St Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444) Observant Franciscan preacher and reformer
St
Bernardine was a great Observant Franciscan preacher and effective
reformer of the 15th century.
Early life of service
Born at Massa Maritima,
near Siena, Italy, where his father was governor, Bernardine was left an
orphan at six. He was brought up by his aunt and given a broad
education in grammar, rhetoric, canon law and theology.
When the
organisation in the city of Siena broke down during the plague, he and
some companions took charge of the local La Scala hospital. Subsequently
he nursed his bed-ridden aunt until she died.
Joined the Friars Minor
He joined the Friars
Minor in 1402 and later transferred to the Observant Franciscans
(stricter poverty and more preaching) at Colombaio, near Siena. He also
served at Fiesole near Florence.
An effective itinerant preacher
In 1417
Bernardine appeared as a spectacular preacher in Milan and from then on
travelled all over Italy, especially in the kingdom of Naples, always on
foot, preaching in the open air.
He advocated penance and voluntary
poverty in the spirit of St Francis. but he is best remembered for his
devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus.
At the end of his sermons he would
hold up a tablet or plaque on which the letters IHS (Greek capitals of
the first three letters of the name of Jesus) were engraved and
surrounded by rays of light. He used every trick of the rhetorical trade
to move his hearers his listeners to both laughter and tears.
He had
enormous influence.
He especially attacked the practice of usury and
denounced the wars between the city states of Italy, the Guelph states
supporting the Pope and Ghibelline states supporting the emperor, as the
basic evil of the age.
He also preached vigorously against sodomy
and wrote some works of theology and devotion.
On trial for idolatry
A Dominican theological
opponent, Manfred of Vercelli, accused Bernardine of idolatry and he was
called to appear before Pope Martin V.
The Pope received him coldly and
forbade him to preach or display his tablet or plaque until his conduct
had been examined.
Bernardine humbly submitted, his sermons and
writings being handed over to a commission.
His trial took place in
the Pope's presence at St. Peter's. St John Capistrano spoke in the
Bernardine's defence.
The charges against Bernardine were shown to be
malicious and foolish and not only was the saint's teaching justified
and commended, but Pope Martin urged him to preach in Rome.
He was also
offered three episcopal sees in turn - Siena, Ferrara and Urbino - all
of which he declined.
Vicar General of the Observant Franciscans 1437-43
In
1437 Bernardine became the vicar general of the Observant Franciscans
and there was a great growth in the numbers who joined - from 130 to
4,000 in his lifetime.
He also was involved in setting up schools of
theology and writing the statutes for the Observants to reform the
order.
He sent missionaries to different part of the Orient and was
responsible for many ambassadors coming to the Council of Florence
(1439-45).
Later years and death
In 1443 Bernardine resigned
and went back to preaching around Italy, but now moved around on a
donkey.
He preached in his home town of Massa Maritima on 50 consecutive
days.
He then set out for Naples, preaching as he went, but died in
1441 at Aquila, where he was buried and became famous for his
miracles.
Six years later in 1450 Pope Nicholas canonised him.
There are
some beautiful frescoes of his life by Pinturichio (end 15th century)
in the Church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli in Rome.