Holy cards replaced popular playing cards
St. Bernardino's preaching had strong influence
By Tony Staley
Compass Editor
St. Bernardino of Siena may not be well-known, but a symbol he devised nearly 600 years ago is.
This symbol - the letters IHS (the first three letters of "Jesus" in Greek) over a blazing sun - quickly became popular - and even controversial for some.
St. Bernadino designed the symbol because of his devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus and to displace popular superstitious symbols. Soon, it was found in churches, homes and public buildings.
Bernadino deli Albizzeschi was the son of the governor of Mass Maritima, Italy. He was raised by an aunt after his parents died when he was seven.
At the age of 17, he joined a confraternity or religious society of the Blessed Virgin. Three years later, when a plague in Siena was killing up to 20 people a day, he volunteered to run the Santa Maria della Scala hospital with the help of other young men. For four months, he nursed the ill and avoided the plague, though he was confined for several months with a fever.
After caring for a sick aunt until her death, he prayed and fasted for a year, then joined the Franciscans. At first he was at a house in Siena, but when friends and relatives began visiting constantly he was allowed to transfer to a stricter house at Colombaio, outside the city. Two years later, he was ordained and lived a solitary life of prayer for 12 years.
His life changed in 1417. The 37-year-old priest was assigned to preach at Milan. Soon large crowds were coming to hear his fiery, eloquent sermons at the missions he conducted in strife-torn cities throughout Italy. He walked everywhere and often spoke for hours. Despite a weak and hoarse voice, he captivated crowds of up to 30,000 with his preaching on the Holy Name of Jesus and denunciation of the evils of the time, including gambling.
Once, in Bologna, he urged the crowd to throw their cards and dice into a large bonfire in the town square. One playing card manufacturer complained that Bernardino was ruining his business. Bernardino suggested that the man make the IHS symbol instead and soon he was making more money than before.
Despite its popularity, some people complained to Pope Martin V that the IHS symbol was dangerous. But the pope told them they had nothing to fear and, in 1427, offered to make Bernardino the Bishop of Siena. He refused that, as well as later offers to become the Bishop of Ferrara and of Urbino.
In 1430 he was elected vicar general of the Franciscan Friars of the Strict Observance. He reformed the order by emphasizing scholarship and additional study of theology and canon law. As a result, membership went from 300 to more than 4,000. Because of his accomplishments he is considered the order's second founder.
In 1442, Bernardino resigned to return to preaching. He died two years later while on a mission trip in Aquila.
(Sources: Butler's Lives of the Saints, Dictionary of Saints, Saint of the Day and 365 Saints)
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