00:00Bertrand was born around 1050 into a noble family from Gers.
00:05Destined for an ecclesiastical career, he studied in Toulouse and showed remarkable piety and intelligence from a very early age.
00:13He became a canon, then an archdeacon, before being appointed bishop of Cominges in 1083.
00:20Upon his arrival, his diocese was a scene of desolation.
00:24The city is in ruins, the cathedral abandoned, and religious life has died out after centuries
00:31of unrest and invasion.
00:33But Bertrand is not one to be discouraged; he immediately sets to work, with energy and a
00:40extraordinary determination.
00:42His mission is twofold: to rebuild the physical city and to restore the faith of his people.
00:49He launched a vast project to rebuild Notre-Dame Cathedral, now a Romanesque-Gothic masterpiece.
00:57It attracts builders, craftsmen, and breathes new life into the region.
01:03A fortified town was reborn around the church.
01:07But his work does not stop at stones.
01:10He reformed the clergy, fighting against corruption and ignorance,
01:14and tirelessly preaches the gospel to the often-forgotten inhabitants.
01:19He visits every parish, offering support to the poor and the sick,
01:25and proves to be an attentive and merciful pastor.
01:29His reputation for holiness grew rapidly.
01:33He is credited with many miracles, healing the blind, the paralyzed, and relieving suffering.
01:40His wisdom is sought after, and his charity knows no bounds.
01:45He died in 1123, leaving behind a transformed diocese.
01:51a majestic cathedral, and a spiritually renewed community.
01:56Today, Saint Bertrand de Cominges, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
02:02This still bears witness to his incredible work.
02:05What we remember about him is the image of a tireless builder,
02:10not only of stone, but above all of soul.
02:13A man who, faced with discouragement and ruin,
02:17He was able to draw strength from his faith to rebuild everything.
02:21leaving a legacy of beauty, spirituality, and hope that still resonates today.
02:28He embodies perseverance and devotion in the service of God and mankind.
02:37Subtitling by Radio-Canada
