From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

October 16th - St. Bertrand, Bishop of Comminges
d. 1123

IN its more than a 1000 years of existence before it was suppressed
the see of Comminges (now included in Toulouse) was governed by
several men well known in history, but no one of them is more famed
locally than St. Bertrand, who was bishop for fifty years in the 11th=E2=80=9412th century. At first he had no other aim than to be a milita=
ry
lord like his father, but he soon turned to the ecclesiastical state,
received a canonry at Toulouse, and became archdeacon: it was remarked
that he owed his dignities neither to requests nor bribes. About 1075
he was called to govern the diocese of Comminges, and having rebuilt
both the temporal and spiritual fortifications of his episcopal city
he proceeded to a thorough reformation of the whole diocese, living
with his canons under the Rule of St. Augustine as an example for the
secular clergy. His zeal was not always acceptable. When he went to
preach in the Val d'Azun he met with a very hostile reception, and =
it
required all his efforts to calm the people. However, they afterwards
were so sorry for the way they had received their bishop that they
promised to give in perpetuity to the see of Comminges all the butter
that was made in Azun every year during the week before Whitsunday.
This tribute was rendered, not always willingly, up to the time of the Revolution.

=C2 St. Bertrand several times had to face violent opposition even out of
his own territory: in 1100 he was at the synod at Poitiers when King
Philip I was excommunicated and the synodal fathers were stoned, and
at the consecration of the cemetery of St. Mary at Auch, when the
aggrieved monks of Saint-Orens tried to set fire to the church.

=C2 A number of miracles are related of St. Bertrand, one of which gave
rise to the =E2=80=9CGreat Pardon=E2=80=9D at his church in Comminges. In a=
feud
between the counts of Comminges and Bigorre, Bertrand's diocese was
overrun by the troops of Sans Parra of Oltia, who carried off all the
cattle they could lay their hands on. To save his people from ruin the
bishop implored their leader to restore the booty, but he refused
unless he was paid its value. =E2=80=9CAll right=E2=80=9D, said St. Bertran=
d. =E2=80=9CBring
them back. I'll pay you before you are dead.=E2=80=9D Some time aft=
er Bertrand
himself was dead, Sans Parra was captured by the Moors in Spain. One
night he had a dream in his dungeon of Bertrand, who said he had come
to redeem his promise and led him out of prison to a spot near his
home. This happening is commemor=C2=ADated locally on May 2 every year, and Pope Clement V, who had been bishop of Comminges, granted a plenary
indulgence to be gained at the then cathedral church of St. Bertrand
every year that the feast of the finding of the Holy Cross falls on a
Friday. St. Bertrand was canonized some time before 1309, probably by
Pope Honorius III.

In the Acta Sanctorum, October, vol. vii, Pt 2, is printed a life said
to be the work of Vitalis, a notary of Auch, who was a contemporary.
See also P. Bedin, St. Bertrand de Comminges (1912).


Saint Quote:
Often make acts of love of our Lady, the saints, and the holy angels.
Make friends with them. Talk with them frequently, using words of
praise and tenderness. When you have gained familiar access to the
citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem above, you will grieve far less at
bidding farewell to those of the mean city here below.
--St. Francis de Sales


Bible Quote:
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth
unto life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you. For him
hath God, the Father, sealed.=C2 (John 6:27)=C2 DRB


<><><><>
=C2 Sing to the Lord a new song=C2

My dear brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, fruit of the true
faith and holy seed of heaven, all you who have been born again in
Christ and whose life is from above, listen to me; or rather, listen
to the Holy Spirit saying through me:
=C2 =C2 Sing to the Lord a new song. Look, you tell me, I am singing. =
Yes
indeed, you are singing; you are singing clearly, I can hear you. But
make sure that your life does not contradict your words. Sing with
your voices, your hearts, your lips, and your lives:
=C2 =C2 Sing to the Lord a new song. Now it is your unquestioned desir=
e to
sing of him whom you love, but you ask me how to sing his praises. You
have heard the words:
=C2 =C2 Sing to the Lord a new song, and you wish to know what praises=
to
sing. The answer is: His praise is in the assembly of the saints; it
is in the singers themselves. If you desire to praise him, then love
what you express. Live good lives, and you yourselves will be his
praise.
--St. Augustine of Hippo

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