BERNARDINO da Balvano. – Capuchin preacher, born in Balvano (Potenza), died a holy death in Cosenza in 1558. He carried out his apostolate in the Salernitan region, in Apulia, and in Calabria.
Combining powerful oratory with an austere and holy life, he reaped abundant fruit among the people. He encountered opposition from local heretical sects, which even attempted to suppress him. He openly combated them everywhere and in some places succeeded in extinguishing them. He established a “College” for converted women. He was endowed with supernatural charisms.
The following mystical writings of his are extant: *Meditationes de vita Christi et eius Matris Virginis Mariae*, in quarto, published in Venice; *Mysterium Flagellationis D. N. J. Christi pro singulis diebus hebdomadae*, first published in Italian in Venice in 1537 and in French in Paris in 1601; *De novem effusionibus Sanguinis D.N.J. Christi*, Venice 1559, Paris 1601; *De septem regulis bene vivendi*; *Speculum orationis*, Rome 1537–56, Venice 1893, Paris 1601, Saragossa 1604; *Tractatus de Gloria Paradisi*.