May 2020 - St. Bernardine of Siena
- Written by Catholic News Service
- Published in Saints of the Month
Photo: Tracy L. Christianson, portraitsofsaints.com
St. Bernardine of Siena
1380–1444
Feast: May 20
This renowned Italian preacher was canonized only six years after he died. He was born near Siena and studied at the university there. He was ordained a Franciscan priest in 1404. From 1417 until his death 27 years later, he crisscrossed northern and central Italy as an itinerant preacher who drew enormous crowds by focusing on honest and penitential living and on reverence for the holy name of Je-sus, which led to the spread of this devotion. He also preached against gambling and materialism, and turned down three requests to become a bishop. He is the patron saint of respiratory problems.
- Catholic News Service
Read the Spanish version of this column.
Northwest Catholic - May 2020