Saint Bernard of Montjoux was probably born in Italy. He became a priest, was made Vicar General of Aosta, and spent more than four decades doing missionary work in the Alps. He built schools and churches in the diocese but is especially remembered for two Alpine hospices he built to aid lost travelers in the mountain passes named Great and Little Bernard, after him.

The men who ran them in time became Augustinian canons regular and built a monastery. The Order continued into the twentieth century. He was proclaimed the patron saint of Alpinists and mountain climbers by Pope Pius XI in 1923. He is sometimes fallaciously referred to as Bernard of Menthon and the son of Count Richard of Menthon, which he was not. His feast day is May 28th.

Bernard became patron and protector of skiers because of his four decades spent in missionary work throughout the Alps. The dog breed known as “St. Bernards” get their name from the Great St Bernard Hospice which our Saint founded.

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18 COMMENTS

  1. Dear St. Bernard, please help my 2nd son to get his dream job, he felt so hopeless and defeated, please make him believe in himself and build his future, bless and protect him and I know everything will take place in God’s Will and time, please intercede for us, thank you.

  2. st. Bernard please pray with us,that my son Eduardo finds the light of Jesus,every one please let us pray for everyone in need,Thank you.

  3. Dear St.Bernard,
    Please pray for my urgent intention as I believe you are with Jesus, and will surely answer. Do all of the intentions asked for.

  4. Saint Bernard of Montjoux had a faith that was not solely spiritual. His faith demanded that he spread and develop both an intimate spiritual union with God and various good works and deeds. His faith led to many good actions, including the building of schools, churches, and hospices.

    Dear Jesus, please help my faith create good works.

  5. SAINT. BERNARD of MONTJOUX,,,,,,,PRAY…FOR…PEACE…ON…EARTH……..and…….THE. IMPOSSIBLE…..DREAM
    GOOD….WILL…..to…….MEN!!!!!!!!
    MAKE…..UNTO……ME…….a…..MORE….FORGIVING……HEART!!!!!!!! IT….SEEMS….JUSTICE…….and……RIGHT…….
    SEEM……to……be……INEVITABLE!!!!! WE….CAN….ONLY….HOPE,,,,,,,,
    AND….NOW…….IT….IS….THE….TIME….FOR……..an…….ADVENTURE……TOWARDS…..the……GOLDEN…..TIMES…!!!!!!!
    SAINT. BERNARD………GUIDE…..THOSE…..WHO…..SKI….!!!!!!!!!

  6. St. Bernard of Montjoux, pray for us, especially Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany, Austria. May your intercessory prayers help heal and shelter weary lost travellers, even during this current bizarre global crisis. Your hospice ministry is as critical now as it was then, since all mountain existence is life and death. Take souls from Purgatory who died in avalanches or other tragedies and accompany them through the gate of Heaven. Amen.

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