BERTOLLO of RENTY, Saint. — He was born under SIGEBERTO (639-656) into a pagan German family; he went to Thérouanne (Belgium) where he received Baptism and became steward to Count Wamberto, who with his wife Omburga founded three churches and a monastery at Renty (diocese of Thérouanne), of which B. probably became abbot. He died on 5 February 705; every year on the day of his feast (5 February), a thousand loaves of bread are distributed in perpetual memory of his great charity toward the poor.
BIBL.: Acta Sanctorum Belgii, V, Brussels 1789, pp. 459-90 with introduction by J. Ghesquière, ibid., pp. 453-59; J. M. La vie de st B., Boulogne 1852; F. S. De Ram, Haagiographie Belge, II, Brussels 1867, pp. 137-43; F. Ferrant, Équisse historique sur le culte et les reliques de st B. de Renty en l'église de Harlebeke, Bruges 1897; L. van der Essen, Étude critique et littéraire sur les Vitas des saints de l'ancienne Belgique, Louvain 1907, pp. 422-23.