ST BERTHOLD OF MOUNT CARMEL - 29 MARCH

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH

Saints celebrated on the 29th of March

WELCOME!

SAINT BERTHOLD OF MOUNT CARMEL

Saint Berthold [of Calabria, St Berthold of Mount Carmel] is commemorated on March 29. His name is derived from the Old German words Bert, Bercht, Brecht, meaning brilliant; according to Schwenck his name means brilliant and mild. 

THE FIRST PRIOR GENERAL OF THE CARMELITES

St Berthold was first prior general of the Carmelites. He was born in Limoges and was either the brother of Bishop Adamatus in Puy or of the patriarch Heimericus of Antioch, who appointed him prior of the Carmelites in 1121 (according to others 1141 or even 1181). 

HIS HAPPY DEATH

He died in 1188, and his name is inserted in the general Roman Martyrology, and in that for the Discalced Carmelites.

Source: Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints

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Berthold went to the Holy Land as part of the Crusades and was in Antioch when it was besieged by the Saracens. During this time he had a vision of Christ denouncing the soldiers' evil ways. At the time, hermits from the West were scattered throughout Palestine. He came to Mount Carmel, built a small chapel there and gathered a community of hermits who would live at his side in imitation of the prophet Elijah. This community may have given rise to the Order of the Carmelites. Berthold lived out his days on Mount Carmel, ruling the community he had founded for forty-five years until his death in 1195.

Source: - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berthold_of_Calabria

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Berthold may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.