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| Tomb of Saint Bernardino Realino in Lecce. |
Saint Bernadino Realino was born to a noble family in Italy. He studied law and medicine and was successful attorney and judge, serving as mayor of three cities. When he was 34 years old he attended an eight-day retreat run by Jesuit priests and discerned a call to the religious life. He became a Jesuit priest in 1567 and preached, taught and visited the sick and poor in Naples and Lecce. He was known to perform miracles and was much loved for it. He was thought to be a living saint by the people. He even calmed public scandal and civil strife. When he was on his deathbed, the city leaders of Lecce approached him to become the official patron saint of the city when he died and entered heaven. After his death, vials were kept for veneration, which is known to miraculously liquefy.
