Saints Who Loved: Animals, Nature, Hiking, and Mountain Climbing!

Did you know that there are tons of saints who had a great love of the outdoors? It only makes sense to praise the Creator through the creation!! Anyhow, here are some that I thought of.

I. Some saints

1. Pope St. John Paul II

He loved hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, and skiing. "Mountain climbing requires rigorous virtues in those who practice it: strict discipline and self-control, prudence, a spirit of sacrifice and dedication, care and solidarity for others. Thus we can say that mountain climbing develops character. In fact, it would not be possible to face disinterestedly the difficulties of life on the mountains if the physical and muscular strength, which is very necessary, were not sustained by a strong will and an intelligent passion for beauty."

    

Okay, I couldn't resist this one...

 

Of course, Bl Pier Giorgio Frassati!

3. St. Gianna Beretta Molla

She always felt very close to God when on the top of a snowy mountain.

   


4. St. Bernard of Montjoux (or of Menthon)

Patron Saint of Backpackers, Mountaineers, Travellers in the Mountains




5. St. Christopher

Patron of Travellers, could be patron of river crossers?? Also, his name means "Christ-bearer". That's pretty cool!





6. Bl Junipero Serra

A founder of 7 missions in California. He must have hiked through some hills, mountains, etc.




7. St. Francis of Assisi

Obviously, the patron of animals. But also, a patron saint of California!




II. People in the Bible who climbed mountains:

1. Jesus: He climbed a number of different mountains, such as Mt. Tabor (where the Transfiguration took place), the Mt. of Olives (by the Garden of Gethsemane), the unnamed mountain where the Sermon on the Mount took place, the so-called Mt. of Temptation (where the devil took Jesus to tempt Him and and to show Him all the kingdoms of the world), and finally Calvary (or Golgotha, the Place of the Skull where He was crucified)

2. Peter, James, John: They all went to Mt. Tabor with Christ.

3. Mary: "Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste..." -Luke 1:39

4. Moses: He saw the burning bush on Mt. Horeb, he received the 10 commandments on Mt. Sinai, and he died on Mt. Nebo.

5. Noah: The ark landed on Mt. Ararat, modern day Turkey

6. Abraham and Isaac: Mt. Moriah was the place where God tested Abraham by telling him to sacrifice his son Isaac. This has been sometimes identified as the same mountain as Cavalry, since it has the same story, in which a father has to sacrifice his son. According to tradition (or legend), Adam and Eve are buried at the foot of the mountain.

7. Elijah: Elijah challenged the priests of Baal on the top of Mt. Carmel