I woke up this morning to the sad news of yet another senior Jesuit of legendary stature passing away. Fr. Miguel Bernad died today in Cagayan de Oro at the age of 91.
I had the privilege of living with Fr. Mike when I was regent in Xavier University, from 1983 to 85. I know he had his flaws, as we all do; but he was always kind to me, and always, very thoughtfully, sent me his annual Christmas card and new issues of Kinaadman, the journal he had founded at Xavier U.
In his honor, I share this speech I gave in December 2007, at Xavier University, on the occasion of the conferment on Fr. Bernad of an honorary doctorate.
I hope you will not mind if I speak somewhat personally. I am proud to say that I was a student of Fr. Bernad. Twenty five years ago, when I was a Jesuit junior, I asked for and was granted permission to enroll in a Shakespeare course Fr. Bernad was teaching at the Ateneo de Manila. This was the first time I got to know Fr. Bernad “up close and personal,” as they say. He was a marvelous teacher, leading us to depth of insight, and helping us appreciate the greatness of Shakespeare’s poetry by his own dramatic readings of excerpts from the plays. Dr. Edna Manlapaz used to ask me, "How was last night's performance?"--referring to those famous dramatic readings of Fr. Bernad! I also came to realize that Fr. Bernad is a man of excellent judgment, because, at the end of the semester, he gave me an “A”!
From that time on, Fr. Bernad has continued to influence me. Let me just mention three points of influence. First, as a scholastic, I tried to read any book of Fr. Bernad that I came across, first of all because of the beauty of his writing. Whether reading The Lights of Broadway and other Essays, orTradition and Discontinuity, I found myself in constant admiration of what I can best describe as Fr. Bernad’s “chaste prose”. This was writing that was deceptively simple, even spare, without a single superfluous word, but utterly clear and always elegant, graceful, persuasive.
Second, in 1988, during my first year as a priest and on my first assignment as assistant parish priest in Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur, I read Fr. Bernad’s slim volume entited Rizal and Spain. That book’s discussion of Rizal’s life and activities in Dapitan during his time of exile there helped “save my life” that first difficult year of priesthood. I was a Manila boy, and had never been assigned to as rural, as lonely and culturally unfamiliar a place as Ipil. Reading Fr. Bernad’s descriptions of how Rizal redeemed his time of exile in Dapitan with many and varied projects in the service of the people of Mindanao inspired and challenged me to overcome my self-absorption and to aspire to imitate the spirit, if not the achievement, of Rizal.
Finally, in 2001, when I was Rector of San Jose Seminary as the seminary was preparing to celebrate its 400th year of existence, I invited Fr. Bernad to give a lecture on the history of San Jose. His lecture was a model of impeccable historical research. But in the space of an hour or so, Fr. Bernad also captured the color and drama of 400 years. He opened our imaginations, expanded our vision, helped us glimpse past identity and future possibility. For many of us, Fr. Bernad’s lecture was the highlight of our quadricentennial celebration.
I have taxed your patience with my personal testimony of Fr. Bernad’s influence in my life as a way of making more concrete my sense of the fittingness of this historic honor being bestowed on him. When Fr. Samson first broached the idea at the Board meeting of the Ateneo de Davao, and when his initial idea was enthusiastically received and amplified by the Presidents of the Ateneo de Zamboanga and Xavier University, I also gave my full support. At that time, it seemed to me a most appropriate way of honoring an eminent Jesuit scholar.
But now I see a deeper meaning. In honoring Fr. Bernad today, Ateneo de Davao, Xavier University and Ateneo de Zamboanga are also bringing before us a living symbol of the kind of scholarship that the three Mindanao Ateneo’s hope to develop: scholarship that is characterized by eloquent and persuasive communication; rigorous research and study; yet also capable of expanding our imaginations, opening up possibilities, especially in the service of Mindanao. As my experience has shown, these are all qualities of Fr. Bernad’s work. He is an icon, an embodiment of the educational aspirations of the three Jesuit universities in Mindanao.
Let me conclude by adding that I see Fr. Bernad as a living symbol, not just of scholarship, but also of the Ignatian ideals that the three Mindanao universities hope to promote. All of us know Fr. Bernad continues to do research, lecture and write, even though for the past twenty years, his eyesight has been seriously impaired and he has suffered various physical infirmities. Yet, I have never heard him complain about his difficulties; I have never heard him call attention to his failing eyesight or his diminished strength. Instead, I have seen him accepting suffering, aging, and physical diminishment with dignity and quiet grace; and instead of complaining or railing against fate, he has continued to do the service he can do within the limitations of life. This, to me, is Ignatian indifference and Ignatian magis "in action."
And so today, Fr. Bernad, in the name of the whole Province, I offer congratulations and thanks. I share the sentiments of gratitude and respect of the Presidents and communities of the three Mindanao Ateneo’s. May you continue to be an inspiring model of scholarship and life for the men and women of Xavier University, Ateneo de Zamboanga, and Ateneo de Davao, who are honored by your acceptance of this distinction they bestow on you today.
I had the privilege of living with Fr. Mike when I was regent in Xavier University, from 1983 to 85. I know he had his flaws, as we all do; but he was always kind to me, and always, very thoughtfully, sent me his annual Christmas card and new issues of Kinaadman, the journal he had founded at Xavier U.
