Saint of the day March 29, 2025

St. Berthold of Mt. Carmel (d. 1195), also known as Bartoldus of Calabria, was born in France, the son of a Count. He excelled at his studies and was ordained a priest. Berthold’s brother, Aymeric, became the Latin patriarch of Antioch. The two joined together to participate in a Crusade to the Holy Land.

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 methods. At the time, hermits from the West were scattered throughout Palestine.[6] Some accounts hold that in 1185, he came to Mount Carmel, built a small chapel there,e and gathered a community of hermits who would live at his side in imitation of the prophet Elijah.

Berthold was a priest in Palestine. There were many living as hermits throughout the region. Berthold united them to live in a community on Mount Carmel. He helped start the Carmelite Order, which is still large and very active today. As the first superior of the order, he created their Rule of Life.” Berthold lived out his days on Mount Carmel, ruling the community he had founded for forty-five years until his death in 1195.

Tradition holds that he was accepted as leader of the hermits by Brocard. His feast day is celebrated on March 29.

Reflection

St. Berthold was a soldier who fought in the Crusades. Following a vision of Christ, Bertold gave up the military life and became a hermit on Mount Carmel, trying to live like Elijah the Prophet. His community gave inspiration for the founding of the Carmelites. His example and way of life stamped the beginnings of the Carmelite Order.
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.