BARTOLOMEO DO QUENTAL, Venerable. — Portuguese religious, born at Fenas in 1626 and died at Lisbon in 1698. In Portugal, he founded a Congregation of the Oratory, modeled after that of St. Philip Neri, which exerted great influence on contemporary society. He enhanced its prestige through his active and exemplary life and the fervent spirit of charity that animated his work and his words. He had many listeners and readers, for as confessor and preacher to John IV, he was an eloquent orator and a simple and moving writer. His sermons, which he himself saw through the press, and his numerous meditations were deservedly appreciated for their purity of language and sincere spirit of devotion.
Among his works, particular mention should be made of the Meditações da infância de Cristo Senhor nosso (Lisbon 1666), the Meditações da sacratissima Paixão de Cristo Senhor nosso (ibid. 1675), and the Meditações dos domingos do ano, in three parts (ibid. 1695, 1696, 1697). The Sermões, in two parts, were first published in 1692 and 1694. His cause of beatification was introduced on 8 April 1744.