March 29th - St. Berthold of Carmel
- From: "Traudel" <hildegard8@xxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2007 10:29:12 -0500
March 29th - St. Berthold of Carmel
Berthold seems to have had a connection with the beginnings of the Carmelite
Order. He was a relative of Aymeric, the Latin patriarch of Antioch who was
installed in Antioch during the crusades. At the time, there were a number
of hermits from the West scattered throughout Palestine, and Berthold
gathered them together, founded a community of priests who settled on Mount
Carmel, and became their first superior.
There is a legend that he was born at Limoges in France, studied in Paris,
and was ordained a priest there. According to the legend, he accompanied
Aymeric on the crusades and found himself in Antioch when it was being
besieged by the Saracens. Through his urgings, the Christians in Antioch
turned to prayer and penance, and the city was delivered.
What is known for certain is that St. Berthold directed the building of a
monastery and church on Mount Carmel and dedicated the church in honor of
the prophet Elias, who had defeated the priests of Baal there and seen the
vision of the cloud out over the sea. This is confirmed in a letter of Peter
Emilianus to King Edward I of England in 1282.
Berthold lived out his days on Mount Carmel, ruling the community he had
founded for forty-five years until his death about 1195. His example and way
of life stamped the beginnings of the Carmelite Order, leading to the
drawing up of the order's rule by St. Albert, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem,
about 1210. That rule was approved by Pope Honorius III in 1226 and it is
this primitive rule that is considered the foundation of the Order of Mount
Carmel.
But it seems to have been Berthold who first organized the monastic life of
the hermits on Mount Carmel and governed them until his death. St. Brocard,
who apparently was his successor, petitioned Albert to compose a rule for
them, undoubtedly codifying and completing the work begun by Berthold.
Thought for the Day: St. Berthold became aware of something that had to be
done, and he put his hand firmly to the task before him, unknowingly laying
the foundation of a great religious order. We have no way of knowing what
fruit will grow from the seed we plant. What is important is that we plant
well.
Taken from "The One Year Book of Saints" by Rev. Clifford Stevens published
by Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.,
Huntington, IN 46750.
Saint Quote:
When you are before the altar where Christ reposes, you ought no longer to
think that you are amongst men; but believe that there are troops of angels
and archangels standing by you, and trembling with respect before the
sovereign Master of Heaven and earth. Therefore, when you are in church, be
there in silence, fear, and veneration.
-Saint John Chrysostom
Bible Quote:
And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts, crying: Abba, Father.
Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also
through God. (Galatians 4:6-7)
<<>><<>>
A pair of prayers, one for morning, the other for evening:
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer Thee
my prayers, works, and sufferings of this day for all the
intentions of Thy sacred Heart, in union with the holy sacrifice
of the Mass throughout the world, for the intentions of all our
associates, and in particular for the intention recommended
this month by the Holy Father.
<<>>
Visit, we beseech Thee, O Lord, this habitation, and drive far
from it all the snares of the enemy: let Thy holy angels dwell
herein, to keep us in peace, and may Thy blessing be always
upon us. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
one God, world without end. Amen.
[sprinkle your bed with holy water, and bless yourself with the
holy water as you go to bed, then say:]
Lord, into Thy Hands I commend my spirit.
Imprimatur: + John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York, Sept 19, 1908.
.
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