Snowshoeing and Heroic Rescue Monks
Monks have performed a important function inside the Swiss Alps for hundreds of years, in particular around Col du St Bernard, in which they retain a long-standing tradition of rescuing stranded travelers in the perilous alpine terrain. On a freezing December day, mountain manual Kingsley Jones located one such rescue. main a small institution via the ominously named Combe des Morts, he noticed a female searching for warm temperature in a rescue hut. She had already referred to as for assist, and the resource arrived within the form of a monk on skis, wearing a hot flask of grenadine and the promise of protection. The monk escorted her to the Hospice du Grand St Bernard, a monastery that has been supplying shelter due to the fact 1050.
monks have been presenting help in those mountains for over one thousand years. St. Bernard of Aosta founded the hospice to shelter pilgrims on the thru Francigena, an ancient direction from Canterbury to Rome. despite technological advancements and modern-day rescue techniques, the monastery’s position as a sanctuary remains unchanged. The clergymen continue to serve the ones at risk in this avalanche-susceptible location, imparting protection, warm temperature, and solace to all who need it.
The position of priests has developed with time, but their mission remains the same. Kingsley, who has led journeys to the monastery for over 25 years, observed a alternate inside the traffic. even as it was as soon as older Swiss skiers who frequented the hospice, the upward push of snowshoeing and less difficult get right of entry to to the area has drawn a younger crowd, including North americans and even households. despite this shift, the peaceful and non secular surroundings of the hospice remains intact. Kingsley believes that the modern site visitors are not handiest drawn by the possibility to climb nearby peaks but additionally through the tranquil surroundings the clergymen help cultivate.
clergymen retain to are living at the hospice throughout the winter months, welcoming visitors as snow and ice cowl the surrounding roads, making it accessible simplest via skis or snowshoes. whilst my buddy Dan and that i arrived, we exceeded numerous rescue huts, including one marked with the words “St. Bernard guide our steps,” reminding us of the enduring legacy of St. Bernard, the purchaser saint of mountaineers. St. Bernard died in 1081, and his legacy lives on, each inside the humans he helped and the priests who continue his work.
The clergymen aren’t just non secular leaders; they’re also publications who ensure the safety of those making the difficult adventure to the hospice. when we arrived, we were greeted by a serene surroundings. The whitewashed walls of the hospice stood in stark evaluation to the snowy environment. A statue of St. Bernard, with the satan shackled at his toes, symbolized the dangers mountaineers face and the clergymen’ role in supporting people conquer them. interior, we joined different vacationers, including Swiss ski-mountaineers and a pair from the U.S., for a warm meal and verbal exchange. The hospice contains up to 80 visitors across flooring, with numerous monks and lay volunteers offering assistance.
The religious aspect of the hospice is as essential as its realistic reason. After dinner, we attended mass inside the underground crypt, a simple, stone room presenting protection from the blizzard out of doors. The monks’ chants filled the chamber with tranquility, and the mass, even though performed in French, became a relaxing and contemplative experience. It reminded me of the monks’ role in providing religious solace, no longer just bodily aid.
these days, the monks of the Hospice du Grand St Bernard hold their undertaking to assist vacationers. while the world around them has modified, their commitment to presenting safety, comfort, and spiritual refuge stays steadfast. The monastery remains a symbol of hospitality, compassion, and the long-lasting legacy of St. Bernard. As vacationers from around the sector make their way to the hospice, they are now not only looking for refuge from the cruel alpine factors but additionally experiencing the peaceful, spiritual sanctuary that the monks have cautiously preserved for centuries.
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