Bernard of Vienne

Infobox Saint
name= Bernard of Vienne
birth_date= 778
death_date= January 23, 842
feast_day= January 23
venerated_in= Roman Catholicism


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birth_place= Lyon, France
death_place= Vienne, France
canonized_date= 1907 (cultus confirmed)
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patronage= Agricultural workers
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Saint Bernard (778 – 23 January 842) was bishop of Vienne from 810 until his death.

Before his monastic career, Bernard was a soldier under Charlemagne. Death of his mother and father after 7 years of his military service had deep impact on Bernard and caused him to spent all his wealth on charity purposes, dividing it into three parts: for the Church, for the poor, for his children. He bought the monastery in Ambronay and became Abbot. In 810, after resistance, he became Archbishop of Vienne.

Bernard, like many other clerics, supported the unity of the Frankish Empire. He took a position for Lothair I against his father Louis the Pious, for which he was deposed in the Synod of Thionville. This was never carried out.

Towards the end of his life, he enjoyed retiring to a spot on the banks of the Isere River, where the town of Romans is today.

References

* [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintb19.htm Catholic Community Forum]
*catholic|St. Bernard

External links

* [http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saints_486.html French article on Bernard] fr icon