| From his two lives, written with
treat exactness by two of his intimate friends; the one the same
year in which he died, by Barnaby of Sienna; the other by Maffei
Veggio, soon after his death. See Henschenius, t. 5, Maij, p. 257.
St. Bernardine, a true disciple of
St. Francis, and an admirable preacher of the word of God, inflamed
with the most ardent love of our divine Redeemer, was made by God an
instrument to kindle the same holy fire in innumerable souls, and to
inspire them with his spirit of humility and meekness. He was born
at Massa in 1380, of the noble family of Albizeschi, in the republic
of Sienna. He lost his mother when he was but three years old, and
his father, who was chief magistrate of Massa, before he was seven.
The care of his education devolved on a virtuous aunt called Diana
who infused into his tender soul ardent sentiments of piety towards
God, and a tender devotion to his blessed Mother. This aunt always
loved him as if he had been her own son; and indeed his towardly
dispositions won him exceedingly the affections of all who ever had
the care of him.
He was modest, humble, and devout;
and took great delight in prayer, visiting churches, serving at
mass, and hearing sermons, which he would repeat again to his
companions with an admirable memory and gracefulness of action. In
that tender age he had a great compassion for the poor. One day it
happened that his aunt sent away a poor person from the door without
an alms, because there was but one loaf in the house for the dinner
of the family. Bernardine was much troubled to see the beggar go
away unrelieved, and said to his aunt, "For God's sake, let us give
something to this poor man; otherwise I will neither dine nor sup
this day. I had rather the poor should have a dinner than myself."
This wonderfully comforted his good aunt, who never ceased to incite
him to all virtues, and, according to his strength, to accustom
himself by degrees to fasting. Young as he was, he fasted every
Saturday in honor of the blessed Virgin; which pious custom he
always continued. At eleven years of age he was called to Sienna by
his uncles, and put to school under the ablest masters, who all
admired the quickness of his parts, and the solidity of his
judgment; but much more, his docility, modesty, and virtue.
If he chanced to hear any word the
least unbecoming, he, by blushing, testified what confusion it gave
him, and how much it wounded his very heart; and though he was
otherwise most condescending, civil, and respectful to all, he could
never bear with patience any indecent discourse. For a single word
of that kind he so severely reprimanded a man of quality, that it
was to him a warning during the remainder of his life to govern his
tongue; and many years alter, hearing Bernardine preach, he was so
moved that he seemed to be drowned in tears. The modesty of the
virtuous youth was a check to the most impudent, and kept them in
awe in his presence: in whatever company, if the conversation was
too free, it was dropped when he appeared, and the very loosest
rakes would say, "Hush! here comes Bernardine:" as the presence of
Cato among the Romans restrained the lewd libertinism of a
festival.1 Nor did the saint behave on these occasions in such a
manner as might render virtue the subject of ridicule, but with a
surprising dignity. Nevertheless, an impure monster had once the
insolence to make an attempt upon his virginal purity, and to
solicit him to sin. But the saint, not content to testify his scorn
and indignation, excited the whole troop of his little innocent
playfellows against the lewd villain, who pelted him with clods and
stones, and made him ashamed any more to show his face. Bernardine
was exceeding comely and beautiful; but his known virtue secured him
from any further assaults; and he never ceased to beg of God the
grace of purity, particularly through the intercession of the
blessed Virgin Mary. When he had completed the course of his
philosophy, he applied himself to the study of civil and canon law,
and afterwards of that of the holy scriptures, with such ardor that
he could never from that time relish any other study.
At seventeen years of age he enrolled
himself in the confraternity of Our Lady in the hospital of Scala,
to serve the sick. Here he began with new vigor to tame his flesh by
severe fasts, watchings, hair-shirts, disciplines, and other
austerities; but he applied himself more to the interior
mortification of his will, which rendered him always most mild,
sweet, patient, and affable to every one. He had served this
hospital four years, when, in 1400, a dreadful pestilence which had
already made great havoc in several other parts of Italy, and was
increased by the concourse of pilgrims to the jubilee, reached
Sienna; insomuch that twelve, eighteen, or twenty persons died every
day in this hospital; and among others were carried off almost all
the priests, apothecaries, and servants, that belonged to the place.
Bernardine therefore persuaded twelve young men to bear him company
in the service of the hospital, expecting heaven for their speedy
recompense; and they all strove which should come up the nearest to
Bernardine in cheerfulness, humility, and assiduity in performing
the most sacred offices, and in exerting themselves in the service
of the sick.
