Bernardino

Bernardino, St, of Siena, born in 1380 at Massa-Carrara, of a distinguished family, made himself famous by his rigid restoration of their primitive rule amongst the degenerate order of the Franciscans, of which he became a member in 1404. In 1438 he was appointed vicar-general of his order for Italy. Bernardino was unweariedly devoted in his activity during the great Italian plague of 1400, both as an impressive preacher and an attendant upon the sick and dying. He founded the Fratres de Observantia, a branch of the Franciscan order, which already numbered more than 300 monasteries in Italy during his day. Bernardino died in 1444, and was canonised in 1450. His eminently mystical works were published at Venice in 1591, and at Paris in 1636.