Saint Bernardine of Siena (1380–1444) was an Italian Franciscan friar and one of the most renowned preachers of the fifteenth century, traveling on foot across Italy to preach to enormous crowds. Orphaned young, he cared for the sick during a plague in Siena before entering the Franciscans, and he spread devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, often displaying the letters IHS. He was canonized in 1450, only six years after his death.
Bernardine turned personal loss and hardship into tender service, nursing plague victims when others fled and speaking peace into cities torn by feuds. His deep love for the name of Jesus reminds us that simply calling on that holy name can steady a grieving heart. He shows that gentle, persistent faithfulness can bring healing to many.
Lord Jesus, whose holy name Saint Bernardine loved and proclaimed, keep that name on our lips and in our hearts, and through his prayers comfort all who mourn. Amen.Enter today’s Mass → All saints →