ROSSIGNOLI, BERNARDINO. - Jesuit, writer on ascetical theology, b. at Ormea in 1547, d. at Turin on 6 June 1613.
Having entered the Order in 1563, after eleven years of teaching philosophy and theology at Milan, he held the office of rector at the Roman College and at Turin, and was provincial of the Roman and Milanese provinces. Outstanding for his virtue and perfection, he was also a much sought-after spiritual director.
He wrote two works of great ascetical value: *De disciplina christianae perfectionis pro triplici hominum statu, incipientium, proficientium et perfectorum* (Ingolstadt 1600), which went through five editions, two translations (French and Polish), and was widely imitated; and *De virtutibus* (ibid. 1603), which had four editions; both give much space to the teaching of the Fathers. The *Stimulus virtutis* (Rome 1592) and the *Historia Thebea* (Turin 1589), however, are falsely attributed to him; they are by the canon Guglielmo Baldessarini of Turin and a certain Alpino of Carmagnola respectively.