May 28 | Saint Bernard of Menthon

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, imagine that you are a young noble born into a wealthy family sometime around the year 923, and you are staring out of a towering 40-foot high stone window. Behind you is a future you absolutely do not want, an arranged marriage perfectly planned out by your family.

Below you is a terrifying, bone-crushing drop to the ground. What do you do? If you are today's saint, you take a deep breath, and you jump. But you don't hit the ground. According to an incredible legend, angels swoop down from the heavens just in time to catch you and break your fall. This is the story of a man whose name you probably associate with a giant, drooling, lovable dog, but whose actual life was filled with extreme mountain rescues, dangerous missions, and radical hospitality.

Today, we're talking about St. Bernard of Menthon. And if you are into extreme sports, you are definitely going to want to pay attention. St. Bernard is the patron saint of skiers, skateboarders, mountain climbers, backpackers, and the Alps. So next time you're dropping into a half-pipe, hiking a tough trail, or hitting the ski slopes, this is the saint you want in your corner.

Let's get into his story. After that legendary, gravity-defying escape from his arranged marriage, Bernard had to figure out what to do with his life. His exact origins are actually a bit of a mystery to historians. Some reports say he was from Savoy in the south of France and should be called Bernard of Mongeau, while others strongly claim he was Italian. But no matter where he started, his path led him to the cathedral in Aosta, where he sought out Archdeacon Peter.

Archdeacon Peter took the young runaway under his wing and became Bernard's mentor. Under his guidance, Bernard studied hard and officially became a priest. He was incredibly successful in his new vocation, eventually succeeding his mentor in the high-ranking role of archdeacon. In this powerful position, he governed the local diocese and worked closely with the bishop to build schools and churches for the community. He was safe, successful, and had a comfortable life. But Bernard wasn't the kind of guy who liked to stay comfortable.

He looked out at the freezing, towering peaks of the Alps and saw people who desperately needed his help. Bernard turned his attention to the pagan natives living in these harsh mountain environments. He didn't just go for a quick mission trip. He spent 42 long years in the Alps, and he didn't just go for a quick mission trip. He spent 42 long years in the Alps. Preaching the gospel in the freezing Alps, and he successfully converted many of the people there.

Now, these mountains were incredibly dangerous. There was a specific mountain pass across the Pennine Alps connecting the valley of Iosta to the Swiss canton of Valais. Travelers, pilgrims, and merchants had to cross this pass, but it was notorious for sudden, deadly avalanches. Bernard saw this massive problem and decided to fix it. In the year 1050, right at the highest, most treacherous point of this pass, nearly 8,000 feet above sea level, he founded a canonry and a hospice. Imagine trying to build a massive rescue shelter in the 11th century on top of a freezing mountain.

He then went on to create a second hospice in a smaller pass located in the Gratian Alps. These hospices were placed in the care of a group known as the Canons Regular, and they fittingly chose Nicholas of Myra, the patron of travelers, as their patron. The monks who lived in these high-altitude shelters became legendary for their intense hospitality, as well as their unbelievable generosity to victims and frozen travelers who were caught in the mountain storms. But the monks didn't do it alone.

When you were trying to find people buried in deep snow across treacherous mountain passes, human senses just aren't enough. Bernard is most commonly known today for the incredible animals that would accompany him and the brothers on these dangerous rescue missions to save those lost in the past. Today, we know these brave, cold-weather rescue dogs by the name of the man who started it all, Saint Bernard.

Most of us aren't going to build a rescue shelter 8,000 feet up a freezing mountain. But we can look at what he really stood for. Radical hospitality and creating a safe shelter for people navigating difficult paths. Be a safe shelter for someone in your life today.

Middle school and high school can feel like a dangerous, unpredictable mountain pass sometimes. People get bullied, feel left out, or just go through a really tough time. Today, look for someone who seems like they are struggling or navigating a blizzard in their own life. Invite them to sit with you at lunch, or just offer a listening ear and a warm smile to a friend who is having a terrible day. Be the rescue they need. Show them the same radical hospitality that Saint Bernard showed to those freezing travelers. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.