Berthold of Garsten,

O.S.B. , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , found ...

, also known as Berthold de Rachez ( 1060 – 27 July 1142), was a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in partic ...

and a

monk A monk (, from el, μοναχός, ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a person who practices religious asceticism by monastic living, either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decides to dedica ...

of the

Order of Saint Benedict , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...

. He was a noted

abbot Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the male head of a monastery in various Western religious traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not the head of a monastery. The ...

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

Count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

s of Bogen, who traditionally also held the office of ''

Advocatus During the Middle Ages, an (sometimes given as modern English: advocate; German: ; French: ) was an office-holder who was legally delegated to perform some of the secular responsibilities of a major feudal lord, or for an institution such as ...

'' ('' Domvogt'') of the

Regensburg Cathedral Regensburg Cathedral (german: Dom St. Peter or Regensburger Dom), also known as St. Peter's Cathedral, is an example of important Gothic architecture within the German state of Bavaria. It is a landmark for the city of Regensburg, Germany, and ...

."Berthold von Garsten", Ökumenische Heiligenlexikon
/ref> 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 St. Blasien (Sankt Blasien) is a small town located in the Waldshut district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated in the Southern Black Forest, 17 km northeast of Waldshut-Tiengen. St. Blaise's Abbey in the Black Forest is locat ...

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."Heiliger Berthold", Diözese Linz
/ref> His time at Sankt Blasien was very important, as it brought him into contact with the

Cluniac reform The Cluniac Reforms (also called the Benedictine Reform) were a series of changes within medieval monasticism of the Western Church focused on restoring the traditional monastic life, encouraging art, and caring for the poor. The movement began wi ...

, which had made only sporadic progress in the German Empire. In 1107 he was called by Abbot Hartmann of

Göttweig Abbey Göttweig Abbey (german: Stift Göttweig) is a Benedictine monastery near Krems in Lower Austria. It was founded in 1083 by Altmann, Bishop of Passau. History Göttweig Abbey was founded as a monastery of canons regular by Blessed Altmann (c ...

to become the new prior. The following year,

Margrave Margrave was originally the medieval title for the military commander assigned to maintain the defence of one of the border provinces of the Holy Roman Empire or of a kingdom. That position became hereditary in certain feudal families in the Em ...

Ottokar II of Styria Ottokar II (died 28 November 1122) was Margrave of Styria. Biography He was the son of Ottokar I and grandfather of Ottokar III, from the dynasty of the Otakars. In the investiture dispute, he sided with the pope, which resulted in a battle ...

entrusted Berthold with the development of Garsten Abbey, which Ottokar had founded in 1082 but was in the process of transforming from a community of

secular canons A canon (from the Latin , itself derived from the Greek , , "relating to a rule", "regular") is a member of certain bodies in subject to an ecclesiastical rule. Originally, a canon was a cleric living with others in a clergy house or, later, i ...

to a monastic one, living under the Rule of Saint Benedict. Berthold soon established a rigorous discipline and reform along Cluniac lines."Bienheureux Berthold de Rachez", Nominis
/ref> 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

. 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. With skillful administration, he increased the monastery's properties, thanks to gifts and testamentary gifts from private individuals. He introduced the

Hirsau Reforms William of Hirsau (or Wilhelm von Hirschau) ( 1030 – 5 July 1091) was a Benedictine abbot and monastic reformer. He was abbot of Hirsau Abbey, for whom he created the ''Constitutiones Hirsaugienses'', based on the uses of Cluny, and was the fath ...

of monastic life into Austria.Odden, Per Einar. "Den hellige Berthold av Garsten (~1060-1142)", Den katolske kirke, November 28, 2015
/ref> 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. Berthold converted the robber Leo and persuaded him to enter the monastery. Garsten Stiftskirche14

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.In 1686 his relics were transferred to a separate chapel."Bertold von Garsten" Domradio, Archdiocese of Cologne
/ref>

Veneration

In 1236, the bishop of Passau allowed Berthold to be inscribed in the register of saints for July 27th. The Austrian Benedictines took up his cause in 1951. Pope Paul VI officially recognized Berthold's ''cultus'' on 8 January 1970. Berthold is listed in the ''

Martyrologium Romanum The ''Roman Martyrology'' ( la, Martyrologium Romanum) is the official martyrology of the Catholic Church. Its use is obligatory in matters regarding the Roman Rite liturgy, but dioceses, countries and religious institutes may add duly approv ...

''. Berthold depicted in a monk's habit with a fish. His feast day is celebrated by the

Diocese of Linz The Diocese of Linz ( la, Dioecesis Linciensis) is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Vienna, Austria. History Early history In the early Middle Ages the greater part of the territory of the present Diocese of Linz was subject to the bishops of ...

as well as the Diocese of St. Pölten and the

Archdiocese of Salzburg The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Salzburg ( la, Archidioecesis Salisburgensis) is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Austria. The archdiocese is one of two Austrian archdioceses, serving alongside the Archdiocese ...

on 27 July.

References

Sources

*Lenzenweger, J., 1958. ''Berthold von Garsten'' (with the '' Vita Bertholdi'')

External links

Hagiography Circle

Saints SQPN
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berthold of Garsten 1060s births 1142 deaths People from the Duchy of Bavaria German Benedictines Austrian Benedictines Austrian abbots Benedictine abbots 12th-century Roman Catholic priests Beatifications by Pope Paul VI German beatified people Austrian beatified people Venerated Catholics Benedictine beatified people