Bernard of Quintavalle

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Bernard son of Quintavalle son of Berardello (d. 1241) was one of the first followers of St. Francis of Assisi. Bernard was declared as the Minorum Ordinis prima plantula, the "First fruits of the Order of Minors".

Bernard was a well-to-do young man from Assisi. His family's house still stands in Assisi to this day. Bernard received his evangelical calling in the church of San Nicolò, prompting him to give all of his money to the poor and become a follower of St. Francis.

After joining St. Francis, Bernard was often sent on delicate missions, such as to Bologna in 1211 and to Florence. St. Francis chose Bernard to lead the first group of friars who went to Rome to ask for the approval of the Propositum vitae in 1210, which was granted orally, but not in writing. St. Francis also sent Bernard and Giles of Assisi to Santiago de Compostela in 1208 during the second mission of the original friars. Bernard also accompanied St. Clare to the monastery of St. Angelo di Panzo. Together with Angelo Tancredi, Leo of Assisi, and Rufino of Assisi, Bernard remained close to Francis, especially during the last two years of Francis' life. St. Francis imparted a special blessing to him, although Thomas of Celano reserves this blessing for Elias. Bernard died around 1241 and is buried close to the tomb of St. Francis in the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi.^[1]