ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY Saints celebrated on the 12th of January WELCOME! SAINT BERNARD OF CORLEONE, RELIGIOUS Originally called Filippo Latino, Saint Bernard was born in 1605 in Corleone, Italy. A shoemaker by trade, he had contact with the soldiers stationed nearby. From them he learned the art of fencing. But on one occasion, he reacted to a provocation by cutting off his adversary's arm with a sword. To flee justice and to expiate his crime, he asked for shelter in a Capuchin convent and was taken in. Conversion ensued and he decided to join the Franciscans and become a lay brother in the order. BROTHER BERNARD And so Filippo Latini became Brother Bernard in 1632. He started leading a most penitential life as a Franciscan. But along with his stern self-discipline and fasting, he advanced by giant steps in his prayer life. Many spiritual gifts were reported of him as time passed: prophecies, wonders, miracles. HIS ABILITY TO HEAL ANIMALS Among the mo...