May 19 — Saint Bernardin of Sienna

In that Season of the Liturgical Year, when we were loving and praying around the Crib of the Infant) Jesus, one of its days was devoted to our celebrating the glory and sweetness of his Name. Holy Church was full of joy in pronouncing the dear Name chosen, from all eternity, by her heavenly Spouse ; and mankind found consolation in the thought, that the great God who might so justly have bid us call him the Just and the Avenger, willed us henceforth to call him the Saviour. The devout Bernardin of Sienna, whose feast we keep to-day, stood then before us, holding in his hands this ever blessed Name, surrounded with rays. He urged the whole earth to venerate, with love and confidence, the sacred name which expresses the whole economy of our salvation. The Church, ever attentive to what is for the good of her Children, adopted the beautiful device. She encouraged them to receive it from the Saint, as a shield that would protect them against the darts of the evil spirit, and as an additional means for reminding us of the exceeding charity wherewith God has loved this world of ours. And finally, when the loveliness of the Holy Name of Jesus had won all Christian hearts, she instituted, in its honour, one of the most beautiful solemnities of Christmastide.

Bernardin, the worthy son of St. Francis of Assisi, returns to us on this twentieth day of May, and the sweet flower of the Holy Name is, of course, in his hand. But it is not now the prophetic appellation of the new-born Babe ; it is not the endearing Name, respectfully and lovingly whispered by the Virgin- Mother over the Crib ; — it is the Name, whose sound has gone through the whole creation, it is the trophy of the grandest of victories, it is the fulfilment of all that was prophesied. The name of Jesus was a promise to mankind of a Saviour ; Jesus has saved mankind, by dying and rising again ; he is now Jesus in the full sense of the word. Go where you will, and you hear this Name, — the Name that has united men into the one great family of the Church.

The chief priests of the Synagogue strove to stifle the Name of Jesus, for it was even then winning men's hearts. They forbade the Apostles to teach in this Name ; and it was on this occasion that Peter uttered the words, which embody the whole energy of the Church : We ought to obey Ood, rather than men. The Synagogue might as well have tried to stay the course of the sun. So too, when the mighty power of the Roman Empire set itself against the triumphant progress of this Name, and would annul the decree that every knee should bow at its sound, there was not merely a failure, but at the end ot three centuries, the Name of Jesus was heard and loved in every city and hamlet of the Empire.

Armed with this sacred motto, Bernardin traversed the towns of Italy, which, at that period, (the 15th century,) were at enmity with each other, and, not unfrequently, were torn with domestic strifes. The Name of Jesus, which he carried in his hand, became as a rainbow of reconciliation ; and wheresoever he set it up, there every knee bowed down, every vin-

Acte, v. 28, 29 *Philipp. ii. 10.

B84 dictive heart was appeased, and sinners hastened to the sacrament of pardon. The three letters (I H S), which represent this Name, became familiar to the Faithful ; they were everywhere to be seen, carved, or engraven, or painted ; and the Catholic world thus gained a new form, whereby to express its adoration and love of its Saviour.

Bernardin was a preacher, whose eloquence was of heaven's inspiring. He was also a distinguished master in the science of sacred things, as is proved by the Writings he has left us. We regret not being able, from want of space, to give our readers his words on the greatness of the Paschal mystery ; but we cannot withhold from them what he says regarding Jesus' appearing to his Blessed Mother, after the Eesurrection. They will be rejoiced at finding unity of doctrine, on this interesting subject, existing between the Franciscan School, represented by St. Bernardin, and the school of St. Dominic, whose testimony we have already given, on the Feast of St. Vincent Ferrer.

" From the fact of there being no mention made "in the Gospel of the visit wherewith Christ consoled " his Mother, after his Resurrection, we are not to " conclude, that this most merciful Jesus, — the source " of all grace and consolation, who was so anxious to "gladden his Disciples by his presence, — forgot bis " Mother, who he knew had drunk so deeply of the "bitterness of his Passion. But it has pleased divine " Providence that the Gospel should be silent on this " subject ; and this for three reasons.