In his honor, I share this speech I gave in December 2007, at Xavier University, on the occasion of the conferment on Fr. Bernad of an honorary doctorate.
I hope you will not mind if I speak somewhat personally. I am proud to say that I was a student of Fr. Bernad. Twenty five years ago, when I was a Jesuit junior, I asked for and was granted permission to enroll in a Shakespeare course Fr. Bernad was teaching at the Ateneo de Manila. This was the first time I got to know Fr. Bernad “up close and personal,” as they say. He was a marvelous teacher, leading us to depth of insight, and helping us appreciate the greatness of Shakespeare’s poetry by his own dramatic readings of excerpts from the plays. Dr. Edna Manlapaz used to ask me, "How was last night's performance?"--referring to those famous dramatic readings of Fr. Bernad! I also came to realize that Fr. Bernad is a man of excellent judgment, because, at the end of the semester, he gave me an “A”!
From that time on, Fr. Bernad has continued to influence me. Let me just mention three points of influence. First, as a scholastic, I tried to read any book of Fr. Bernad that I came across, first of all because of the beauty of his writing. Whether reading The Lights of Broadway and other Essays, orTradition and Discontinuity, I found myself in constant admiration of what I can best describe as Fr. Bernad’s “chaste prose”. This was writing that was deceptively simple, even spare, without a single superfluous word, but utterly clear and always elegant, graceful, persuasive.
Second, in 1988, during my first year as a priest and on my first assignment as assistant parish priest in Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur, I read Fr. Bernad’s slim volume entited Rizal and Spain. That book’s discussion of Rizal’s life and activities in Dapitan during his time of exile there helped “save my life” that first difficult year of priesthood. I was a Manila boy, and had never been assigned to as rural, as lonely and culturally unfamiliar a place as Ipil. Reading Fr. Bernad’s descriptions of how Rizal redeemed his time of exile in Dapitan with many and varied projects in the service of the people of Mindanao inspired and challenged me to overcome my self-absorption and to aspire to imitate the spirit, if not the achievement, of Rizal.
Finally, in 2001, when I was Rector of San Jose Seminary as the seminary was preparing to celebrate its 400th year of existence, I invited Fr. Bernad to give a lecture on the history of San Jose. His lecture was a model of impeccable historical research. But in the space of an hour or so, Fr. Bernad also captured the color and drama of 400 years. He opened our imaginations, expanded our vision, helped us glimpse past identity and future possibility. For many of us, Fr. Bernad’s lecture was the highlight of our quadricentennial celebration.
I have taxed your patience with my personal testimony of Fr. Bernad’s influence in my life as a way of making more concrete my sense of the fittingness of this historic honor being bestowed on him. When Fr. Samson first broached the idea at the Board meeting of the Ateneo de Davao, and when his initial idea was enthusiastically received and amplified by the Presidents of the Ateneo de Zamboanga and Xavier University, I also gave my full support. At that time, it seemed to me a most appropriate way of honoring an eminent Jesuit scholar.
But now I see a deeper meaning. In honoring Fr. Bernad today, Ateneo de Davao, Xavier University and Ateneo de Zamboanga are also bringing before us a living symbol of the kind of scholarship that the three Mindanao Ateneo’s hope to develop: scholarship that is characterized by eloquent and persuasive communication; rigorous research and study; yet also capable of expanding our imaginations, opening up possibilities, especially in the service of Mindanao. As my experience has shown, these are all qualities of Fr. Bernad’s work. He is an icon, an embodiment of the educational aspirations of the three Jesuit universities in Mindanao.
Let me conclude by adding that I see Fr. Bernad as a living symbol, not just of scholarship, but also of the Ignatian ideals that the three Mindanao universities hope to promote. All of us know Fr. Bernad continues to do research, lecture and write, even though for the past twenty years, his eyesight has been seriously impaired and he has suffered various physical infirmities. Yet, I have never heard him complain about his difficulties; I have never heard him call attention to his failing eyesight or his diminished strength. Instead, I have seen him accepting suffering, aging, and physical diminishment with dignity and quiet grace; and instead of complaining or railing against fate, he has continued to do the service he can do within the limitations of life. This, to me, is Ignatian indifference and Ignatian magis "in action."
And so today, Fr. Bernad, in the name of the whole Province, I offer congratulations and thanks. I share the sentiments of gratitude and respect of the Presidents and communities of the three Mindanao Ateneo’s. May you continue to be an inspiring model of scholarship and life for the men and women of Xavier University, Ateneo de Zamboanga, and Ateneo de Davao, who are honored by your acceptance of this distinction they bestow on you today.
1 comment:
I say AMEN your description of Fr. Mike. Fr. Jet Villarin also described him as an "author, teacher, historian, editor, journalist and critic". I would like to add: he was also an ADVENTURER- In March 1957, he organized the climb to Mt. Manunggal a few days after President Magsaysay crashed, to say Mass at the site. And in 1958 he mounted an "expedition" to Mt. Apo where he, Fr. Rudy Malasmas and Fr. Jim McKough said Mass while Fr. Tom Fitzpatrick and I attended. I was the official photographer on both occasions. ~Dr. Rodolfo M. Villarica
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