U Bernardinovo vrijeme lome se i na crkvenom i na civilnom području strukture hrvatskoga srednjovjekovlja, ali se unatoč tomu, i kod Bernardina i biskupa njegova vremena očituje snažno nastojanje da se za nove naraštaje spasi bogatstvo srednjovjekovne vjere i kulture. U ovom radu autor nastoji odgovoriti na tri pitanja: (1) U Bernardinovo vrijeme mijenjaju se na našim prostorima crkvene strukture. Pitamo se u kojoj mjeri na to utječe frankopanski patronat nad biskupijama Senjskom i Krbavskom? (2) U Bernardinovo vrijeme na modruškoj biskupskoj stolici sjedili su biskupi »svjetskoga« glasa. Kako je to bilo moguće? (3) U Bernardinovo vrijeme nastale su naše prve tiskare koje su odreda glagoljske. Koji su razlozi tomu? U Bernardinovo vrijeme mijenjaju se na našim prostorima crkvene strukture. Biskupsko sjedište premješteno je najprije iz Krbave u Modruš, a u godini Krbavske bitke biskup se morao skloniti u Vinodol. Biskup Kožičić nije ni ondje imao potrebnu sigurnost nego se smješta u Rijeku. Frankopani su imali patronat nad biskupijama Senjskom i Krbavskom ili Modruškom, ali je u to vrijeme i njihova moć silazila od najviših vrhunaca do potrebe da se bore za opstanak Područje Bernardinove vlasti i utjecaja bilo je, pod crkvenim i svjetovnim vidom, od posebnoga značenja, tako da su na biskupsku stolicu krbavsko-modrušku imenovani tada poznati crkveni prelati koji su i u teškim vremenima znali sačuvati visoku kulturnu i vjersku razinu u narodu. To se vidi iz bogate tiskarske djelatnosti. Pri tome svakako nisu zaslužni samo crkveni prelati nego i lokalna vlastela. Među crkvenim prelatima svakako je za naše krajeve najveće ime Šimun Kožičić Benja, a među svjetovnom vlastelom svakako je na prvom mjestu Bernardin Frankopan. Bernardin Frankopan i Šimun Kožičić Benja su sjajne zvijezde na prijelazu iz hrvatskoga srednjovjekovlja u novi vijek. Stajali su čvrsto na ugroženom tlu i pružajući ruke na sve strane tražili izlazak iz teškoća koje su Hrvatsku pritisnule. Bernardin je to činio kao svjetovni, a Kožičić kao crkveni poglavar. Nisu gubili glavu nego su tražili načina kako za buduće naraštaje u onom paljenju i razaranju spasiti vrijednosti koje su naraštaji prije njih stvorili. U tom smislu mogu svima biti uzori, posebno crkvenoj i svjetovnoj inteligenciji.Bernardin’s age saw the break of the Croatian medieval structures, both in the sacral and secular domain. Notwithstanding, Bernardin and the bishops of his time made brave attempts to save the valuable assets of medieval religion and culture for future generations. The author attempts in this paper to answer to the three following questions: (1) To what degree does the change of the church structures in Bernardin’s age affect Frankopans’ patronage of the dioceses of Senj and Krbava? (2) How was it possible that internationally renowned bishops headed the diocese of Modruš in Bernardin’s age? (3) What are the reasons for the establishment of the first Croatian printing houses, all of which produced prints in the Glagolitic alphabet? As has already been mentioned, the church structure changed in Croatia during Bernardin’s age. The seat of bishopric was moved first from Krbava to Modruš, and in the same year the Batttle of Krbava field took place the bishop had to take refuge in Vinodol. Bishop Kožičić was even there poorly protected so he finally settled in Rijeka. The Frankopans were patrons of the dioceses of Senj and Krbava (Modruš), but their power dropped at the time from its heights to the point of mere survival. The area under Bernardin’s authority and influence was in both sacral and secular aspect of special importance which, consequently, led to the appointment of esteemed church prelates as bishops of the diocese of Krbava-Modruš. They were able even in those difficult times to protect high cultural and religious spirit in the people which is evident from a lavish production of prints. However, alongside the prelates, local aristocrats were also meritorious for such deeds. Among the church prelates, the most significant figure for Croatia was Šimun Kožičić Benja, and among the aristocrats most certainly Bernardin Frankopan. Bernardin Frankopan and Šimun Kožičić Benja played the leading role at the turn of the late Middle Ages into the modern age on the Croatian territory. They stood firmly on the endangered ground and sought a way out of the difficulties that arouse in Croatia. Bernardin did that as a layman and Kožičić as a pontiff. They remained level-headed in finding ways to save from destruction the treasures of the previous generations for future ones. In that sense, those two men can be exemplars to everybody, especially to the sacral and secular intelligentsia
