BLESSED BARDO, ARCHBISHOP OF MAINZ - 10 JUNE

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JUNE

Saints celebrated on the 10th of June

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BLESSED BARDO, ARCHBISHOP OF MAINZ

Blessed Bardo (Bardon), Archbishop of Mainz, was born in the town of Oppershausen in the Wetterau (on the Rhine) around the year 982 (Butl.*: 980). When he was older, his pious parents, whose names were Adalbero and Christina, handed him over to the monks of Fulda for education. 

Having become a monk there, he was elected dean of the monastery by his brethren under Abbot Richard, then made provost of a newly built abbey. Subsequently, Emperor Conrad (1027-1038) entrusted to him the charge of Kaiserswerth monastery, only for him to be appointed abbot of Hersfeld soon afterwards. As the Lord God revealed many future things to him, Bardo also learned from him that one day he would become a bishop, which came true in his 50th year when Emperor Conrad, who held him in high esteem, raised him to the  archbishopric of Mainz. This happened in A.D. 1031. 

Bardo held office with great prudence, and when he felt his end approaching, he left Paderborn, where he had been to meet Emperor Henry III, to commence the return journey to Mainz, but died on the way in Dornhagen on June 11, 1053, at the age of 70, whereupon his body was transferred to Mainz and buried there in a grave. Because June 11 is the feast of the Apostle Saint Barnabas, the feast of Blessed Bardo was moved to the day before, which is why his name is listed on June 10 in the various martyrologies. Many miracles took place at his grave. 

Presently, however, there is no trace of his tomb, and it is believed that it was destroyed during the margrave's invasion. Butler* assigns to Bardo the title "saint", but we follow the Bollandist Papebroch* and call Bardo a "blessed".

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 1, Augsburg, 1858, p. 368)

*A hagiography source used by the authors 

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of the blessed Bardo 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.