St Bernadine Of Siena

[cappie]

St Bernardine, was born September 8, 1380, in Massa Marittima, in the territory of Siena, Italy. His life was an example of holiness expressed in his love for God and his fellowman. Organizer, administrator and leader, a youthful Bernardine ran the local hospital in Tuscany, coping with the distresses of the plague at the close of the fourteenth century. He had been born into a prominent family and as a young man he was popular. When the plague struck his hometown, Bernardine went daily to the local hospital to care for the sick, and many of his friends came along to help. Remarkably, Bernardine did not succumb to the plague although some of the friends died. As the hospital administrators died off, Bernardine found himself running the entire operation.

He coped with the panic of the plague-ridden townspeople but when the epidemic diminished, he spent two years recovering from exhaustion. Even during this time, he took care of a sick elderly aunt. When she died, he was drawn to enter the Franciscan order in Siena. In 1402 he entered the Franciscan Order and was ordained in 1404.

For several years, he studied and lived the life of a quiet friar behind the walls of the convent. In 1417, he was sent to Milan to help celebrate Mass and preach in one of the parish churches there.

Here, Bernardine came into his real ministry. News of his exciting sermons spread throughout what is now Italy, and soon he had invitations to travel and preach all over the peninsula. He responded, bringing his message of zeal for our God to hoards of people. They walked miles in the Mediterranean sun to hear him.

We have access to many of his sermons, because one of his listeners became his scribe. This unnamed man would copy Bernardine’s words on a wax tablet and then go home and transcribe them onto vellum. Bernardine, no doubt happy to see this interest, and apparently secure in the action of the Holy Spirit through him, would stop and let the man catch up from time to time during his homilies in the village square!

Like his savior, Jesus, he attracted jealousy from some members of the church establishment. These men complained to the Pope, who commanded Bernardine to stop preaching until his case could be presented and found to be orthodox. How hard it must have been to be silenced! But after his name was cleared, he was more popular than ever. His message had been validated to the scrupulous as well as to those who flocked after him because he was a novelty.

In 1430, he was elected vicar general of the Franciscans of the Strict Observance. During his term of office, many Conventual monasteries, which enjoyed a looser rule, changed to the Strict Observance to benefit from Bernardine’s diplomacy and wisdom. He added scholarship to their routine insisting upon introducing theology and the study of canon law. He loved knowledge.

He felt that preaching was his real calling, and, in 1442, petitioned the Pope that he might leave his position as vicar general and resume his travels. In 1444, he gave a marathon homily, speaking for 50 hours in his birthplace. He became ill, but set out for the Kingdom of Naples. He died on the trip.; His feast day is May 20. This man was regarded as so holy that he was canonized a saint within six years of his death.

Bernardine left a lasting symbol to the Church because of his devotion to the Holy Eucharist. Strangely, no one is sure what the acronym stands for, but the IHS surrounded by a sun symbol found in many Catholic Churches, was St. Bernardine’s visual aid to his listeners.

Comment:

Another dynamic saint once said, “...I will not be a burden, for I want not what is yours, but you.... I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your sakes” (2 Corinthians 12:14). There is danger that we see only the whirlwind of activity in the Bernardines of faith—taking care of the sick, preaching, studying, administering, always driving—and forget the source of their energy. We should not say that Bernardine could have been a great contemplative if he had had the chance. He had the chance, every day, and he took it.

[url="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1389"]http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/S...ult.asp?id=1389[/url]

[StColette]

[quote name='cappie' post='1871088' date='May 19 2009, 03:35 PM']Bernardine left a lasting symbol to the Church because of his devotion to the Holy Eucharist. Strangely, no one is sure what the acronym stands for, but the IHS surrounded by a sun symbol found in many Catholic Churches, was St. Bernardine’s visual aid to his listeners.[/quote]

Wow, didn't know that's where the symbol came from. Thanks for sharing Father!