St. Bernadine of Siena

As a devout layman in the late 14th century, Bernadine gathered a group of friends to help him staff the local hospital during an epidemic of the plague.  Some of his followers died, but Bernadine escaped the disease and helped bring comfort to the dying and health to the strongest. When the plague was over, he entered the Friars Minor and became such a noted preacher that he had to preach outside to accommodate the huge crowds.  Based in Milan, he nevertheless walked and preached through the county side, converting thousands.  Three times he refused the offer to be consecrated a bishop, preferring to remain poor and faithful to his Franciscan charism.  He died in 1444 after preaching for fifty consecutive days in his hometown in the Republic of Siena.
When we look at our world today, we might be envious as we see what one man could do in a relatively brief life of 64 years.  What would it be like to have such a powerful preacher on television or at large rallies convincingly addressing the ills of today?  He was noted for reconciling feuding families and parties. How would he deal with the current campaigners, our congressional members, and the major issues dividing us in in our Church?  Can their be at least a little bit of Bernadine in each one of us to help restore sanity and to bring out the good that struggles for survival as did those once plague-stricken men and women?  Let us pray for courage and strength to follow Bernadine's example and step up to address the issues that plague us today.
Bro. Rene