BENEDICTINE MYSTIC POET

 

 

 

Benedictines have a new saint to add to the rostrum of holy men. VENERABLE BERNARDO VAZ LOBO TEIXEIRA  VASCONCELOS was a Benedictine monk, mystic, poet, and writer.  He was born in São Romão Corgo (Celorico de Basto), Portugal, on July 7, 1902. His father, Doctor Manuel Joaquim da Cunha Maia Teixeira de Vasconcelos, lord of Casa do Marvão, was Delegate of the Royal Prosecutor's Office in Cabeceiras de Basto. He was the seventh of eight children. Even as a child, he was docile, gentle, intelligent, and pious, a friend to everyone and with a very strong sensitivity towards the poor.

He studied at the University of Coimbra, thinking perhaps of joining the Navy, and was part of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society which did works of evangelization and charity especially with the poor. He had a great devotion to the Eucharist and was often found in adoration.

Having fallen ill, he interrupted his studies and took a job at a bank in the city of Porto.

Professionally, he was an editor of the journal which studied democracy. Bernardo had only one concern in everything he did: that God be known and loved. Saving souls was the ideal that moved his physical, spiritual and intellectual energies.

 He discerned a call to the monastic life and entered the Monastery of Singeverga on 16 August 1924 and professing vows in September 29, 1925. His name in religion was Brother Bernardo of the Annunciation. The Abbot sent him to the Abbey of Mont-César in Belgium to study theology, but he was back home in a year’s time due a diagnosis of Pott’s disease or spinal tuberculosis.

He offered his sufferings for the Church in general and for the reform of the Benedictine Order.  Fra Bernardo never intended to be a writer but his life of recollection led him to put his reflections and knowledge in writing. He wrote eight books: “Of the Christian Ideal” - 1924; “Life in Peace” 1927 -translation of a work by D. Idesbald; “The Life of S. Bento Told to Simple Souls” – 1930; “Cântico de Amor” – 1932, a work that had just been printed days before his death. He had hoped to have it  in his hands but it was mailed on the day he passed away.

The "Canticle of Love" is his best-known literary work and one that reveals Bernardo as a mystical poet. It is a work composed of 32 poems written between 1920-1932. Two years after his death, 1934, “Vida de Amor” appears, a kind of autobiography since its content is taken from the several hundred letters he wrote.

 “As Nossas Festas” (1934), which is a compilation of articles that were published in the “Opus Dei” Magazine; “Poesias Dispersas” (1935) which is a collection of other poems that Bernardo  wrote and that Fr Luís Cabral, SJ  carried out; “The Mass and the Inner Life” (1936) collection of articles  on the Eucharist and published in the “Opus Dei” Magazine.

 Bl. Bernardo’s illness weakened his body, yet he was peaceful and trusting in Divine Providence. In a letter to a fellow patient Bernardo wrote:

“Don’t get delivered to sadness that only serves to disable our best energies … it expands your heart and let him the life-giving Sun of joy. Joy, but with so many ordeals? I’m telling you: who did you see still no cross? The cross follows us wherever we go and we have to take; and, if we don’t want to raise our arms and generously to hugs, I mean: with all the ardor of our hearts-what do we have to take a challenge behind us, the drags.”

He experienced a six-year ordeal while he continued his studies in Theology in Porto, since his great aspiration was the priesthood. When he was already admitted to Major Orders, illness prevented him from achieving this goal. He was then subdeacon.

Brother Bernardo died in the early hours of July 4, 1932, after a long suffering caused by TB. He is buried in the parish church of São Romão do Corgo.  

May his short life, dedicted to the Lord, be an example to other young men.

 

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