St. Bernardino Realino Jesuit Priest | Patron of Lecce | Saint of Humble Fidelity
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Feast Day:
July 2
Born:
1530, Carpi, Duchy of Modena (Italy)
Died:
July 2, 1616, Lecce, Italy
Canonized:
1947 by Pope Pius XII
St. Bernardino Realino was a brilliant lawyer and magistrate who experienced a life-changing vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary while in prayer. Inspired soon after by a Jesuit preacher, he renounced his prestigious legal career and entered the Society of Jesus at age 34.
Assigned to Lecce, he lived there for over 40 years, serving as rector, confessor, spiritual director, and minister to the poor. Known for his gentle wisdom and Eucharistic devotion, he embodied the Ignatian charism of “finding God in all things.”
Spiritual Legacy
💬 “We must win hearts, not with force, but with gentle patience and love.”
St. Bernardino is remembered for his:
Radical detachment from worldly ambition
Compassion for the sick and poor
Deep Marian devotion and Eucharistic reverence
Role as spiritual father and Jesuit leader
Shortly before his death, the city of Lecce proclaimed him its heavenly patron.
Patronage
City of Lecce
Jesuit novices
Discerners of priestly vocation