Bernini, Giuseppe Maria

Bernini, Giuseppe Maria an Italian Capuchin missionary, was born in Piedmont, at Carignanlo. He went to the Indies in order to study the manners, customs, and religion of the natives, and to translate their sacred and literary monuments into his own tongue. He died in 1753, leaving Notizie Laconiche di Alcuzni Usi, Sacrifizi ed Idoli nel Regno di Neiptl, Raccolte velt Anno 1747 — a manuscript work preserved in the Library of the Propaganda at Rome, and in the museum of the cardinal Borgia. The Dialogues, in the Indian language, are also preserved among the manuscripts of the Propaganda. The translation of the Adhiatma Ramayana contains the deeds of Rama. He wrote also Memoires Historiques (Verona, 1667). See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.