Saint Who?
Saints Who Abandoned Riches
Saint Bernardino Realino
Priest and religious († 1616)Feast: July 2
Bernardino was born into a noble family in Modena, Italy. He initially studied philosophy but decided that a career in law would be more profitable. He obtained two law degrees, and because of his family connections, he was named mayor. He also served as a judge and tax collector, and he became well known for both his brilliance and his honesty.
At the age of thirty-four, he was so moved by a sermon given by a Jesuit preacher that he decided to attend an eight-day Jesuit retreat. He experienced great peace during the retreat, along with a vision of the Blessed Mother. The next day, he appeared before the local Jesuit provincial and requested permission to enter the order.
Bernardino spent the next four decades as a Jesuit priest, preaching, visiting those who were sick or in prison, teaching the catechism, hearing confessions, and training other Jesuit priests in his community. Each time his superiors tried to reassign him from Lecce to another city, either he became suddenly ill or bad weather prevented his departure. They finally gave up. After his death, mysterious phenomena associated with vials of his blood continued for many decades, reminding Catholics of the holiness of this wise, self-sacrificing priest.
Holy God, may all our words
and actions give you glory.