"In the first place, because of the firmness of " Mary's Faith. The confidence which the Virgin- <c Mother had of her Son's rising again, had never fi faltered, not even by the slightest doubt. This we " can readily believe, if we reflect on the special grace " wherewith she was filled, she the Mother of the " Man-God, the Queen of Angels, and the Mistress of

" the world. To a truly enlightened mind, the sileoce " of the Scripture, on this subject, says more than any u affirmation could have done. We have learned to " know something of Mary by the visit she received " from the Angel, when the Holy Ghost overshadowed 41 her. We met her again at the foot of the Cross, " where she, the Mother of Sorrows, stood nigh her " dying Son. If then the Apostle could say : As ye 4t are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also "of the consolation: — what share must not the u Virgin-mother have had in the joys of the Resur- " rection ? We should hold it as a certain truth, that "her most sweet Jesus, after his Resurrection, con- " soled her first of all. The holy Roman Church " would seem to express this, by celebrating at Saint " Mary Major's the Station of Easter Sunday. More- " over, if, from the silence of the Evangelists, you "would conclude that our Risen Lord did not appear " to her first, — you must go farther, and say that he " did not appear to her at all, inasmuch as these same " Evangelists, when relating the several apparitions, " do not mention a single one as mada to her. Now, " such a conclusion as this would savour of impiety.

"In the second place, the silence of the Gospel "is explained by the incredulity of men. The object " of the Holy Spirit, when dictating the Gospels, was " to describe such Apparitions as would remove all iC doubt, from carnal-minded men, with regard to the " Resurrection of Christ. The fact of Marys being <l his Mother would have weakened her testimony, " at least in their eyes. For this reason, she was <:not brought forward as a witness, though, most u assuredly, there never was or will be any crea- " ture, (the humanity of her Son alone excepted,) " whose assertion better deserved the confidence of " every truly pious soul. But the text of the Gospel¹

"was not to adduce any testimonies, save such a as might be offered to the whole world. As to "Jesus' Apparition to his Mother, the Holy Ghost " has left it to be believed by those that are en- " lightened by his light.

" In the third place, this silence is explained by " the sublime nature of the Apparition itself. The " Gospel says nothing regarding the Mother of Christ, " after the Resurrection ; and the reason is, that her u interviews with her Son were so sublime and in- " effable, that no words could have described them. "There are two sorts of visions : one is merely corporal, and feeble in proportion ; the other is mainly " in the soul, and is granted only to such as have <: been transformed. Say, if you will, that Magda- " lene was the first to have the merely corporal "vision, provided that you admit that the Blessed " Virgjin saw, previously to Magdalene, and in a far " sublimer way, her Risen Jesus, that she recognised " him, and enjoyed his sweet embraces in her soul, "more even than in her body."

Let us us now read the Life of our Saint, as given, though too briefly, in the Lessons of to-day's Office.

Bernardinus Albizesca, Bernardin Albizeschi, whose nobili Senensi familia ortus, parents were of a noble ab ineunte setate non ob- family of Sienna, gave evident scura sanctitatis, dedit indi- marks of sanctity from his cia; nam a piis parentibus earliest years. He was well honeste educatus, neglectis brought up by his pious pa- puerilibus ludis, inter prima rents. When studying the grammatical studia, pietatis first rudiments of grammar, operibus animum intendit, he despised the favourite pas* jejuniis,orationi, et beatissi- times of children, and applied mae Virginis cultui praacipue himself to works of piety, addictus. Misericordia vero especially fasting, prayer, and in pauperes fuit insignis; devotion to the Blessed Vir-

QU8B quidem omnia proce- gin. His charity to the poor dente tempore quo melius was extraordinary. In order posset excolere, eorum nu- the better to practise these

1 Senna lii. Dominica in Resvrrectione, art. iii. • virtues, he, later on, entered the Confraternity, which gave to the Church so many saintly men, and was attached to the hospital of our Lady of Scala, in Sienna. It was there that, whilst leading a most mortified life himself, he, with incredible charity, took care of the sick, during the time when a terrible pestilence was raging in the city. Amongst his other virtues, he was preeminent for chastity, although he had many dangers to encounter, owing to the beauty of his person. Such was the respect he inspired, that no one, however lost to shame, ever dared to say an improper word in his presence.

After a serious illness of four months, which he bore with the greatest patience, he began to think of entering the religious life. As a preparation for such a step, he hired, in the farthest outskirts of the city, a little hut, in which he hid- himself, leading a most austere life, and assiduously beseeching Qod to make known to him the path he was to follow. A divine inspiration led him to prefer to all other Orders, that of St. Francis. Accordingly he entered, and soon began to excel in humility, patience, and the other virtues of a Religious man. The Guardian of the Convent perceiving this, and having previously known that Bernardin was well versed in the sacred sciences, he imposed the duty of preaching upon him. The Saint most mero adscribi voluit, qui Senis in hospitali domo beat® Mariae de Scala, Deo inserviunt ; unde complures sanctitate celebres viri prodierunt. Ibi corporis afflictatione et segrotantium cura, dum atrox pestilentia grassaretur, incredibili charitate sese exercuit. Inter caeteras autem virtutes, castitatem, egregia forma repugn ante, sanctissime custodivit, adeo ut eo prassente, nemo umquam, ne impudentissimus quidem, verbum minus honestum proferre auderet.

