Bernardino as preacher Bernardino of Siena

1 bernardino preacher

1.1 preaching style
1.2 on women
1.3 against sodomy , homosexuality

bernardino preacher
preaching style

before bernardino, preachers either read prepared speech or recited rhetorical oration. instead of remaining cloistered , preaching during liturgy, bernardino preached directly public. more 30 years, preached on italy , played great part in religious revival of fifteenth century. although had weak , hoarse voice, said have been 1 of greatest preachers of time. style simple, familiar, , abounding in imagery. cynthia polecritti, in biography of bernardino, notes texts of sermons “are acknowledged masterpieces of colloquial italian.” elegant , captivating preacher, , use of popular imagery , creative language drew large crowds hear reflections.

unlike many of contemporaries, bernardino chose themes not daily liturgy, ordinary lives of people of siena. selected biblical themes focus on immediate interests of audience. proved effective in drawing attention. polecritti notes, subject matter of sermons reveals contemporary context of 15th-century italy.

he travelled place place, remaining more few weeks. these journeys made on foot. in towns, crowds assembled hear him @ times great became necessary erect pulpit on market-place. vincent ferrer, preached @ dawn. hearers, ensure standing room, arrive beforehand, many coming far-distant villages. sermons lasted 3 or 4 hours. invited ferrara in 1424, preached against excess of luxury , immodest apparel. in bologna, spoke out against gambling, dissatisfaction of card manufacturers , sellers. returning siena in april 1425, preached there 50 consecutive days. success claimed remarkable. bonfires of vanities held @ sermon sites, people threw mirrors, high-heeled shoes, perfumes, locks of false hair, cards, dice, chessmen, , other frivolities burned. bernardino enjoined listeners abstain blasphemy, indecent conversation, , games of hazard, , observe feast days.

both while alive , after death (the first edition of works, part elaborate sermons, printed @ lyon in 1501), bernardino s legacy far benign: of fanatical moralizing temperament, preached fiery, intransigent sermons against many classes of people. sermons riddled ostensible anti-semitism, misogyny, , homophobia. demonized many women witches , , called homosexuals (or sodomites called them) either isolated society or eliminated human community. became major exponent of historian robert moore has called persecuting society of late medieval christian europe.

on women

bernardino presented virgin mary example women. advised girls never talk man unless 1 of parents present. in 1 sermon bernardino cautions women marrying men care more dowries them. on 1 occasion asked mothers come church daughters alone speak them frankly sexual abuse in marriage. spoke against confinement of unwilling girls convents. presented saint joseph example men, while emphasizing mary s obedience husband.

against sodomy , homosexuality

on sodomy (predominantly directed towards homosexual men), bernardino keenly pointed out reputation of italians beyond own borders. particularly decried florentine lenience men having sex men; in verona, approvingly reminded listeners man quartered , limbs hung city gates homosexual intercourse; in genoa, men regularly burned if found guilty of sodomy; , in venice sodomite had been tied column along barrel of pitch , brushwood , set fire. advised people of siena same. in 1424 dedicated 3 consecutive sermons in florence subject, in course of lenten sermon preached in santa croce, admonished hearers:

whenever hear sodomy mentioned, each , every 1 of spit on ground , clean mouth out well. if don t want change ways other means, maybe change when re made fools of. spit hard! maybe water of spit extinguish fire.

in siena preached full sermon against sodomy (including homosexuality) in 1425 , 1427. on time teachings helped mould public sentiment , dispel indifference on controlling sodomy , homosexual conduct more vigorously. unpredictable or calamitous in human experience attributed sodomy, including floods , plague. linking practice local population decline.