Saint of the Day – 12 March – St Bernard of Carinola (1040-1109) Bishop of Caripola, Counsellor and Chaplain, Confessor to Royalty. Born in 1040 at Capua, Italy and died in 1109 of natural causes at Carinola, Campania, Italy of which City and Diocese he is the Patron Saint. Also known as – Bernard of Capua.
QWe have no information of St Bernard’s early life. We know that he studied at the Benedictine Abbey of Monte Cassino Abbey. He became a Monk and the spiritual student of the Abbot who later became Pope Victor III. One of his fellow students was St Peter Damia, the Doctor of the Church.
He was Ordained a Priest and then appointed as the Counsellor and Chaplian to Prince Jordan of Capua and the Confessor of Duke Richard II of Capua.
In 1087 he was appointed the Bishop of Forum Claudii by Pope Victor III, his former Master at Monte Casino. Bernard was Consecrated by this Pope on 21 March 1087. In 1100, Bernard transferred the See to the City of Carinola.
Bernard died at the age of 69 after having zealously served the Church and his flock for 22 years. His body was nterred in a marble sarcophagus in the Cathedral of Carinola.
AnaStpaul 