Berthold of Garsten
Saint Berthold of Garsten, 27 July | |
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Attributes | Benedictine habit and crozier |
Berthold of Garsten, of a major monastic house in the region, and is revered for the holiness of his life by the Catholic Church.
Life
Berthold de Ranchez was born around 1060 at Lake Constance in Austria. He presumably belonged to the family of the bailiffs of Regensburg and is believed to have been descended from the house of the Counts of Bogen, who traditionally also held the office of Advocatus (Domvogt) of the Regensburg Cathedral.[2] One version of his biography states that he married, but after a short marriage his wife died and he became a widower at the age of thirty. He immediately joined the Benedictines (Ordo Sancti Benedicti - OSB) in Sankt Blasien in the Black Forest. Another version says that he entered this monastery at a very young age and does not mention any marriage.
He became a librarian and in 1094 subprior in Sankt Blasien.
In 1107 he was called by Abbot Hartmann of
Initially under the rule of Göttweig Abbey, the new community was declared independent in 1111, and Berthold was installed as the new community's first abbot.[3] In this post he distinguished himself by his piety, kindness to all who approached him for help or counsel, devotion to his pastoral duties and organizational talent. In Garsten he founded a hospice for guests and a hospital for the poor, and his kindness to the poor and pilgrims became a strain on the resources of the young monastery which led to stories of how God miraculously intervened to keep it operating. Berthold had a reputation as a prophet and miracle worker. According to legend, when there was insufficient fish for meals on feast days, by his blessing enough was found to be provided.[2]
With skillful administration, he increased the monastery's properties, thanks to gifts and testamentary gifts from private individuals. He introduced the
Berthold had a reputation for living a private life of severe penance, never eating meat or fish and spending most of his nights in prayer. His advice was sought by the many visitors who came to the monastery to hear him preach, and he built up a reputation as a wise and effective guide. He was Emperor Conrad III's confessor.[5] Berthold converted the robber Leo and persuaded him to enter the monastery.
Berthold died late in the evening of 27 July 1142 and was buried in the abbey church at Garsten, which soon became a place of pilgrimage.[3]In 1686 his relics were transferred to a separate chapel.[6]
Veneration
In 1236, the bishop of Passau allowed Berthold to be inscribed in the register of saints for July 27th. The cause for his
Berthold depicted in a monk's habit with a fish.
References
- ^ Butler's Lives of the Saints Alban Butler, Paul Burns – 1995 Volume 7 – Page 221 "Bd Berthold of Garsten, Abbot (c. 1075-1142) Berthold de Rachez was born toward the end of the 11th century on the shores of Lake Constance (the Bodensee)."
- ^ a b "Berthold von Garsten", Ökumenische Heiligenlexikon
- ^ a b c "Heiliger Berthold", Diözese Linz
- ^ "Bienheureux Berthold de Rachez", Nominis
- ^ a b Odden, Per Einar. "Den hellige Berthold av Garsten (~1060-1142)", Den katolske kirke, November 28, 2015
- ^ a b "Bertold von Garsten" Domradio, Archdiocese of Cologne
- ^ Index ac status causarum beatificationis servorum dei et canonizationis beatorum (in Latin). Typis polyglottis vaticanis. January 1953. p. 38.
Sources
- Lenzenweger, J., 1958. Berthold von Garsten (with the Vita Bertholdi)