Bernard of Vienne
Saint Bernard of Vienne, also known as Saint Bernard of Romans, (778 – 23 January 842) was bishop of Vienne from 810 until his death.[1][2][3]
Bernard of Vienne, Bernard of Romans | |
|---|---|
 Statue of Saint Bernard at Ambronay | |
| Born | 778 Lyon, France |
| Died | January 23, 842 Vienne, France |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Canonized | 1907 (cultus confirmed) |
| Feast | January 23 |
| Patronage | Agricultural workers |
Before his monastic career, Bernard was a soldier under Charlemagne. The death of his mother and father after seven years of military service had a deep impact on Bernard and caused him to spend all his wealth on charitable purposes, dividing it into three parts: for the church, for the poor, for his children. He bought the monastery in Ambronay, of which he became abbot. In 810, after resistance, he became bishop of Vienne.
Bernard, like many other clerics, supported the unity of the Frankish Empire. He took a position on the side of Lothair I against his father Louis the Pious, for which he was deposed in the Synod of Thionville, although this was never carried out.
Towards the end of his life, he enjoyed retiring to a spot on the banks of the Isère River, where the town of Romans is today.[4]
References
- Nominis: Saint Barnard (in French)
- Histoire hagiologique de Belley ou recueil des vies des saints et des bienheureux nés dans ce diocèse, Jean-Irénée Depéry, édition Bottier, 1834, pp. 113-198
- Laurent Jacquot, Romans - Traces d'histoire, coll. '"Les Patrimoines"', ed. Dauphiné Libéré, 2008
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One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Bernard". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.