Today May 28

Today is the feast of St. Bernard -- not the famous one, but the one the dogs are named after: St. Bernard of Menthou, aka St. Bernard of Montjoux. He is the patron of mountain climbers (by decree of Pope Pius XI, in fact) and appropriately so, because this great Frenchman and vicar general in Hosta, Italy traveled much through Alpine country, going even as far as Geneva, bringing the faith and building and renovating hospices for travelers. Travelers (including many German and French pilgrims to Rome) were in grave danger of getting lost, caught in snowdrifts, mugged by bandits or kidnapped for for ransom. The hotels and hospices of St. Bernard (including two right on the passes and known as the Great and Little St. Bernard) saved many lives.