Bertrand of Comminges
Encyclopedia
Bertrand of Comminges was Bishop of Comminges, in the diocese of Toulouse
, France
. It is after him that the commune of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges
, is named.
, in 1050, to Raymond Atton, who was a military officer and Lord of L'Isle-Jourdain, and Gervaise Emma Taillefer, daughter of Count William III Taillefer de Toulouse. Through his mother's side of the family, Bertrand was related to the Counts of Toulouse, William IV and Raymond IV of Saint-Gilles, who were his cousins. Bertrand was raised to be a knight but in adulthood he entered religious orders.
During his long episcopate, almost half a century, the city of Lugdunum Convenarum - who would later take his name, Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges
- was revived. He rebuilt the cathedral
, which also would almost be dedicated in his honour, and later become a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
.
Upon his death he was considered a saint in the Pyrenees
. Around 1167, the Archbishop of Auch commissioned a cleric named Vital to write his life and sent to the Curia
for his canonization. The first the cause for beatification was rejected, but later Pope Honorius III
opened an investigation in 1218. Later the pontiff
beatified him between 1220 and 1222, although this is not evidenced by any document of the time. In 1309, in any case, Pope Clement V
, who was himself Bishop of Comminges, lifted Bertrand to the sainthood. A magnificent tomb was built in their honor by Cardinal Pierre de Foix
, who occupied the episcopal seat of Comminges from 1422 to 1442.
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It is after him that the commune of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France. It is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France association.-History:...
, is named.
Early life
Bertrand was born at L'Isle-JourdainL'Isle-Jourdain, Gers
L'Isle-Jourdain is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.-Population:Its inhabitants are called Lislois.-References:*...
, in 1050, to Raymond Atton, who was a military officer and Lord of L'Isle-Jourdain, and Gervaise Emma Taillefer, daughter of Count William III Taillefer de Toulouse. Through his mother's side of the family, Bertrand was related to the Counts of Toulouse, William IV and Raymond IV of Saint-Gilles, who were his cousins. Bertrand was raised to be a knight but in adulthood he entered religious orders.
Religious Life
After entering the orders he was successively archdeacon of Toulouse (circa 1070) and Bishop of Comminges (taking office between 1078–1080). In this role, which he maintained until his death, he implemented in his diocese mountain principles of the Gregorian reform, both in regard to the discipline of clergy as religious and moral life of the laity.During his long episcopate, almost half a century, the city of Lugdunum Convenarum - who would later take his name, Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France. It is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France association.-History:...
- was revived. He rebuilt the cathedral
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges Cathedral
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges Cathedral is a former Roman Catholic cathedral in Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, Haute-Garonne, southwestern France...
, which also would almost be dedicated in his honour, and later become a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
Death and legacy
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
. Around 1167, the Archbishop of Auch commissioned a cleric named Vital to write his life and sent to the Curia
Curia
A curia in early Roman times was a subdivision of the people, i.e. more or less a tribe, and with a metonymy it came to mean also the meeting place where the tribe discussed its affairs...
for his canonization. The first the cause for beatification was rejected, but later Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III , previously known as Cencio Savelli, was Pope from 1216 to 1227.-Early work:He was born in Rome as son of Aimerico...
opened an investigation in 1218. Later the pontiff
Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III , previously known as Cencio Savelli, was Pope from 1216 to 1227.-Early work:He was born in Rome as son of Aimerico...
beatified him between 1220 and 1222, although this is not evidenced by any document of the time. In 1309, in any case, Pope Clement V
Pope Clement V
Pope Clement V, born Raymond Bertrand de Got was Pope from 1305 to his death...
, who was himself Bishop of Comminges, lifted Bertrand to the sainthood. A magnificent tomb was built in their honor by Cardinal Pierre de Foix
Peter of Foix
Pierre de Foix was a French cardinal, created in 1409.He was a papal legate in Avignon and Archbishop of Arles from 1450 to 1463.He founded both the University of Avignon, and the Collège de Foix in Toulouse....
, who occupied the episcopal seat of Comminges from 1422 to 1442.