Priest · Remembered on May 20
St. Bernardine of Siena
St. Bernardine of Siena is remembered on May 20 in Bless’s calendar of saints. Traditionally invoked as patron of advertisers and communications.
| Remembered on | May 20 |
|---|---|
| Title | Priest |
| Died | c. 1444 |
| Patron of | advertisers, communications |
| Next on Bless’s Today screen | None left in the published calendar (through December 31, 2028) |
Life
A Sienese noble orphan who nursed plague victims at twenty and entered the Franciscans at twenty-two. For nearly forty years he crossed Italy on foot, preaching dawn sermons three hours long to crowds that filled the piazzas — funny, fierce, and unsparing of usury, faction, and vice.
He held up a tablet with the monogram IHS surrounded by rays, spreading devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus; accused of novelty, he was cleared by the pope. Offered three bishoprics, he refused them all and died preaching in the Abruzzi.
Patron of
Tradition invokes St. Bernardine of Siena as patron of advertisers and communications.
Patronages are traditional, not an official list. All patron saints in Bless, A to Z.
In the calendar
The upcoming dates, through December 31, 2028, when Bless’s Today screen shows St. Bernardine of Siena. Where the US calendar keeps another celebration that day, it is named instead and no rank is given.
Readings
No dates are left in Bless’s published calendar, which runs through December 31, 2028. St. Bernardine of Siena keeps May 20 in Bless’s calendar of saints: see the saints of May.
All the saints of May Born on May 20? A saint for every day
Spotted a mistake in a date, a patronage or a quotation? Report an error and we’ll fix it in the app and here.