Our saint today, St. Bernardine of Siena is referred to as the “Apostle of Italy” for his efforts to revive the country’s Catholic faith in the 15thcentury. He was an ardent devotee of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and to fight some heretics, he popularized the symbol IHS – the first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek. This Christogram had several interpretations, but the most appealing was Jesus Hominum Salvator (Jesus Savior of Men) which has become popularly used in sacred vessels and vestments in Catholic churches. Bernardine was born on September 8, 1380 to a noble family in Massa Marittima, Tuscany, Italy. He was orphaned at six years of age and was raised up by a pious aunt. He studied civil and canon law. When in 1400 the plague invaded Siena, he, with ten companions took charge of a hospital at Santa Maria della Scala for four months to take care of the sick. He escaped the plague but was so exhausted that he was confined in bed for some months. In 1403, Bernardine joined the Order of Friars Minor and was ordained a priest the following year. In 1406, St. Vincent Ferrer, a Dominica, left him the task to preach and evangelize Italy. As a preacher, he had a hoarse voice, but he talked directly to his audience. His themes were taken from the ordinary lives of people, taking topics of immediate interest and in the context of the situation of the 15th century. He used a simple, familiar style and drew many to listen to him. For more than 30 years he preached in Italy and was attributed to have played a great part in the revival of the faith of the Italians. He travelled on foot from place to place and at times they had to put a pulpit on market places so that his hearers who were in standing room could see him. His sermons lasted for three hours. He preached against luxury and immodest in dresses, against gambling, usury, blasphemy, witchcraft, infanticide, indecent conversations, sodomy, homosexuality, and other useful topics. He justified the ownership of private property, the ethics of trade, and just wage. Fr. Bernardine was particular about how women should behave and guard their purity. He encouraged women to make Mary, the mother of God, as their model. “Bonfires of Vanities” were held during his sermons where people threw to be burned mirrors, high-heeled shoes, false hairs, dice, chessmen and other frivolities used by women. He enjoined the people to observe the Commandments of God. He, naturally met oppositions. In Aquila, while giving a sermon, someone sawed the legs of his pulpit which caused him to fall into the crowd. But generally, he was a remarkably successful preacher for he influenced the people to change for the better. One of his peculiar sermons was his anti-semitic stance connected with his sermon against usury, which was the practice of many Jews. He called for the Jews to be banished from Italy, because, according to him, they were the cause of the poverty of the Christians. As a result, in some places, the Jews were segregated. This left a resentment on the part of the Jews, Fr. Bernardine shun honor and fame. In 1426, he was offered the bishopric of Siena but declined the offer. In 1431, he declined the bishopric of Ferrara and in 1435, the bishopric of Urbino. Those who opposed him accused him of heresy but he was found innocent. In 1438, he became Vicar General of his Order. He reformed many convents of the Friars Minor and sent many missionaries to Asia. “St. Bernardine, in the name of Jesus, we implore you to cure those who are suffering from respiratory illnesses and ailments of the lungs. Amen.”
