Saint Bernardine of Siena
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| Saint Bernardine of Siena | |
| Feast Day | May 20 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Advertisers, public relations, gambling addicts, chest problems, Aquila, Italy |
| Birthplace | Massa Marittima, Tuscany, Italy |
| Death Place | Aquila, Kingdom of Naples |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes, fever |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of San Bernardino, Aquila, Italy |
Saint Bernardine of Siena (September 8, 1380 – May 20, 1444), born Bernardino Albizzeschi, was a saint and Franciscan friar renowned for his eloquent preaching and devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. Born to a noble family in Massa Marittima, Tuscany, Italy, he was orphaned by age six and raised by a pious aunt. Joining the Franciscan Order in 1402, he became a missionary preacher, traveling across Italy on foot for over 30 years, drawing thousands with sermons that sparked moral reform and reconciliation. His promotion of the IHS monogram, symbolizing Jesus’ name, spread widely, appearing in churches and public spaces. Canonized by Pope Nicholas V in 1450, his feast day is celebrated on May 20 in the Roman Catholic Church.[1]
Bernardine’s preaching, often lasting hours, addressed vices like gambling, usury, and factionalism, while advocating for peace and devotion. His “Bonfires of the Vanities” saw people burn frivolous items, symbolizing repentance. Despite a weak voice, miraculously strengthened later, he was called the “Apostle of Italy” for reviving Catholicism in the 15th century. His relics, housed in the Basilica of San Bernardino in Aquila, remain a pilgrimage site. As patron of advertisers, public relations, and Aquila, his legacy endures in his sermons and the IHS symbol.[2][3]
Biography
Birth
Saint Bernardine of Siena was born on September 8, 1380, in Massa Marittima, Tuscany, Italy, to the noble Albizzeschi family. His father, Albertollo, served as governor of the Sienese town, and his mother was Raniera degli Avveduti. The family’s prominence provided Bernardine a privileged upbringing, though tragedy struck with the loss of his mother at age three and his father by age six.[1][4]
Raised in a devout environment in Siena, Bernardine’s early piety was nurtured by his aunt Diana, whose Catholic faith profoundly influenced him. His birthplace, part of Siena’s contado, was a vibrant center of medieval culture, setting the stage for his later role as a reformer.[2]
Early Life
Orphaned young, Bernardine was cared for by his aunt Diana and her daughter in Siena, where he developed a strong devotion to God and the Virgin Mary. Known for his compassion, he gave food to the poor, once fasting to aid a beggar. At 11, he studied civil and canon law in Siena, excelling while fasting weekly in honor of Mary and avoiding crude speech.[4][5]
In 1400, during the plague in Siena, Bernardine, at 20, joined the Confraternity of Our Lady at Santa Maria della Scala hospital, leading efforts to nurse victims. He managed the hospital for four months, tending to the sick despite losing many workers. Exhausted, he fell ill but recovered to care for his ailing aunt until her death in 1401.[1][2]
Occupation
Before his preaching career, Bernardine’s “occupation” centered on religious service and study. As a confraternity member, he nursed the sick and managed hospital operations during the plague. His legal education in Siena equipped him with skills later used in preaching and mediation. After joining the Franciscans in 1402, he focused on prayer and spiritual preparation, ordained as a priest in 1404.[4][3]
As a missionary preacher from 1417, he traveled Italy, delivering sermons that addressed societal issues and promoted reform. His role as vicar general of the Observant Franciscans involved leading the order’s growth, increasing its members from 300 to over 4,000 by his death. He also mediated disputes, notably in Siena and Ferrara, fostering peace.[2][1]
Vocation
Bernardine’s vocation crystallized when he joined the Observant Franciscans in 1402, embracing strict adherence to St. Francis’ rule of poverty and humility. Ordained in 1404, he initially avoided preaching due to a weak voice, focusing on prayer for 12 years. By 1417, his voice strengthened—attributed to Mary’s intercession—he began preaching in Milan, captivating crowds with his eloquence.[5][4]
His missionary work spanned Italy, addressing vices like gambling, witchcraft, and usury, and promoting the IHS monogram to inspire devotion to Jesus’ name. He declined bishoprics in Siena, Ferrara, and Urbino to focus on preaching and reform. His sermons, often held outdoors to accommodate thousands, fostered reconciliation and moral renewal, earning him the title “Apostle of Italy.”[3][2]
Death
Saint Bernardine of Siena met his end on May 20, 1444, in Aquila, Kingdom of Naples, dying of a fever while evangelizing. Too weak to walk, he rode a donkey to continue his mission. He collapsed and died on Ascension eve, as friars chanted “Pater manifestavi nomen Tuum hominibus.” His body, kept in Aquila by local magistrates, was buried in the Observant Franciscans’ church.[1][4]
Miracles, including healings, were reported at his tomb, prompting his canonization in 1450. His relics, translated to the Basilica of San Bernardino in 1472, remain a pilgrimage site, with a shrine gifted by Louis XI of France.[2][5]
Significant events
- Joined the Confraternity of Our Lady at Santa Maria della Scala hospital in 1400.
