BERNARD of OSIMO. - Capuchin, born in Osimo (Ancona) around 1527 into a poor family, died there in the odor of sanctity on 23 August 1591. He entered the Capuchins at a mature age and distinguished himself by his severe observance, cultivating Franciscan poverty to the point of heroism. He was invited to France with other confreres to establish Capuchin reform there and was elected provincial of Paris. He enjoyed the esteem and friendship of Henry III. He received into the Order Angelo da Joyeuse and Benedetto da Canfield. Returning to Italy, he published anonymously in Venice in 1599 a *Tractatus de passione Domini in varias meditationes per Hebdomadam distributus*.
BIBL.: Z. Boverio, *Annales ord. franc. min. cap.*, II, Lyon 1639, pp. 463-66; Dionisio da Genova, *Biblioth. script. ord. franc. min. cap.*, Genoa 1691, pp. 62-63; Bernardo da Bologna, *Bibl. script. ord. min. cap.*, Venice 1747, p. 48; Giuseppe da Fermo, *Gli scrittori cappuccini delle Marche*, Jesi 1928, p. 20; Emidio d'Ascoli, s. V. in *DSp.* I, col. 1509.
Umile Bonzi da Genova