San Bernardino – he was born in Massa Marittima on September 8, 1380, to a noble Sienese family.
After becoming a Franciscan friar minor, he began an intense activity as a preacher throughout northern Italy.
In his sermons he insisted on “devotion to the Most Holy Name of Jesus.” His monogram “JHS,” surmounted by a cross and surrounded by a sun, became familiar to people.
He also wrote an entire work on economics entitled “On Contracts and Usury,” where he addressed the issues of business ethics and honest labor, condemning the dishonest and usurers.
Obviously this attracted him many enemies who accused him of heresy.
Thus, in 1427 Bernardino underwent a trial by the Holy Inquisition, but was completely acquitted of the charge. Pope Martin V was greatly impressed by his spirituality and eloquence and asked him to preach in Rome as well.
In 1444, despite being very ill, he went to L’Aquila at the invitation of the local bishop, where he died on May 20 of that year. In 1450 Pope Nicholas V declared him a saint.
He was portrayed in numerous works of art by the greatest Italian painters of the time, such as Piero della Francesca, Andrea Mantegna, Perugino, and Pinturicchio.
In many streets of Tivoli’s ancient historic center it is not difficult to find above the doors of buildings the monogram JHS (meaning “Jesus Savior of Men”), reproduced in travertine and marble tiles.
Such a symbol represents peace and reconciliation for any struggle or disagreement between opposing factions. In his wanderings, Bernardino in fact came to preach even in Tivoli, seeking to put peace where it was needed. Many Tiburtine families, in devotion to the saint, had the JHS symbol placed on their homes.
A copy of a valuable 1460 panel painting by the Sienese painter Sano Di Pietro depicting St. Bernadine is kept in Tivoli’s Town Hall, named after him.
