SAINT BERNARD

Bernard of Vienne
Born 778 Lyon, France
Died January 23, 842 Vienne, France

Canonized 1907 (cultus confirmed)
Feast day January 23


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. The death of his mother and father after seven years of his military service had deep impact on Bernard and caused him to spend 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.