Bernardo Tolomei
Encyclopedia
Saint Bernardo Tolomei 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, but in the Benedictine calendar his optional memorial is celebrated on the previous day. Bernardo Tolomei was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday, April 26, 2009.
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. Since the Benedictine rule did not prescribe the colour of monastic dress, the Olivetans wore white habits.
Upon the appearance of the plague
in the district of Arezzo, Bernardo and his monks devoted themselves to the care of the sick. Bernardo returned to his native Siena in 1348 along with other monks; it was thought that the Olivetan monks would be miraculously spared from the pestilence, but Bernardo was the first among them to fall ill and die from it. Other monks likewise succombed to the plague afterwards.
His last days were depicted in a painting by the 18th century Italian painter Giuseppe Maria Crespi. His work was entitled: 'The Blessed Bernard Tolomei Interceding for the Cessation of the Plague in Siena' (1735).
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.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
theologian, the founder of the Roman Catholic Congregation of the Blessed Virgin of Monte Oliveto
Olivetans
The Olivetans, or the Order of Our Lady of Mount Olivet, are a monastic order formally recognised in 1344. They have formed the Olivetan Congregation within the Benedictine Confederation since 1960.-History:...
. In the Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology
The Roman Martyrology is the official martyrology of the Roman Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. It provides an extensive but not exhaustive list of the saints recognized by the Church.-History:...
he is commemorated on August 20, but in the Benedictine calendar his optional memorial is celebrated on the previous day. Bernardo Tolomei was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday, April 26, 2009.
Giovanni Tolomei was born at Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
in Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
. He took the name of "Bernard" (in its Italian form Bernardo) out of admiration for the saintly Abbot of Clairvaux
Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard of Clairvaux, O.Cist was a French abbot and the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian order.After the death of his mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order. Three years later, he was sent to found a new abbey at an isolated clearing in a glen known as the Val...
. He was educated by his uncle, Christopher Tolomeo, a Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
, 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
Rudolph I of Germany
Rudolph I was King of the Romans from 1273 until his death. He played a vital role in raising the Habsburg dynasty to a leading position among the Imperial feudal dynasties...
.
The fame of his virtues soon attracted many visitors, and Bernardo was accused of heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
. He went to Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
and cleared himself of this charge before Pope John XXII
Pope John XXII
Pope John XXII , born Jacques Duèze , was pope from 1316 to 1334. He was the second Pope of the Avignon Papacy , elected by a conclave in Lyon assembled by Philip V of France...
without difficulty. Upon his return he founded the congregation of the Blessed Virgin of Monte Oliveto (the Olivetans
Olivetans
The Olivetans, or the Order of Our Lady of Mount Olivet, are a monastic order formally recognised in 1344. They have formed the Olivetan Congregation within the Benedictine Confederation since 1960.-History:...
), 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. Since the Benedictine rule did not prescribe the colour of monastic dress, the Olivetans wore white habits.
Upon the appearance of the plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
in the district of Arezzo, Bernardo and his monks devoted themselves to the care of the sick. Bernardo returned to his native Siena in 1348 along with other monks; it was thought that the Olivetan monks would be miraculously spared from the pestilence, but Bernardo was the first among them to fall ill and die from it. Other monks likewise succombed to the plague afterwards.
His last days were depicted in a painting by the 18th century Italian painter Giuseppe Maria Crespi. His work was entitled: 'The Blessed Bernard Tolomei Interceding for the Cessation of the Plague in Siena' (1735).
After having ruled the religious body he had founded for 27 years Bernardo died, at the age of 76. In 1634 he was beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by the Congregation of Rites, but was often referred to as Saint Bernardo even before his canonization in 2009.