ST BERTHOLD OF GARSTEN, ABBOT - 27 JULY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY

Saints celebrated on the 27th of July

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ST BERTHOLD OF GARSTEN, ABBOT 

Saint Berthold of Garsten was born in 1060. He is thought to be descended from the house of the Counts of Bogen, who traditionally also held the office of Advocatus of the Regensburg [Ratisbon] Cathedral. 

He became a monk at St Blaise's Abbey in the Black Forest, according to one tradition as a widower. In 1107 he was appointed prior of Göttweig Abbey.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF GARSTEN ABBEY

The following year, Margrave Ottokar II of Styria entrusted Berthold with the development of Garsten Abbey, which Ottokar had founded in 1080 but was in the process of transforming from a community of secular canons to a monastic one, living under the Rule of St Benedict. 

HE BECAME ABBOT

Initially under the rule of Göttweig Abbey, the new community was declared independent and Berthold was installed as the new community's first abbot in 1111. 

PIETY AND KINDNESS TO ALL

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 organisational talent. He introduced the Hirsau Reforms of monastic life into Austria. [Among the miracles he worked is the multiplication of fish.]

Berthold died on July 27, 1142 and is buried at Garsten Abbey. 

(Information from Wikipedia - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berthold_of_Garsten#:~:text=Berthold%20of%20Garsten%2C%20O.S.B.%2C%20also,life%20by%20the%20Catholic%20Church.)