20th May - S BERNARDINE OF SIENA (1380-1444)

 Bernardine was born in a town near Siena, Italy. He was the son of an Italian governor and his parents died when he was seven. His relatives gave him a good education. 

    He grew up to have a special love for the Blessed Mother. She was the one who kept him pure. When a plague struck the area in 1400, 

    Bernardine and his friends volunteered their services at the hospital. They helped the sick and dying day and night for six weeks until the plague had ended. 

    Bernardine joined the Franciscan order when he was 22. He became a priest. Bernardine spread devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. 

    He asked people to print Jesus' Name over the gates of their cities, over their doorways--everywhere. Through devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus and devotion to the Blessed Mother, 

    Bernardine brought thousands of people from all over Italy back to the Church. He died at the age of 64 in Aquila, Italy. He was declared a saint in 1450, by Pope Nicholas V.





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