The saint was entrusted in a manner
with the whole care of the hospital, which, in the space of four
months, he put into excellent order. It is hardly credible how many
lives he saved, or with what charity and pains he night and day
attended the patients, and furnished them with every comfort and
succor which it was in his power to afford them. God preserved him
from the contagion during these four months, at the end of which the
pestilence ceased. He then returned home, but sick of a fever which
he had contracted by his fatigues, which obliged him to keep his bed
four months; during which time he edified the city, no less by his
resignation and patience, than he had done by his charity. He was
scarce well recovered when he returned to the like works of charity,
and with incredible patience attended a dying aunt for fourteen
months, named Bartholomaea, a woman of great piety, who was blind
and bedridden. When God had called her to himself, Bernardine
retired to a house at some distance from the city, making the walls
of his garden the bounds of his enclosure. Here, in solitude,
fasting, and prayer, he endeavored to learn the will of God in the
choice of a state of life. After some time he took the habit of the
order of St. Francis, among the fathers of the Strict Observance at
Colombiere, a solitary convent a few miles from Sienna; and after
the year of his novitiate, made his profession on the 8th of
September, 1404.
Having been born on the feast of the
Nativity of the blessed Virgin, out of devotion to her, he chose the
same day for the principal actions of his life: on it he took the
religious habit, made his vows, said his first mass, and preached
his first sermon. His fervor increased daily; and while some sought
interpretations to mollify the severity of the rule, he was always
studying to add to it greater austerities and heroic practices of
virtue, the more perfectly to crucify in himself the old man. He was
pleased with insults and humiliations, and whatever could be
agreeable to the most ardent spirit of humility and self-denial.
When he went through the streets in a threadbare short habit, the
boys sometimes cast stones at him, with injurious language; in which
contempt the saint found a singular joy and satisfaction. He showed
the same sentiments when a near kinsman with bitter invectives
reproached him, as disgracing his friends by the mean and
contemptible manner of life he bad embraced. These and all other
virtues he learned in the living book of Christ crucified, which he
studied night and day, often prostrate before a crucifix, from which
he seemed one day to hear our Lord speak thus to him: "My son,
behold me hanging upon a cross: if thou lovest me, or art desirous
to imitate me, be thou also fastened naked to thy cross, and follow
me; thus thou wilt assuredly find me." In the same school he learned
an insatiable zeal for the salvation of souls, redeemed by the blood
of Christ. Having in retirement prepared himself for the office of
preaching, his superiors ordered him to employ his talent that way
for the benefit of others. He labored under a natural impediment
from weakness and hoarseness of voice; the removal of which obstacle
he obtained by addressing himself to his glorious patroness, the
mother of God. For fourteen years his labors were confined to his
own country; but when the reputation of his virtue was spread
abroad, he shone as a bright light to the whole church.
In vain cloth the minister of God
confide in the weak resources of mere human eloquence and pomp of
words, by which he rather debases the dignity and majesty of the
sacred oracles: while he pleases the ear and gains the applause of
his audience, he leaves their hearts dry. The great apostle of
Andalusia, the venerable holy John D'Avila, being desired to lay
down some rules for the art of preaching, answered, he knew no other
art than the most ardent love of God and zeal for his honor.
He used to say to young clergymen,
that one word spoken by a man of prayer would do more good, and have
a more powerful influence, than all the most eloquent discourses;
for it is only the language of the heart that speaks to the heart;
and a life of mortification and prayer not only draws down the dew
of the divine benediction upon the labors of the preacher, but it
replenishes his soul with a sincere spirit of humility, compunction,
and all virtues, and with an experimental knowledge and feeling
sense of the great truths which he delivers. Zealous ministers who
are filled with the Spirit of God, are a great blessing to the
people among whom they labor; and this reflection unfolds the secret
how saints possess so extraordinary a grace of converting souls to
God. This was the excellent talent of Bernardine. They who heard him
preach felt their souls to melt in sentiments of compunction, divine
love, humility, and the contempt of the world, and returned home new
men, striking their breasts, and bathed in tears. The word, of God
was in his mouth as a fire, and as a hammer breaking the hardest
rocks. Another eminent preacher of his order being asked the reason
why his sermons did not produce equal fruit with those of Bernardine,
answered, "Brother Bernardine is a fiery glowing coal. What is only
warm hath not the power of kindling a fire in others like the
burning coal." The saint himself being consulted what was the way to
preach with profit, gave this rule: "In all your actions seek in the
first place the kingdom of God and his glory; direct all you do
purely to his honor; persevere in brotherly charity, and practice
first all that you desire to teach others.
By this means the Holy Ghost will be
your master, and will give you such wisdom and such a tongue that no
adversary will be able to stand against you." This he faithfully
practiced, and from his assiduous communication with God he imbibed
that eminent spirit of virtue which gave him the most powerful
ascendant over the hearts of men. Among the great truths of
religion, he principally labored to inculcate a sincere contempt of
the vanity of the world, and an ardent love of our blessed Redeemer.
He wished he could cry out with a trumpet which could be heard over
the whole earth, that he might sound aloud in the ears of all men
that great oracle of the Holy Ghost: O ye sons of men, how long will
you be dull of heart? Why do you love vanity, and seek after lying?
