Born 1272, Siena in Tuscany
Died 1348
Venerated in Roman Catholicism
Beatified 1634 by Pope Urban VIII
Canonized April 26, 2009, St. Peter's Square by Pope Benedict XVI
Feast August 19 (Order of St. Benedict)
Saint Bernardo Tolomei (1272–1348) was an Italian theologian, the founder of the Roman Catholic Congregation of the Blessed Virgin of Monte Oliveto. In the Roman Martyrology he is commemorated on August 20,[1] but in the Benedictine calendar his optional memorial is celebrated on the previous day.[2] Bernardo Tolomei was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday, April 26, 2009.[3]
Giovanni Tolomei was born at Siena in Tuscany. He took the name of "Bernard" (in its Italian form Bernardo) out of admiration for the saintly Abbot of Clairvaux. He was educated by his uncle, Christopher Tolomeo, a Dominican, and desired to enter the religious life, but his father's opposition prevented him from doing so, and he continued his studies in secular surroundings. After a course in philosophy and mathematics he devoted himself to the study of civil and canon law, and of theology. For a time Bernardo served in the armies of Rudolph I of Germany.
The fame of his virtues soon attracted many visitors, and Bernardo was accused of heresy. He went to Avignon and cleared himself of this charge before Pope John XXII without difficulty. Upon his return he founded the congregation of the Blessed Virgin of Monte Oliveto (the Olivetans), giving it the Rule of St. Benedict. The purpose of the new religious institute was a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Guido, Bishop of Arezzo, within whose diocese the congregation was formed, confirmed its constitution in (1319), and many favours were granted by Popes John XXII, Clement VI (1344), and Gregory XI. Upon the appearance of the plague in the district of Arezzo, Bernardo and his monks devoted themselves to the care of the sick. As a result of this charitable act, Bernardo and a number of his Olivetian confreres themselves succumbed to the ravages of the plague.
After having ruled the religious body he had founded for 27 years Bernardo died, at the age of 76. In 1634 he was beatified by the Congregation of Rites, but was often referred to as Saint Bernardo even before his canonization in 2009.
References
This article incorporates text from the entry Olivetans in the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.
- ^ Martyrologium Romanum, Vatican City, 2001.
- ^ Calendar of Feasts of the Benedictine Confederation Accessed Feb. 22, 2009
- ^ Concistoro per il voto su alcune cause di canonizzazione, Feb. 21, 2009 Accessed Feb. 22, 2009