Bertold of Regensburg facts for kids
Bertold of Regensburg (born around 1210, died December 14, 1272) was a very famous German preacher during the Middle Ages. He was also known as Berthold of Ratisbon. He traveled widely, sharing his messages with huge crowds of people.
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Bertold of Regensburg: A Famous Preacher
Early Life and Journeys
Bertold was born in Regensburg, a city in Germany. He joined the Franciscan religious group at a monastery there in 1226. He learned a lot from a teacher named David of Augsburg. By 1246, he was already in a leadership role.
Around 1250, Bertold began his career as a traveling preacher. This means he moved from place to place to give sermons. He first preached in Bavaria, trying to help Duke Otto II follow the church's rules.
He then traveled west, visiting Speyer in 1254 and 1255. After that, he went through Alsace and into Switzerland. In the years that followed, he preached in many Swiss areas like Aargau, Thurgau, Konstanz, and Grisons. He also visited the upper Rhine country.
Traveling Far and Wide
By 1260, Bertold was traveling even farther. He visited Austria, Moravia, Hungary, Silesia, and Thuringia. He might have even gone to Bohemia. When he spoke to Slavic audiences, he used an interpreter to help people understand his words.
Some of his journeys in the eastern parts of Europe were to encourage people to join a crusade. A crusade was a religious war. Pope Urban IV specifically asked Bertold to preach about this in 1263. Bertold returned to Regensburg and passed away there on December 13, 1272.
What Bertold Preached About
Bertold spoke to many different kinds of people, so he made his sermons easy to understand for everyone. He avoided difficult religious questions. Instead, he told ordinary people to trust the clergy (religious leaders) with those deep topics. He also didn't talk about the big political events of his time.
Messages for Everyday Life
Bertold focused on things that affected regular people. He talked about their joys, their problems, their beliefs, and their habits. He knew a lot about everyday life and explained things very clearly. He encouraged everyone to be happy with their place in life.
However, he also spoke out against unfair things. He criticized high taxes, dishonest judges, and people who charged too much interest on loans. He also spoke against dishonest trading practices. He encouraged people to avoid too much worldly entertainment like certain dances or tournaments. He also gently advised women about vanity and gossip.
His Unique Preaching Style
Bertold's sermons were never boring. He made them lively and colorful. He often included interesting stories, jokes, and even some old-fashioned word explanations. He used examples from the Old Testament and showed his strong love for nature in his talks.
Seventy-one of his German sermons have been saved. They are considered some of the most powerful speeches from that time. They are also important examples of Middle High German prose, which is the way people wrote in German during the Middle Ages. His style was clear and direct. He often used simple, everyday sayings from farmers. He wasn't afraid to use humor to make his point.
