Bertrand was born and brought up at Garrique, France, and finally became a Cistercian monk. He lived at a time when his homeland was in great turmoil due to religious wars and schisms. Heretics owing allegiance to Albigensianism turned violent and ransacked many Cistercian monasteries that formed the bedrock of orthodoxy. About the year 1208, Bertrand joined ranks with St. Dominic in winning the Albigensian heretics back to the faith. In fact, he was one of the six men who joined St. Dominic to form the newly founded Order of Friars Preachers (Dominican Order), and donned the religious habit at Toulouse in 1216. His holiness, maturity, wisdom, experience and zeal played an important role in the establishment and growth of the new religious Order. He was a close confidant and traveling companion of St. Dominic. Bertrand’s simple life style, sound doctrine and radiating holiness were instrumental in bringing many heretics back to orthodoxy. He left this world in 1230 at the monastery of Boucher in southern France and was declared “Blessed” in 1881.
Reflection. Though a gifted administrator and an eloquent preacher, Bertrand opted to play a second fiddle to St. Dominic in the establishment and development of the new Order. As a result of his humility, co-operation and selfless service to the cause of God, he was blessed with a rich harvest in his pastoral ministry.
We all create the person we become by our choices as we go through life. (Bl. Bertrand)
