meals on feast days, by his blessing enough was found to be provided. With skillful administration, he increased the monastery's properties, thanks to gifts and testamentary gifts from private individuals. He introduced the Hirsau Reforms of monastic life into Austria. Berthold had a reputation for living a private life of severe penance, never eating meat or fish and spending most of his nights in prayer. His advice was sought by the many visitors who came to the monastery to hear him preach, and he built up a reputation as a wise and effective guide. He was Emperor Conrad III's confessor. Berthold converted the robber Leo and persuaded him to enter the monastery. Berthold died late in the evening of 27 July 1142 and was buried in the abbey church at Garsten, which soon became a place of pilgrimage.In 1686 his relics were transferred to a separate chapel. Veneration In 1236, the bishop of Passau allowed Berthold to be inscribed in the register of saints for July 27th. The Austrian Benedictines took up his cause in 1951. Pope Paul VI officially recognized Berthold's cultus on 8 January 1970. Berthold is listed in the Martyrologium Romanum. Berthold depicted in a monk's habit with a fish. His feast day is celebrated by the Diocese of Linz as well as the Diocese of St. Pölten and the Archdiocese of Salzburg on 27 July. References Sources Lenzenweger, J., 1958. Berthold von Garsten (with the Vita Bertholdi) External links Hagiography Circle Saints SQPN 1060s births 1142 deaths People from the Duchy of Bavaria German Benedictines Austrian Benedictines Austrian abbots Benedictine abbots 12th-century Roman Catholic priests Beatifications by Pope Paul VI German beatified people Austrian beatified people Venerated Catholics Benedictine beatified people