Saint’s Corner

St. Bernardino of Siena

        Saint Bernardino was born in a Tuscan town around the year 1380. He lost both his parents at a young age and lived with his aunt for most of his childhood. In the year 1400, St. Bernardino volunteered to work in the local hospital to care for the victims of the plague as there was almost no one left to tend the sick. St. Bernardino survived the plague but became ill for several months

afterwards. In the year 1403 he was ordained a priest. He traveled the countryside preaching penance from town to town. He refused to become a bishop when asked but became vicar general of the Franciscan order. During his time, he saw the number of Franciscans grow from 300 to nearly 4000. He died on May 20, 1444.