Order of Carmelites

Memorial of St. Berthold of Mount Carmel

Today, March 29, is the memorial of Saint Berthold of Mount Carmel.

Born in Limoges, France, Berthold was the son of the Count of Limoges and a nephew of Aymeric the Latin patriarch of Antioch.

He was a soldier who battled in the Crusades and was present in Antioch during the siege of the Saracens.

It was at this point that Jesus appeared to Berthold in a vision, rebuking him for his sinful life. Berthold promptly decided to mend his ways and to become a hermit.

In 1185, Berthold went up to Mount Carmel and tried to imitate the life of the Prophet Elijah. He built a chapel there and established a community of hermits. People from all over heard of his holiness, and wanted to meet him for spiritual direction. He died in 1195.