O children, how long will you love childishness?3 And he never
ceased with the thunder of his voice to raise men from groveling
always on this earth, to the important consideration of the things
which belong to their eternal welfare, and to the love of Jesus
Christ. So much was he affected with the mysteries of the
incarnation and sufferings of the Son of God, that he could never
pronounce his sacred name without appearing in transports of love
and adoration. Often at the end of his sermon he showed to the
people the sacred name of Jesus curiously cut on a board with gold
letters, inviting them to adore Christ with him on their knees,
reciting a pious doxology. This was misconstrued by some, who also
caviled at certain expressions which he had used. Upon their
complaints, pope Martin V. summoned him to appear, and commanded him
silence for a while. The humble saint meekly acquiesced without
making any reply.
But his holiness, after a full
examination of his doctrine and conduct, dismissed him with his
benediction, high commendations, and ample leave to preach
everywhere. The same pope pressed him to accept the bishopric of
Sienna in 1427; but he declined that dignity, alleging for his
excuse, that if he were confined to one church, he could no longer
employ himself in the service of so many souls. In 1431 he no less
resolutely refused that of Ferrara, which Eugenius III. earnestly
desired to confer upon him, and again that of Urbino, in 1435. When
the saint preached first at Milan, the haughty duke Philip Mary
Visconti took offence at certain things which he had said in his
sermons, and threatened him with death if he should presume to speak
any more on such subjects; but the saint declared, that no greater
happiness could befall him than to die for the truth. The duke, to
try him, sent him a present of one hundred ducats of gold in a
golden bowl. The saint excused himself from receiving the money to
two different messengers; but being compelled by a third to accept
it, he took the messenger with him to the prisons, and laid it all
out in his presence in releasing debtors. This disinterestedness
turned the duke's aversion into the greatest veneration for the
saint ever after.
St. Bernardine preached several times
through the greatest part of Italy; some say also in Spain; but this
seems uncertain. Nothing was more spoken of over all Italy than the
wonderful fruit of his sermons, miraculous conversions, restitution
of ill-gotten goods, reparations of injuries, and heroic examples of
virtue. The factions of the Guelfs and Ghibellins then horribly
divided many cities of Italy, and gave frequent employment to the
saint. Hearing once of a great dissension at Perugia, he hastened
thither from the marquisate of Ancona, and entering the city, thus
addressed the inhabitants, "God, who is highly offended at this
division among you, hath sent me, as his angel, to proclaim peace to
men of good will upon earth." After preaching four sermons to
persuade them to a mutual forgiveness of all injuries, and a general
amnesty, at the end of the last he bade all those who forgave each
other and desired to live in peace, to pass to the right hand. All
present did so except one young nobleman, who stayed on the left,
muttering some thing between his teeth. The saint, after a severe
reproach, foretold him his sudden death, which happened soon after,
and without the benefit of the sacraments. In 1433 he accompanied
the emperor Sigismund to his coronation at Rome; after which he
retired for a short time to Sienna, where he put the finishing hand
to his works.
Amidst the greatest applause and
honors, the most sincere humility always appeared in his words and
actions; and he ever studied to conceal the talents with which God
had enriched him. How great his esteem of humility was, he testified
when a brother of his order asked him the means by which he might
speedily arrive at perfection. The saint, instead of giving him any
answer by words, threw himself at his feet; showing at the same time
his own great affection to humility, and also that this virtue
raises the soul to divine love and every grace. God, however, was
pleased to honor his servant before men. Besides several predictions
and miraculous cures of many lepers and other sick persons, the
saint is recorded to have raised four dead to life. He was appointed
vicar-general of his order of the Strict Observance in Italy, in
1438, in which he settled a rigorous reformation; but, after five
years, obtained a discharge from his office; and in his old age
continued the function of preaching through Romania, Ferrara, and
Lombardy. He returned to Sienna in 1444, preached a most pathetic
farewell sermon at Massa on concord and unity, and being taken ill
of a malignant fever on the road, still preached as usual till he
arrived at Aquila in Abruzzo. There, being confined to his bed, he
prepared himself for his passage out of this life by the rites of
the church. When he was speechless, he made a sign to be taken off
his bed and laid upon the floor; where, lifting up his eyes to
heaven, he surrendered his pure soul into the hands of his Creator
on the 20th of May, 1444, after a life of sixty-three years, eight
months, and thirteen days. His tomb was rendered illustrious by many
miracles, and he was canonized by Nicholas V. in 1450. His body is
kept in a crystal shrine, enclosed in one of silver, in the church
of his order at Aquila.
Endnotes
1 Martial, Epigr.
(Taken from Vol. V of "The Lives of
the Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal Saints" by the Rev. Alban
Butler, the 1864 edition published by D. & J. Sadlier, & Company)
|
