Bernardino of Fossa

Bernardino of Fossa (b. at Fossa, in the Diocese of Aquila, Italy, in 1420; d. at Aquila, 27 November1503) was an Italian Franciscan historian and ascetical writer.

Life

Bernardino belonged to the ancient and noble family of the Amici, and sometimes bears the name of Aquilanus on account of his long residence and death in the town of Aquila. He received his early training at Aquila and thence went to Perugia to study canon and civil law. On the 12th of March in the year 1445, he received the habit from James of the Marches who was then preaching a course of Lenten sermons at Perugia.

Bernardine was provincial of the province of St. Bernardine and of the province of Dalmatia and Bosnia, and would have been chosen Bishop of Aquila had not his humility forbidden him to accept this dignity. His cult was approved by Pope Leo XII, 26 March, 1828. His feast is kept in the Franciscan Order on 7 November.

Works

The writings of Blessed Bernardine include several sermons and short ascetical and historical works; among the latter, the "Chronica Fratrum Minorum Observantiae" deserves special mention. This chronicle was first edited by Leonard Lemmens, O.F.M., from the autograph manuscript, and is prefaced by a life of Blessed Bernardine and a critical estimate of his writings. It may also be mentioned that Bernardine is the author of the first life of his patron, Bernardine of Siena.

References

*Leo, "Lives of the Saints and Blessed of the three Orders of St. Francis" (Taunton, 1887), IV, 42-44;
*Lemmens, "Chronica Fratrum Minorum Observantiae B. Bernardini Aquilani" (Rome, 1905);
*Luke Wadding, "Annales Minorum", XII, 277- 480;
*Hugo von Hurter, "Nomenclator", IV, 968;
*Hugh a Pescocostanza, "Vita del B. Bernardino da Fossa" (Naples, 1872)

External links

* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02505a.htm "Catholic Encyclopedia" article]