May 28th.

St. Bernard of Aosta [Bernard of Menthon].

Claimed as a national by both French and Italians, hence the variant of his name, he was in fact probably of Italian origin, and was ordained in the diocese of Aosta, in the extreme N.W. of Italy above Turin and towards the St. Bernard Pass.  He was later Vicar-General of the diocese and was distinguished for his 42 years of systematic visitations, preaching, and foundation of schools and churches.  He had a particular concern for travellers across the Alps, who were much at risk from snowdrifts and highway robbers.  He founded a number of refuges or guest-houses, staffed by Austin Canons, to guard the Alpine routes; these Canons developed the specially trained breed of rescue dog, with their famous brandy barrels, called the ‘St. Bernard’ after this saint.  He died in 1081.  In 1923, Pope Pius XI, an enthusiastic mountain climber, named him patron of all mountaineers.