"The grace of God, Our Savior, has appeared in His servant Bernardine, who shone like a bright star in a dark night, and with the heavenly brilliance of his virtue and doctrine frightened away the darkness" St Antoninus, archbishop of Florence in the biography on Saint Bernardine of Siena

Saint Bernardine of Siena, came from the old knightly family of the Albizeschi of Siena. He was born on September 8, 1380, in the town of Massa, a dependency of Siena, where his father was governor.

He lost both his parents at the tender age of 7 years old, but he was reared in the fear of God by devout relatives. He displayed a great love for the poor, with whom, as a little boy, he gladly shared his food. He attended divine services with devotion, and listened to sermons with such attention that he could repeat them to his companions.

Saint Bernardine of Siena loved purity above all the virtues. When any indecent conversation was going on among his friends, they stopped as soon as they saw him coming. "Be still," they said, "Bernardine is coming."

He was friendly to all, however, would grow extremely angry if decency was violated. A prominent citizen once purposely told him something indecent in the open market place. Bernardine gave him a resounding slap in the face, and amid the laughter of the bystanders the disgraced citizen had to withdraw.

With his great love for purity, Bernardine united a tender devotion to the Blessed Virgin, he visited daily an image of Mary just outside the town of Siena and prayed there specially to learn his vocation.

In the quiet little convent of St Mary Colombaio, which St Francis himself had founded, Saint Bernardine of Siena received the holy habit on the feast of the Nativity of Mary in the year 1402. On the same feast in the following year, he made his profession, and after he was ordained and appointed to preach, he also gave his first sermon on the feast of Mary's nativity.

Saint Bernardine of Siena was a close personal friend of Saint John of Capistrano, who instructed him in theology, and also Saint James of the Marsh.

He journeyed all over Italy in order to announce to the people the virtues and vices, and the reward of the former and punishment of the latter. In many places such depravity existed that he found it necessary to preach sermons which he himself called sermons for heathens. The effects, however, were so astounding that Pope Pius II called him a second Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles.

Rich in merits and virtue he attained eternal rest at Aquila on May 20, 1444. The body of St Bernardine was solemnly exhibited for twenty-six days after his death. On the twenty-fourth day a copious amount of blood issued from his nose, as was observed by all and recorded by St John Capistrano.

Pope Nicholas V canonized St Bernardine of Siena 6 years after his death. The citizens of Aquila built a beautiful church with a magnificent marble tomb honoring this virtuous saint.

Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Lydia Purpuraria
2. Saint Arcangelo Tadini
3. Saint Ethelbert of East Anglia
4. Saint Baudelius of Nimes
5. Saint Austregisilus of Bourges