GIOVANNI (BERNARDO) dei TOLOMEI, Blessed – Founder of the Congregation of St Mary of Mount Olivet, born in Siena on 10 May 1272 into the noble Tolomei family, died there on 20 August 1348. Having graduated in law, he held several municipal offices in his native city, including that of podestà; but in 1313 he retired with two companions, Patrizio Patrizzi and Ambrogio Piccolomini, to Accona (Chiusi), where he led an eremitical life without following any particular Rule.
The arrival of other companions aroused suspicion, and G. was obliged to justify his institution before Pope John XXII in Avignon and, in agreement with the Bishop of Arezzo, to choose a Rule from those already in existence. He selected the Benedictine Rule but wished to wear a white habit instead of the black one and introduced various austerities to intensify the exercise of penance. Once the monastery was built, he obtained from the bishop the deed of foundation and exemption in 1319, and remained its superior until his death. On making his religious profession he took the name of Bernardo, in devotion to the Marian doctor. The plague of 1348 brought him with his monks to Siena to serve the plague-stricken; but soon, struck down by the disease, he succumbed, followed shortly afterwards by another fifty monks. His cult was confirmed by Innocent X in 1644, and his name was inserted in the Roman Martyrology by Innocent XI on 6 May 1689. Feast day: 21 August.