Bernard Mary of Jesus
Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II | |
|---|---|
| Feast | 9 December |
| Attributes | Passionist habit |
Bernardo Maria di Gesù (7 November 1831 – 9 December 1911), born as Cesare Silvestrelli, was an
His beatification was celebrated on 16 October 1988 in
Life
Education and priesthood
Cesare Silvestrelli was born on 7 November 1831 in
He did his initial education first at the
Silvestrelli received his
Leadership
His brother Luigi died on September 20, 1867, and he was present at his brother's bedside as he died; he attended the funeral on 23 September at Santa Maria sopra Minerva. He was then appointed as the rector of the Scala Santa convent and held that position from 27 May 1869 until 1875 after being confirmed on 14 April 1872. It was here that - on 19 September 1870 - Pope Pius IX visited the steps from which the convent assumed its name. The pope was making his last visit to the sacred sites of Rome before the dissolution of the Papal States. Silvestrilli supported the Pope through holding onto his arm as both men climbed the steps weeping together.[1]
On 7 June 1875 he was elected as the first Provincial Consulter of the Roman province (he moved to
He was re-elected as Superior General in 1884 and resigned from the position on 2 January 1889 after making his decision in 1888. In 1893 a vision of his former classmate Possenti convinced him to attend the General Chapter and he was then once more elected as the Superior General (on 3 May) which was a post to which he was re-elected again in 1899 (in the first vote) and on 8 May 1905 (in the first vote).
Death
On 16 June 1911 he retired to the Passionist convent in Moricone and died there on 9 December 1911 after he fell backwards down a set of stairs as he was ascending. His remains were later exhumed and moved to the Moricone convent on 17 April 1931.[3]
Beatification
Silvestrelli's spiritual writings were approved by theologians on 28 May 1941.[4]
The current postulator for the cause is the Passionist priest Giovanni Zubiani.
References
- ^ a b c d e "Silvestrelli, Bernard Maria of Jesus, Bl". Encyclopedia.com. 2003. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Blessed Bernard Mary Silvestrelli, C.P." Passionist Nuns. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f "Blessed Bernard of Jesus Silvestrelli". Santi e Beati. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
- ^ a b Index ac status causarum beatificationis servorum dei et canonizationis beatorum (in Latin). Typis polyglottis vaticanis. January 1953. p. 28.
