Saint Bernard of Menthon

Aug 302012

detail of a photo of a statue of Saint Bernard that stands at Little Saint Bernard Pass, an area of the Alps between France and Italy; taken on 19 July 2006 by Vberger; swiped off the Wikipedia web site
Also known as

Apostle of the Alps
Bernard of Aotha
Bernard of Mentone
Bernard of Montjoux

Memorial

28 May
15 June on some calendars

Profile

Born to the French nobility. Priest. Archdeacon of Aosta in 996. Evangelized to the people of the Alps for over 40 years. Vicar-general of Alpine diocese. He started a patrol that cleared robbers from the mountains, and he established hospices for travellers and pilgrims to Rome, Italy; he established a community of Augustinian Hospitallers to staff them, and they continue their good work today. The large dogs, trained to search for lost victims in the mountains, are named for him.