Bernardino da Balbano

Bernardino da Balbano (active 1543–1558) was a Capuchin friar from Balvano in Southern Italy who served as provincial superior in Apulia and Basilicata, and as guardian of the convent in Potenza.

He was reputed as a preacher, and was active in combatting the teachings of the Waldensians, which had received new impetus from the Protestant Reformation. After he had preached in Messina in 1552, the archbishop, Cardinal Giovanni Andrea Mercurio, sought papal intervention to have him return in 1554.

Writings Balbano produced a number of works both in Italian and in Latin. His best known were: Specchio d'orazione (Rome and Parma, 1537), many times reprinted to 1605 French translation by Jean Blancone, Miroir de l'oraison (Paris 1601) Il mistero della flagellazione di N. S. Gesù Cristo (Venice, 1537) French translation by Robert Le Fizelier (Paris, 1601) French translation by Antoine Gazet, La Sacré Mystère de la flagellation de nostre Sauveur (Rouen, 1610) De novem effusionibus sanguinis D. N. Iesu Christi (Venice, 1559; Paris, 1601) Tractatus de praedestinatione (Venice, 1593)