May 20, Seventh Sunday of Easter
Some countries celebrate THE SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION today, instead of the Thursday 40 days after Easter as the Gospels say.
ST. BERNARDINO DA SIENA (Italy, 1380-1444), Franciscan, Preacher
The other great medieval saint of Siena was, like an earlier Franciscan, Anthony of Padua (1195-1231), considered the greatest preacher of his time, attracting as many as 30,000 to his sermons which he had to give in piazzas and open places because no church was big enough to hold his audiences. He was characterized by solid holiness, boundless energy and joy, and designed and popularized the trigram IHS to symbolize the Holy Name of Jesus in order to focus the attention of the faithful on Christ. Joan of Arc would use the trigram on her battle standard and St. Ignatius Loyola's Society of Jesus would adapt it for their symbol. Bernardino was born to a noble family and received the best education. When he was 20, Siena was afflicted by the plague. He and some fellow members in a Marian confraternity helped nurse patients in Siena's hospital until the plague broke. He contracted it himself bur recovered, Inspired by a meeting with the man who would become St. Vincent Ferrer, he joined the Franciscan Friars of Strict Observance (of which he would later become the Superior General) at age 22, then after his ordination, spent 12 years of solitude devoted to prayer and studies in theology and canon law, during which, it is said, he learned to preach by speaking to the country folk and learning the best ways to communicate to them, using their language and their images. In 1417, he was named vicar of Tuscany. This marked the start of his public preaching which soon took him to other major cities of Italy, also earning a reputation for conciliating feuding political factions (pro-Pope vs Pro-Holy Roman Emperor). He started the idea of the 'bonfire of vanities' during which he encouraged the faithful to burn objects of temptation. He was very outspoken against the practice of homosexuality. In 1527, a cycle of sermons he gave in Siena was meticulously transcribed and give a vivid idea of his eloquent preaching. Strangely, his advocacy of the trigram twice brought him to trial for heresy, first in Rome, in 1427, and then at the Council of Basel. Both times, he was acquitted. He impressed Pope Martin V so much that he wanted to name him Bishop of Siena, Bernardine refused, as he did later offers to become Bishop of Ferrara and of Urbino. Among his disciples were Giovanni (John) da Capistrano and Giacomo delle Marche, both of whom would become saints. Another four of his closest disciples have been beatified. He himself was canonized just six years after his death. He died of natural causes while on a visit to L'Aquila to settle yet another political feud. He is buried in L'Aquila in a basilica that his disciples Giovanni and Giacomo caused to have built soon after his death. He and Catherine are the co-patrons of Siena.
Readings for today's Mass:
usccb.org/bible/readings/052012.cfm
AT THE VATICAN TODAY
Regina caeli - The Holy Father reflected on the Ascension of Jesus, and had a number of reminders and
special messages. First, the World Day for Social Communications today, about which he released
his message last January on 'Silence and words'; and the Feast of Mary Help of Christians on May 24,
which is celebrated most especially in the Marian shrine of Sheshan near Shanghai, and which, since 2008,
the Church marks as a day of prayer for the Church in China. The Pope then expressed his condolences and
prayers for the victims of the terrorist bomb planted at a school in Brindisi, southeastern Italy, yesterday,
killing a girl, Melissa, and wounding dozens of others; and for the victims of an earthquake that struck
north of Bologna, Italy this morning. He also greeted Italy's Movement for Life who turn out annually
for the Angelus or Regina caeli to publicize their movement.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 20/05/2012 13:49]