St. Bernardine of Siena was a Franciscan preacher and missionary, known for his devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. Bernardine was born on September 8, 1380, at Massa Marittima, near Siena, Italy, the son of the governor and a member of the degli’Albrizzeschi family. He was orphaned at seven and raised by an aunt. At seventeen, Bernardine, or Bernardino, entered the Confraternity of Our Lady. At the age of twenty he operated the hospitals in Siena during an outbreak of plague.

In 1402, Bernardine entered the Franciscans and was ordained a priest on September 8, 1404, preaching his first sermon on September 8, 1417. He lived as a hermit for twelve years before starting his missionary work. His first sermon attracted attention because of its eloquence and fervor, and he traveled throughout central and northern Italy, preaching against the immorality of the times.

He was defended by Pope Martin V in 1427 when his enemies slandered him. The pope offered him the see of Siena, but Bernardine declined that and other dioceses. In 1430, he was elected vicar-general of the Franciscan Friars of the Strict Observance. Through his prayerful labors, he increased the order’s membership from three hundred to more than four thousand. In 1442, Bernardine resigned so that he could carry on his missionary labors.

He was venerated as the foremost Italian missionary of his era, particularly in stirring devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. He died at Aquila on May 20, 1444, and his remains were enshrined there. He is depicted in liturgical art holding a sign with the letters “IHS,” denoting the Holy Name of Jesus. Small miters are often shown at his feet, representing the offices of bishop that he refused.