Late in the afternoon, after the Vespers' bell, he climbed to the pulpit, where he preached and rounded off the day with collective prayer. His schedule, sometimes, was so full that he often ended up sleeping in churches or churchyards, draped only in his cape."

The political intrigue during the reign of King Afonso VI, may also have contributed to Quental's departure from court. Taking advantage of his proximity to the queen, Quental had harshly criticised the young king in his sermons for his excesses and unbecoming public behaviour. When Afonso VI's brother, Infante Peter (later, King Peter II) had Afonso deemed incapable of ruling and assumed power as regent in 1668, Quental was invited back to the Royal Chapel, but refused.

Instead, drawing on the popularity and successful model of his Confraternity of Our Lady of Saudades, his new project was to institute a formal congregation, inspired by the Congregation of the Oratory that had been established in Rome in 1575 by Saint Philip Neri. He asked formal permission of the Chapter of the See of Lisbon (which was vacant at the time), and received it on 8 January 1668. The royal authorisation came on 23 March 1668.

On 8 April 1744, the cause for Quental's beatification was formally opened, and he was given the title Servant of God. In 1748, Pope Benedict XIV officially recognised that Quental had lived a life of "heroic virtue" – a major step towards beatification – and he has since been referred to as "Venerable", although the cause for his beatification has lain dormant since the time of the Marquis of Pombal in the second half of the 18th century, and the subsequent waning influence of the Congregation of the Oratory in Portugal.