- Managed Siena’s hospital during the 1400 plague, leading relief efforts.
- Entered the Observant Franciscans in 1402, ordained a priest in 1404.
- Began preaching missions across Italy in 1417, promoting the IHS monogram.
- Mediated factional strife in Siena in 1427, preaching for 50 days.
- Died on May 20, 1444, in Aquila, with miracles reported at his tomb.[1][2]
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Massa Marittima, Tuscany, Italy
Death location: Aquila, Kingdom of Naples
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Parishes
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Canonization
Servant of God
The process to recognize Saint Bernardine as a Servant of God began soon after his death in 1444, driven by reports of miracles at his tomb in Aquila. The Franciscans and local faithful, particularly in Siena and Aquila, gathered testimonies of his holiness, preaching, and charitable works, initiating his cause in the Diocese of Aquila.[4]
Venerable
Bernardine was not formally declared Venerable, as his canonization predates the modern process requiring this stage. His widespread veneration, fueled by his preaching and miracles, advanced his cause rapidly within the Roman Catholic Church.[1]
Beatification
No distinct beatification process is recorded for Saint Bernardine, as pre-Congregation practices relied on popular devotion and miracles. His cult grew in Tuscany and Aquila, with hagiographies by Barnaba of Siena and Maffeo Vegio written shortly after his death, supporting his sanctity.[2]
Canonization
Saint Bernardine was canonized on May 24, 1450, by Pope Nicholas V in Rome, Papal States, six years after his death. His canonization was prompted by numerous healing miracles reported at his tomb, verified by ecclesiastical authorities. His swift canonization reflects his profound impact as a preacher and reformer, earning him the title “Apostle of Italy.”[1][5]
Miracles
Saint Bernardine’s canonization was supported by miracles, primarily healings, reported at his tomb in Aquila. His life was marked by acts considered providential, though specific miracles were less emphasized than his preaching and moral influence.[4]
Miracle for beatification
No specific miracle is recorded for beatification, as Bernardine’s recognition predates the modern beatification process.
Miracle for canonization
Healing miracles at Bernardine’s tomb in Aquila between 1444 and 1450, including cures of the sick who visited or touched his relics, were documented and verified for his canonization. These miracles, reported by pilgrims and locals, were pivotal in his recognition as a saint.[2]
Other notable miracles
Patronage
Saint Bernardine of Siena is the patron saint of advertisers, public relations professionals, gambling addicts, those with chest problems, and Aquila, Italy.[1]
Feast day
Saint Bernardine of Siena’s feast day is celebrated on May 20 in the Roman Catholic Church, marking his death and legacy as a preacher.[5]
Veneration
Saint Bernardine is venerated through prayers, novenas, and pilgrimages to the Basilica of San Bernardino in Aquila, where his relics are preserved. Devotees honor him with the IHS monogram, often displayed in churches, and seek his intercession for purity and effective communication. His image, depicting him with the IHS symbol, three mitres (for rejected bishoprics), or a Franciscan habit, is common in Tuscany and Aquila.[2][3]
His sermons, recorded by a Sienese fuller in 1427, remain a treasure of vernacular Italian, studied for their insight into 15th-century life. Festivals in Siena and Aquila celebrate his legacy, alongside St. Catherine, as co-patron. His devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, popularized through the IHS symbol, continues to inspire Catholics, with his influence evident in church art and liturgy.[4][5]
Books
Written about the saint
- Saint Bernardine of Siena by Paul Thureau-Dangin[4]
- Preaching Peace in Renaissance Italy: Bernardino of Siena and His Audience by Cynthia L. Polecritti[2]
- Bernardino of Siena: Great Defender or Merciless Betrayer of Women? by Franco Mormando[3]
Written by the saint
- Le Prediche Volgari di Siena, 1427, edited by Ciro Cannarozzi (Lenten sermons recorded by a Sienese fuller)[4]
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "St. Bernardine of Siena". https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02505b.htm.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Polecritti, Cynthia L. (2000). Preaching Peace in Renaissance Italy: Bernardino of Siena and His Audience. Catholic University of America Press. ISBN 978-0813218007.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Mormando, Franco (1999). The Preacher's Demons: Bernardino of Siena and the Social Underworld of Early Renaissance Italy. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0226538549.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Thureau-Dangin, Paul (1906). Saint Bernardine of Siena. Herder. https://archive.org/details/saintbernardineo00thur.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 "Saint Bernardine of Siena". https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-bernardine-of-siena.