Berthold of Garsten


Berthold of Garsten was a German Roman Catholic priest and professed member from the Order of Saint Benedict.
He is believed to be from the house of the Counts of Bogen and "Vögte" of the Regensburg Cathedral. He was to begin his pastoral career as a Benedictine monk at Saint Blaise in the Black Forest and was then - in 1107 - appointed prior at Göttweig. Ottokar II of Styria entrusted him with the development of the Garsten Abbey of which he became the first abbot in 1111. In this post he distinguished himself by his piety, kindness, devotion to his pastoral duties and organisational talent. Berthold introduced the Hirsau Reforms into Austria.
He died on 27 July 1142 and is buried in Garsten Abbey. His feast day is celebrated in the Diocese of Linz as well as the Diocese of St. Pölten and the Archdiocese of Salzburg on 27 July. He was beatified in 1970.