St. Bernardine of Siena (Priest)

The Italian priest St. Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444) was recognized for his preaching and his recognition with bizarre individuals. As a younger man, he cared for an aged girl on her deathbed; she consistently pronounced the identify “Jesus” with nice devotion. Bernardine was profoundly affected, and determined to make the identify of Jesus the theme of his personal life.

When Siena was struck by a plague, Bernardine nursed the sick till he himself turned in poor health. After recovering, he turned a Franciscan monk, and was ordained a priest in 1404. Bernardine spent a dozen years in solitude and prayer, and was then despatched forth as a preacher. For a few years he traveled on foot all through Italy, preaching to crowds as massive as 30,000 — carrying out all this with a weak and hoarse voice (although, based on legend, it later miraculously improved due to his devotion to Mary).

Bernardine was particularly recognized for his devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, and he devised an emblem — IHS (the primary three letters of the identify Jesus in Greek) — to signify it. As this devotion unfold, the image started to interchange the superstitious indicators and symbols of the day. When a producer of enjoying playing cards complained that the saint’s preaching towards playing was depriving him of his livelihood, Bernardine informed him to start out making medallions with the image IHS. The man took this recommendation — and ended up making more cash than ever.

Some of Bernardine’s teachings have been criticized, and three makes an attempt have been made to have the pope self-discipline him, however the saint’s apparent religion and holiness overcame all opposition. St. Bernardine helped strengthen the Franciscan Order, and he contributed to a terrific improve of piety among the many laity. He died quickly after attending the Council of Florence in 1444, and was canonized solely six years later.

Lessons

• 1. As St. Paul acknowledged, “God bestowed upon Jesus the Name that’s above each different identify” (Philippians 2:9). As St. Bernardine realized, honoring the Holy Name of Jesus is the signal of a real Christian.
• 2. God will present for many who, even at monetary value to themselves, search to do what’s proper; St. Bernardine helped the maker of playing gear discover a higher and holier strategy to make a residing.
• 3. Bernardine adopted the recommendation of St. Francis of Assisi to evangelise about “vice and advantage, punishment and glory.” His success exhibits that many individuals are prepared to hearken to the proclamation of the reality.