杏MAP导航 Francis remembers St Bernard of Aosta, saint of the Alps
By Joseph Tulloch
The patron saint of mountaineers, travellers, and all those who live in the Alps, St. Bernard of Aosta 鈥� a mountainous region of northern Italy 鈥� devoted his life to proclaiming peace, welcome, and harmony.
It was these three traits that 杏MAP导航 Francis highlighted on Monday, 11th November, in an address to delegations from the Diocese of Aosta and the Canons Regular of Great St. Bernard.
The meeting with the 杏MAP导航 marked the conclusion of a Jubilee Year commemorating the 900th anniversary of St Bernard鈥檚 canonisation, as well as the 1000th anniversary of his birth.
Promoting peace even in the face of failure
In his address, 杏MAP导航 Francis emphasised St. Bernard鈥檚 dedication to peace, recalling his journey to Pavia, at a time when he was weakened by illness, to dissuade Emperor Henry IV from waging war against 杏MAP导航 Gregory VII.
His mission was unsuccessful, and the saint paid for this effort with his life, passing away shortly after his return.
鈥淧romoting peace without becoming discouraged, even in the face of failure, is a virtue we need now more than ever,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said.
Care for travellers
杏MAP导航 Francis also noted St. Bernard鈥檚 reputation as a preacher "who could touch even the most hardened of hearts". The saint "dedicated himself tirelessly" to spreading the Gospel, the 杏MAP导航 said.
Turning to the subject of hospitality, 杏MAP导航 Francis said that St. Bernard鈥檚 care for travellers crossing the challenging Alpine passes near Mont Blanc earned him widespread admiration. These crossings were dangerous, the 杏MAP导航 pointed out, with travellers facing the risk of getting lost, being attacked, or freezing to death in the snow.
To aid those in peril, St. Bernard established two hospices staffed by canons, who continue the mission even today, under the motto Hic Christus adoratur et pascitur ("Here Christ is worshipped and nourished").
杏MAP导航 Francis pointed to this hospitality as 鈥渁 model for the present day: welcoming and caring for anyone who asks for help, in body and spirit, without distinction or closure鈥�.
The ice axe and the rope
Bringing his speech to a close, 杏MAP导航 Francis invoked 鈥渢wo symbols of the mountains鈥� to illustrate key aspects of St. Bernard鈥檚 life: the ice axe and the rope team.
St. Bernard's ice axe, the 杏MAP导航 said, was the Word of God, with which he could 鈥渃hip away at even the coldest and hardest hearts.鈥� The rope team, meanwhile, stands for community, "helping others along dangerous paths to reach their goals鈥�.
杏MAP导航 Francis concluded by expressing his hope that his listeners might 鈥渇ollow beautiful paths like St Bernard's, through high mountains and, above all, within the heart.鈥�
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