Bernardine Albizeschi, of a noble family of Siena, gave clear marks of sanctity from his earliest years; for he was well reared by pious parents, and when studying the rudiments of grammar, he used to give up his time for play, and applied himself to works of piety, to fasting, prayer, and especially to devotion to the most blessed Virgin. His charity to the poor was indeed extraordinary. As time went on, that he might be better able to cultivate these virtues, it was his will to enroll himself among those who took care of the hospital of blessed Mary of the Ladder of God (Santa Maria della Scala) in Siena, from which place there came forth so many men celebrated for holiness. There he laboured, in bodily suffering and with unbelievable charity, to take care of the sick while a terrible pestilence was raging. And among his other virtues, he guarded his chastity as a holy thing, and it was in danger because of his handsome appearance, and no one, not even the most depraved, ever dared to say an improper word in his presence.
After suffering a serious illness lasting four months, which he bore with the greatest patience, when he had safely recovered he began to think of embracing some institute of the religious life. To prepare his way for this, he hired a little hut on the outskirts of the city; and in it he hid himself, leading a more austere life in every way, and assiduously beseeching God to shew him the path he was to follow. A divine inspiration led him to prefer to all others the order of blessed Francis, in which he excelled in humility, patience, and the other virtues of a religious man. The rector of the convent noticing this, and having previously perceived that Bernardine had experience in teaching and in sacred letters, imposed the duty of preaching upon him. The saint most humbly accepted the office, though he was aware that the weakness and hoarseness of his voice unfitted him for it: but he sought God's help, and was miraculously freed from these impediments.
And although those times abounded with vices and crimes, and with bloody civil wars in Italy, so that all things, divine and human, were thrown into utter confusion, Bernardine went through the cities and towns, and in the Name of Jesus, which was ever on his lips and in his heart, restored the fallen piety and morals to a great extent by his word and example. After this had been done, several important cities asked the Supreme Pontiff to make Bernardine their bishop; but this office he most strenuously rejected with invincible humility. At length the man of God, worn out with heavy labours, after working many and great miracles, and also having written pious and learned books, died a happy death, at the age of sixty-six, in a city of the Abruzzi, called L'Aquila. New miracles daily made him illustrious, and, in the sixth year after his death, the Supreme Pontiff Nicholas V placed him in the list of the Saints.
After suffering a serious illness lasting four months, which he bore with the greatest patience, when he had safely recovered he began to think of embracing some institute of the religious life. To prepare his way for this, he hired a little hut on the outskirts of the city; and in it he hid himself, leading a more austere life in every way, and assiduously beseeching God to shew him the path he was to follow. A divine inspiration led him to prefer to all others the order of blessed Francis, in which he excelled in humility, patience, and the other virtues of a religious man. The rector of the convent noticing this, and having previously perceived that Bernardine had experience in teaching and in sacred letters, imposed the duty of preaching upon him. The saint most humbly accepted the office, though he was aware that the weakness and hoarseness of his voice unfitted him for it: but he sought God's help, and was miraculously freed from these impediments.
And although those times abounded with vices and crimes, and with bloody civil wars in Italy, so that all things, divine and human, were thrown into utter confusion, Bernardine went through the cities and towns, and in the Name of Jesus, which was ever on his lips and in his heart, restored the fallen piety and morals to a great extent by his word and example. After this had been done, several important cities asked the Supreme Pontiff to make Bernardine their bishop; but this office he most strenuously rejected with invincible humility. At length the man of God, worn out with heavy labours, after working many and great miracles, and also having written pious and learned books, died a happy death, at the age of sixty-six, in a city of the Abruzzi, called L'Aquila. New miracles daily made him illustrious, and, in the sixth year after his death, the Supreme Pontiff Nicholas V placed him in the list of the Saints.
The Burial of St. Bernardine of Siena
