This saint saved Antioch from the Saracen scourge by urging the Catholics to turn to prayer and penance

                  March 29  --- St. Berthold

St. Berthold was ordained in Paris, France in the 12th century. During the Crusades, St. Berthold was instrumental in saving Antioch from the Saracen scourge by encouraging the Christians to turn to prayer and penance.

Seeing the need for consolidation, St. Berthold gathered the hermits of Palestine into a community settling on Mt. Carmel. 

There he built and dedicated a monastery and church in honor of the prophet Elias.  This became the Carmelite Order, deriving its rule by the example of the way of life practiced by our saint, who became its first superior ruling for forty-five years.

God speaks differently to people.  It is necessary to be open to the grace in which we find ourselves.  St. Berthold saw a need and immediately put his hand to the task of fulfilling it.  The seed he planted grew into the great Carmelite order with all it abundant fruits. 

Let us ask St. Berthold to help us to plant well in our souls the graces that Our Lady wishes to give