Blessed Bertrand was one of the first priests to gather around the great St. Dominic and join his mission of opposing heresy through preaching and personal witness.

Bertrand was born in Garrigues, France, late in the 12th century. He was raised with an orthodox Catholic faith at a time when many were straying to a heresy called Albigensianism, which taught that there are two principles ruled the world—one spiritual (good) and one material (evil). The heresy encouraged contempt for the body, and taught that Jesus was an angel who appeared as human, but had no real body.

In 1200, Albigensians took to the streets to drive out Catholics and to harass monasteries. One convent was saved when a bee-master turned over all of his hives when they approached. Bertrand was moved by the conflict and became a priest in order to encourage true faith in people.

In his ministry, he met St. Dominic and, with five others, joined him to form the Order of Preachers. Soon others joined them, and Dominic dispersed the young community to reach other territories. Bertrand spent time in Bologna and in Paris. The last decade of his life was spent organizing and promoting the new religious community in Provence.

Bertrand was one of Dominic’s dearest companions—they shared journeys together and were of a single mind. When Bertrand died in 1230, people remembered him as “the very image of the blessed Dominic.”

Blessed Bertrand de Garrigues, you one of the first to join St. Dominic to promote the true faith we enjoy today—pray for us!