Gravi morbo tentatus eoque ad quatuor menses patientissime tolerato, demum incolumis de religiosae vitas instituto capessendo deliberare ccepit : quo ut sibi viam muniret, aediculam in extrema urbe conduxit, in quam quum sese abdidisset, asp em main omni ex parte vitam trahebat, Deum assidue orans, ut quid sibi sequendum esset, ostenderet. Quare divinitus factum est, ut beati Francisci Ordinem pr» caeteris optaret, in quo humilitate, patientia, aliisque religiosi hominis virtutibus excelluit. Id quum ccenobii rector animadverteret, jamqne antea Bernardini doctrinam, et sacrarum litterarum peritiam perspectam haberet, praedicandi onus eidem imposuit, quo humillime sua- cepto, quum se minus idoneum agnosceret, ob vocis exilitatem ac raucitatem, Dei ope implorata, non sine miraculo ejusmodi impedimento liberatus est. humbly accepted the office, though he was aware that the weakness and hoarseness of his voice unfitted him for it : but he sought God's help, and was miraculously freed from

Quumque ea tempora vitiis criminibusque redundarent, et cruentis factionibus in Italia, divina bumanaque omnia pernrixta essent, Bernardinus urbes atque oppida concursans in nomine J esu, quern, semper in ore et in pectore gerebat, collapsam pietatem moresque verbo et exemplo magna ex parte restituit ; quo factum est, ut praeciarae civitates eum sibi Episcopnm a Summo Pontifice postularent : quod ille munus invicta humilitate constantissimerejecit. Denique vir Dei immensis exhaustis, multis magnisque editis miraculis, libris etiam pie docteque conscriptis, cum vixisset annos bours in sex ac sexaginta, in urbe Aqv.ila in Vestinis beato fine quievit : quern novis in dies corru anno post obitum sexto, in a Nicolaus Quintus Fontifex called Aquila. Maximus in Sanctorum nu- these impediments. Italy was, at that time, overrun with vice and crime ; and in consequence of deadly factions, all laws, both divine and human, were disregarded, It was then that Bernardin went through the towns and villages, preaching the Name of J esus, which was ever on his lips and heart. Such was the effect of his words and example, that piety and morals were, in great measure restored. Several important cities, that had witnessed his zeal, petitioned the Pope to allow them to have Bernardin for their Bishop ; but the laborious Saint's humility was not to be overcome, and he rejected every offer. At length, after going through countless la- God's service, after many and great miracles, after writing several pious and learned books, he died a happy scan tern signis. death, at the age of sixty-six, town of the Abruzzi, New miracles were daily being wrought

How beautiful, O Bernardin, are the rays that form the aureola round the Name of Jesus ! How soft their light on that eighth day after his birth, merum retulit* through his intercession ; and, at length, in the sixth year after his death, he was canonised by Pope Nicholas V. when he received this Name ! But, how dazzling, now that this Jesus achieves our salvation, not only by humiliation and suffering, but by the triumph of his Resurrection ! Thou comest to us, O Bernardin, in the midst of the Paschal glory of the Name of Jesus. This Name, for which thou didst so lovingly and zealously labour, gives thee to share in its immortal victory. Now, therefore, pour forth upon us, even more abundantly than when thou wast here on earth, the treasures of love, admiration and hope, of which this divine Name is the source, and cleanse the eyes of our soul, that we may, one day, be enabled to join thee in contemplating its beauty and magnificence.

Apostle of peace ! Italy, whose factions were so often quelled by thee, may well number thee among her protectors. Behold her now a prey to the enemies of Jesus, rebellious against the Church of God, and abandoned to her fate. Oh ! forget not, that she is my native land, that she was obedient to thy preaching, and that thy memory was long most dear to her. Intercede in her favour ; deliver her from her oppressors ; and show, that when earthly armies fail, the host of heaven can always save both cities and countries.

Illustrious son of the great patriarch of Assisi ! the seraphic Order venerates thee as one of its main supports. Thou didst re-animate it to its primitive observance ; continue, now from heaven, to protect the work thou commencedst here on earth. The Order of St. Francis is one of the grandest consolations of holy Mother Church ; make this Order for ever flourish, protect it in its trials, give it increase in proportion to the necessities of the Faithful ; for thou art the second Father of this venerable family, and thy prayers are powerful with the Redeemer, whose glorious Name thou confessedst upon earth.

Footnotes

1. 1. Cor. i. 7.
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