June 15: Saint Bernard of Menthon (or Bernard of Aosta, or of the Alps)

Charity and support for travelers and the needy

He is known for founding the famous hospices on the alpine passes of the Great St. Bernard and the Little St. Bernard, which were named after him. These hospices, located at altitudes of 2,469 meters and 2,188 meters respectively, were established to meet the needs of travelers crossing the Alps. They offered shelter, medical assistance, and spiritual support to pilgrims and wayfarers in difficulty. In a short time, the hospices became a symbol of Christian charity and dedication to others.

Saint Bernard, their founder, was born—possibly in Aosta—around the year 1000. His mission proved providential as after the fall of the Roman Empire mountain paths became dangerous due to attacks by the Lombards who had destroyed shelters for travelers. The situation worsened with frequent raids by the Saracens and the exploitation of travelers by locals who imposed excessive tolls.

Around the mid-11th century, Ermengarde, widow of Rudolph III, King of Burgundy and owner of the Monastery of Saint Peter of Montjou located at the foot of the mountain’s northern slope, entrusted Bernard with the task of building a hospice at the summit of the pass. The aim was to protect weary or struggling travelers during the long and difficult ascent and to ensure they were not burdened by excessive taxes. To build the hospice—which was affiliated with the Monastery of Saint Peter— Bernard reused the remains of a Roman temple and settlement that once stood at the summit of the pass, then called the Plain of Jupiter.

During his life Bernard served as archdeacon and vicar general of the Diocese of Aosta. He regularly visited mountain parishes and cared for pilgrims and travelers. He dedicated himself to the moral reform of the Christian people and the transformation of the clergy both in Aosta and in the northern regions of the Diocese of Novara. During his lifetime he met Emperor Henry IV in the city of Pavia to promote reconciliation with Pope Gregory VII. Following this mission, he died in 1081 at the Abbey of Saint Lawrence in Novara.

On August 20, 1923, Pope Pius XI declared him Patron Saint of the inhabitants of the Alps and of mountaineers. His relics have been kept and venerated in the Cathedral of Novara since 1552, the year in which the Abbey of Saint Lawrence was destroyed.