1. Who is he?
St. Bernardine of Siena

2. In the fifteenth century in Italy, nearly all the towns and cities were fighting. Some times the fighting was between servants of two different houses.

3. There was no peace anywhere and lots of innocent people were killed
There was no peace anywhere and lots of innocent people were killed. There were two great families who were trying to get power over the whole country.

4. Bernardine was born in a small town near Siena
Bernardine was born in a small town near Siena. He was the son of a rich nobleman. Bernardine started to preach to many people when he was 37 years of age.

5. Bernardine walked over many dusty, dry and stony roads throughout Italy. Bernardine preached for hours at a time. Sometimes he spoke for four hours.

6. When his sermon was finished, Bernardine would ask the people to show that Jesus was their real Lord.

7. When Bernardine preached, he held up a sign with letters I.H.S. on it.

8. Everywhere Bernardine went he would ask people to take down their shield. He put the letters I.H.S. So they would remember the Prince of Peace.

9. Most of the people who listened to Bernardine became Christians.

10. Some people still encouraged fighting
Some people still encouraged fighting. They didn’t like what Bernardine was preaching and set out to stop him.

11. They went and visited the Pope and told of how Bernardine was teaching of false Gods and making them worship a piece of wood.

12. The Pope was most unimpressed. So he set out to see Bernardine preach
The Pope was most unimpressed. So he set out to see Bernardine preach. He was so impressed with his work the Pope offered him to be the Bishop of Siena.

13. Bernardine refused to be the bishop of Siena
Bernardine refused to be the bishop of Siena. He much preferred to remain a poor friar tramping the roads of Italy preaching the Gospel. A friar is a religious person like a nun. Bernardine felt bad about the wicked money lenders who made poor people pay back twice as much as they borrowed.

14. Everywhere Bernardine went he started a group of Christian people who were willing to lend money to poor people. He called it a charity bank. The symbol became known as three mounds and a cross in the middle.

15. If you ever see a picture of the saints, you can always recognise St
If you ever see a picture of the saints, you can always recognise St. Bernardine. He will be either holding a plaque with the letters I.H.S. printed on it or he might hold a picture of the charity bank symbol.

16. St. Bernardine’s main aim was bringing peace and help to the poor
St. Bernardine’s main aim was bringing peace and help to the poor. He is very well known as the apostle of Italy. religion/ /posts