The Basilica of St Bernardino all'Osservanza

Life

Bernardino, son of Sienese nobleman Tullo Albizzeschi, was born on September 8th 1380 in Massa Marittima, where his father, who married Nera degli Avveduti, had moved.
The day in which Bernardino was born is meaningful for his future: September 8th is the day on which the church celebrates the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom he was extremely devoted to. Furthermore, only a few months before (April 29th ) in that very same year, the other great saint from Siena of the time, Saint Catherine, died in Rome, as if to imply a passing of the baton between the two.
At 6 years of age Bernardino was orphaned and raised by his Aunt Diana until her death; when he was 11 he was placed under the care of the Albizzeschi family living in Siena. Here he was tutored by his cousin Tobia, a Franciscan tertiary, and by his aunt Bartolomea, an Augustinian tertiary. He studied with the finest teachers, concentrating his studies mainly on philosophy and law.
In 1400, during a severe epidemic of plague, Bernardino worked as a volunteer at the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala, where even he maybe fell ill for a short time.
Following his desire to lead a religious life, Bernardino took the Franciscan habit in the church of Saint Francis in Siena on August 31st 1402, and on September 8th (yet again on the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary) 1404 he celebrated his first mass. Bernardino was an important exponent of the Franciscan Order of the Observance, which advocated a restoration of Saint Francis’ initial spirituality, founding new convents, including the Basilica of the Observance just outside Siena’s walls.
At the age of 40 he began the most intense phase of his activity as a preacher, that won him popularity and lead him to visit many cities in Northern Italy. His sermons were highly appreciated, because they were clear and easily understood by the populace. In 1427 he preached for 45 consecutive days in Piazza del Campo in Siena, where a large crowd had gathered to hear him speak, acclaiming him as their Bishop three times. However, he always refused all prestigious posts (the Bishoprics of Siena and Urbino and the Vicar general of the Observants) so that he could continue to mingle with the poor and defend the precepts of Catholicism through his sermons. In every sermon Bernardino showed his listeners a tablet bearing the monogram of the name of Jesus surrounded by a blazing sun, which became his iconographic symbol, exhorting everyone to love the Saviour.
In May 1444 Bernardino died in the Friary of Saint Francis at L'Aquila, where he had travelled to preach. He was canonized by Pope Nicholas V just six years later, in 1450.