Sergio and Domenica Bernardini: Franciscan Tertiaries

His Excellency Msgr. Benito Cocchi, Archbishop of Modena, will preside on May 18, 2008 at the closing of the diocesan process on the life, the virtues and the reputation of holiness of the Servants of God, Sergio Bernardini and Domenica Bedonni, a spouse who are also Franciscan Tertiaries and Pauline Cooperators. A family/couple more unique than rare.

 

Out of the ten children of the Bernardinis, two sons became Capuchins, Brothers Sebastian and Germano, who later became the Bishop of Izmir/Smyrna, Turkey. Six out of their eight daughters became religious women. Animated by a deep spirit of faith and of love, they accepted “all the children that God sent to them” and gave themselves totally to attend to their needs. Yet, they also found time to promote works of charity for the poor. At the same time, they decided to adopt an African seminarian to help him in his needs. He later not only served the church but also became a bishop.

 

Anyone, who has known Sergio and Domenica, attested that in their 52 years of married life there never was any dissension but they vied to serve God with the most tender feelings and sentiments that they even astonished the clergymen, who noticed that they were never absent from the Mass and the Sunday Vespers. As a matter of fact, prayer sustained their charity and their desire to put into practice the gift that they had received: to be family.

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