Bernard of Menthon

Saint Bernard of Montjoux, C.R.S.A. (Italian: San Bernardo di Mentone; Latin: Bernardus; German: Bernhard), was an Italian monk and religious, the founder of Great St Bernard Hospice,[1] the famed hospice and monastery which has served travelers for nearly a millennium as a refuge in the most dangerous part of the western Alps. It has been served by its own congregation of canons regular throughout its history.[2] The famous breed of St. Bernard dogs were named after the hospice as they were bred to help on rescue missions during winter storms.

St. Bernard of Montjoux, C.R.S.A.
Born	c. 1020 Château de Menthon, County of Savoy, Kingdom of Arles
Died	June 1081 Imperial Free City of Novara, Holy Roman Empire
Venerated in	Catholic Church (Canons Regular of St. Augustine), Eastern Orthodox Church
Canonized	1681 by Pope Innocent XI
Feast	May 28, June 15
Attributes	In the mountains, with a dog
Patronage	mountaineers, skiing, snowboarding, backpacking and the Alps

Life

Early life

Bernard was born probably in the Château de Menthon, near Annecy, then in the County of Savoy, a part of the Kingdom of Arles. He was descended from a rich and noble family and received a thorough education in Paris.[3] When he had reached adulthood, he decided to devote himself to the service of the Church and refused an honorable marriage proposed by his father. (In popular legend it is said that he had to sneak out of the castle on the night before an arranged wedding, and that during his flight from the castle, he threw himself from his window, only to be caught by angels and lowered gently to the ground 40 feet (12 meters) below.)[4]

Placing himself under the direction of Peter, the Archdeacon of Aosta, under whose guidance he rapidly progressed, Bernard was ordained a priest and worked as a missionary in the mountain villages. Later, on account of his learning and virtue, he was appointed to succeed his mentor as archdeacon of the cathedral, giving him charge of the government of the diocese, directly under the bishop.[5]

For 42 years, he continued to preach the Gospel to these people and even into many cantons of Lombardy, effecting numerous conversions and working many miracles.[5] The last act of St. Bernard's life was the reconciliation of two noblemen whose strife threatened a fatal outcome. He died in June 1081 in the Imperial Free City of Novara and was interred in the monastery of St. Lawrence.[6]

St Bernard's Passes

Great St. Bernard Pass, 2469 m, August 2003

Since the most ancient times there has been a path across the Pennine Alps leading from the Aosta Valley to the Swiss canton of Valais. The traditional route of this pass is covered with perpetual snow from seven to eight feet deep, and drifts sometimes accumulate to the height of forty feet. Although the pass was extremely dangerous, especially in the springtime on account of avalanches, it was often used by French and German pilgrims on their way to Rome.[5]

In his office as archdeacon, Bernard had the charge of caring for the poor and travelers. For their convenience and protection, Bernard founded a canonry and hostel at the highest point of the pass, 8,000 feet above sea-level, in the year 1050, at the site which has come to bear his name. A few years later he established another hostel on the Little St. Bernard Pass, a mountain saddle in the Graian Alps, 7,076 feet above sea-level. Both were placed in charge of communities of canons regular, after papal approval had been obtained by Bernard during a visit to Rome. The new community was placed under the patronage of Saint Nicholas of Myra, patron saint of travelers.[6]

Today the tunnel and modern technology have made rescue operations at the pass mainly unnecessary. The dogs were put up for sale in 2004 because of the high cost of maintenance and were promptly bought by foundations created for the purpose.[7]

Legacy

Saint Bernard on the flag of the Tyrolean Alpine Guard, detachment Villgraten valley

These hostels were renowned for the generous hospitality extended to all travelers over the Great and Little St. Bernard, so called in honor of the founder of these charitable institutions. At all seasons of the year, but especially during heavy snow-storms, the canons, later accompanied by their well-trained dogs, the common herding dogs of the Valais ("St Bernards" are attested from the 17th century), went out in search of victims who might have succumbed to the severity of the weather. They offered food, clothing, and shelter to the unfortunate travelers and took care of the dead. They depended on gifts and collections for sustenance.

As of 2012 the congregation consisted of around 35 professed members, the majority of whom live at the hostel while some provide pastoral care to neighboring parishes.[6] St. Bernard dogs are still on the site as pets; helicopters are used in rescue operations today.[8]

Although venerated from the 12th century in such places of northern Italy as Aosta, Novara and Brescia, Bernard was not formally recognized as a saint until his canonization by Pope Innocent XI in 1681. His feast is celebrated on 28 May[9] or June 15 (Roman Martyrology).[10] Pope Pius XI confirmed Bernard as the patron saint of the Alps in 1923. His image appears in the flag of some detachments of the Tyrolean Alpine Guard. He is also the patron saint of skiing, snowboarding, hiking, backpacking, mountaineering.[8]

Saint Bernard's Catholic Church in Saranac Lake, New York is named for him.[11]

See also

• Saint Bernard of Menthon, patron saint archive

References

1. Walter Woodhurn Hyde, "The Great St. Bernard Pass and Its Hospice", Isis, 27(2) (Aug., 1937), pp. 306–320, esp. 312.
2. "Canons Regular of the Hospitaller Congregation of Great Saint Bernard (C.R.B.)". GCatholic. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
3. Butler, Alban. "Blessed Bernard of Menthon, Confessor". Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints, 1866. CatholicSaints.Info. 15 June 2013 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
4. Hamilton, C.J., "The Legend of St. Bernard of Menthon, The Month, vol. 99, May 1902, p. 480 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
5. Dieringer, Barnabas. "Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Bernard of Menthon". www.newadvent.org. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
6. Congrégation du Grand-Saint-Bernard "Saint Bernardo de Menthon" Archived July 31, 2012, at the Wayback Machine (in French)
7. "Welcome to Fondation Barry". Fondation Barry du Grand-St-Bernard. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
8. Herald, Catholic. "A Patron Saint for Mountain Climbers- The Arlington Catholic Herald". catholicherald.com.
9. "St. Bernard of Montjoux". Catholic Online. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
10. "Roman Martyrology June, in English". www.boston-catholic-journal.com.
11. Shea, Kevin. "Patron saint of hikers: St. Bernard’s Catholic Church celebrates 11th-century namesake", Adirondack Daily Enterprise, June 17. 2019

External links

• Media related to Bernard of Menthon at Wikimedia Commons
• Adrian Fletcher’s Paradoxplace Gran San Bernardo Pass Photos