OCHINO, or OCHINUS, BERNARDINO, a famous Italian ecclesiastic, was born at Siena in 1487, and assumed the monkish garb at an early age. After living for some time among the Franciscans, he passed over to the Capuchins, and was elevated in 1537 to the rank of general of that order. From that time Ochino was distinguished for his bold and earnest self-devotion to whatever he considered his duty. His simple and touching eloquence was zealously exerted in behalf of the church and his own order; none of the favours which admiring princes attempted to heap upon him could excite his cupidity; and he was content to be known throughout Italy as an itinerant preacher and a squalid, emaciated ascetic. In 1541, when the truth of the Protestant doctrines dawned upon him, he did not hesitate to cast away the great popularity he had gained in the Church of Rome, and to become a fugitive and a wanderer for the sake of his honest conviction. After taking refuge in Geneva and Augsburg, he found an asylum in England, in 1547. The accession of Mary in 1553 drove him back to the Continent; and not until 1555 did he obtain a permanent footing as minister of an Italian church at Zurich. Before eight years had passed, his fearless avowal of his opinions brought him once more into trouble. Happening, in a volume of dialogues which he published, to maintain that polygamy was lawful under certain circumstances, he was driven forth from Switzerland in mid-winter to find another home. He retreated into Poland; but no heretics could remain there. Worn out with age and travel, he
Ochil Hills turned to go into Moravia: the plague overtook him at Slawkow, and he died in 1564.
O'Connell, Daniel. Ochino was the author of a collection of sermons, which was published in Italian, at Basle, in 5 vols. 8vo, 1562. Several of them have been translated at different times into English. He also wrote commentaries on the epistles to the Romans and Galatians, and some pamphlets against Popery.