Feast Day: May 20
 Also
known as
Bernadino;
Bernardine of Siena; Bernardino
Profile
Friar
Minor.
Priest. Itinerent
preacher. Theological
writer. His preaching skills were so great, and the conversions so
numerous, that he has become associated with all areas of speaking,
advertising, public relations, etc.
Bernardino's charismatic preaching filled the piazze of
Italian cities. Thousands of listeners flocked to hear him and to
participate in dramatic rituals, which included collective weeping,
bonfires of vanities, and exorcisms. He was a renowned peacemaker, in the
Franciscan tradition, who tried to calm feuding clans and factions in the
turbulent political world of the Renaissance. His preaching visits would
often culminate in mass reconciliations, as listeners were persuaded to
exchange the bacio di pace, or kiss of peace.
Bernardino was sensitive to the demands of secular life, and tried to
negotiate between Christian ethics and a conflicting code of honor that
stressed retaining face in a public world. He argued that the catalyst of
civil discord in the urban setting was malicious gossip, which led to
insults, and, too often, vendetta by aggressive males. His surprising
allies in his peacekeeping mission were the women who comprised the
majority of his audience.
Born
1380 at
Massa di Carrara,
Italy
Died
1444 at
Aquila,
Italy
Patronage
advertisers,
advertising,
against hoarseness,
chest problems,
communications personnel,
compulsive gambling, diocese of
San Bernardino California,
gambling addicts,
Italy,
lung problems,
lungs,
public relations personnel,
public relations work,
respiratory problems,
uncontrolled gambling
Prayers
Prayer to...
Representation
short,
elderly
Franciscan holding a tablet inscribed IHS; short, elderly
Franciscan with 3 mitres at his feet representing the
bishoprics he rejected; tablet inscribed IHS; sun inscribed IHS
Readings
When a fire
is lit to clear a field, it burns off all the dry and useless weeds and
thorns. When the sun rises and darkness is dispelled, robbers,
night-prowlers and burglars hide away. So when Paul's voice was raised to
preach the Gospel to the nations, like a great clap of thunder in the sky,
his preaching was a blazing fire carrying all before it. It was the sun
rising in full glory. Infidelity was consumed by it, false beliefs fled
away, and the truth appeared like a great candle lighting the whole world
with its brilliant flame.
By word of mouth, by letters, by miracles, and by the example of his own
life, Saint Paul bore the name of Jesus wherever he went. He praised the
name of Jesus "at all times," but never more than when "bearing witness to
his faith."
Moreover, the Apostle did indeed carry this name "before the Gentiles and
kings and the sons of Israel" as a light to enlighten all nations. And
this was his cry wherever he journeyed: "The night is passing away, the
day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the
armor of light; let us conduct ourselves honorably as in the day." Paul
himself showed forth the burning and shining-light set upon a candlestick,
everywhere proclaiming "Jesus, and him crucified."
And so the Church, the bride of Christ strengthened by his testimony,
rejoices with the psalmist, singing: "O God from my youth you have taught
me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds." The psalmist exhorts her to
do this, as he says: "Sing to the Lord, and bless his name, proclaim his
salvation day after day." And this salvation is Jesus, her savior.
from a sermon by Saint Bernadine of Siena
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