St. Bernardine’s Case for the Doctorate

ST. BERNARDINE S CASE FOR THE DOCTORATE S T. BERNARDINE of Siena has been styled "The Trumpet of Heaven” and "The Prince of Preachers.” Because of his zeal and eloquence he was likened to St. Paul by Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini (later Pius II).1 From modern studies on the Saint’s life and works, from the letter of Pope Pius XII and other writings about him in this year of his fifth centenary, we are edified to see what a learned, eloquent, and fruitful preacher and writer he was. Praised and defended by such great popes as Martin V and Eugene IV, Bemardine received still higher encomia in the bull of canonization issued by Pope Nicholas V: Novissime diebus nostris jubar quoddam mirifici splendoris et refulgentis Iuminis ad gloriara sui nominis efficacius propalandam eduxit [Deus] in lucem sanctum videlicet Bernardinum de Senis.. .. Noctes ducebat insomnes, sacrarum scripturarum lucidissimas enuckans veritates, in amplis voluminibus relinquens posteris dignam suorum bonorum laborum memoriam et fructus divini nominis gloriae plenos, doctrinae salutiferae ubertate foecundos pariter et facundos, mellitos sermones ordinans et utilissimos Tractatus componens lucida veritate conspicuos et praeclaros.. . . Italicas regiones lustravit et provincias, adeo quod ubi cultu verae fidei vacua prius censebantur, suis praedicationibus illustrata religio praefulgeat limpide Christiana.2 This is one of the highest and clearest eulogies of Bernardine and his work that could be pronounced. It lauds his great merit in preaching the triumphal glory of Jesus, and declares that Bernardine’s excellent sermons are fruitful for future ages. Considering the nobility and vastness of Bernardine’s work and teaching, and keeping in mind the ever-increasing interest in him in the past century, the Franciscan order has cherished the hope that Bernardine may some day be declared a Doctor of the Church. In fact, the order in 1862 petitioned the Holy See for this honor to be granted the Saint. The time was not yet opportune, however, because more work had to be done in editing and ap­ praising the Saint’s writings. As a result of that petition there was published in 1877 a very valuable work. Containing the documents relating to the inquiry instituted by the Sacred Congregation of Rites, it is a large quarto volume entitled Romana seu Ordinis Minorum Declarations Tituli Doctoris in Honorem S. Bernardini Senensis et Extensionis Ejusdem Tituli ad Universam Ecclesiam cum Officio et Missa de Communi Doctorum Instantibus quamplurimis Emis. S. R. E. Cardinalibus , Rmis. Patriarchis, Archiepiscopis, Episcopis et Religiosorum Ordinum Moderatoribus (Romae, Typis Guerra et Mirri, 1877). In this article this work will be referred to as Romana. Since the various documents have sep­ arate paginations, each document will be referred to in the order it has in the book as Part I, etc., with the respective page. This work of the Sacred Congre­ gation of Rites is rare and long out of print. The present writer extends his thanks to the Conventual Friars of St. Anthony-on-Hudson, at Rensselaer, 1. Romana, I, p. 6. 2. Ibid., IV, pp. 156-157. 371 372 FRANCISCAN STUDIES N. Y., for the use of this work, without which this paper could not have been written. The first seven pages contain a plea that Bernardine be declared a Doctor. Various reasons are given, and some praises of the Saint are added. The second part of the book contains forty pages of petitions addressed to the Holy See in behalf of Bernardine’s Doctorate by cardinals, archbishops, bishops and superiors of religious orders. All these testimonies are valuable and can be used again in a future petition. This second part, from page 41 to page 85, is devoted to an able dissertation by Fr. Aloysius Tassi, O. F. M., on the "Genuineness of St. Bernardine's Works.” The dissertation in Italian is still of great worth despite some mistakes. There follow two more pages listing names of prelates who petition the Holy See to declare Bernardine a Doctor. The third part consists of forty-one pages wherein the Promoter of the Faith raises objections to Bernardine’s style of speaking, to the genuineness of some of his works, and to certain doctrines he holds. In short, the Promoter objects, ex officio, that Bernardine does...