BLESSED CYPRIAN MICHAEL IWENE TANSI (Memorial) White
He was born to the Tabansi (meaning “continue to bear evil patiently”) family of Igboezunu-Aguleri in September 1903. He was given the name ‘Iwene’ (in full, ‘iwemmaduegbunam’ meaning ‘let human malice not kill me’). He was baptised on 7th of January, 1912 in a Christian village where he lived with his uncle. After his primary and secondary education, he worked as a teacher and catechist before we went to the seminary. He was ordained in 1937 to the diocese of Onitsha by Bishop Charles Heerey at the age of 34. He worked zealously as a priest tirelessly hearing confessions, and eagerly preparing young ones for marriage. He worked in Nnewi, Dunukofia, Akpu/Ajalli, and Aguleri. He became a monk in 1950. He died on the 20th of January, 1964. The first major miracle obtained through him was the cure of a cancer patient. On the 22nd of March, 1998, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II.
First Reading: Heb 8:6-13; Psalm: 85 R. v. 11a; Gospel: Mk 3:13-19
GOD’S CALL
BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP
The account of the call of the twelve was very significant. Jesus had to go up the mountain and from there called them and they came to him. These twelve men, Jesus called apostles. And he sent them out with authority to preach and cast out demons. It is worthy of note that Jesus called these men individually and they responded accordingly to the call of Jesus. The listing of their names resonates the individuality in their call. And their individual responses show their personal willingness to embrace this new journey.
Why did these men agree to this call? To answer this, we need to understand that the call to apostleship which continues till date in the ministerial priesthood is not like the call to other secular professions in our world today. This call is deeper than our love for something or our mere desire to do something. The gospel of today reported that when Jesus went up the mountain, “. . . he called to him those whom he desired.” So it was God’s love that called and seduced these men. Essentially, it was not their love for the job that compelled them but God’s love for them.
We all lack the capacity to fall in love with God. The love we feel for the things of God is drawn from the love that God has shared with us. So without the love of God, we are incapable of loving. The call to the service of God is an invitation from love divine. The love that is difficult to resist. It was this same divine love that seduced Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi to the service of the priesthood that despite the resistance of his uncle, he persisted. The call to the service of God is a personal experience. If we are not called, we cannot understand the response of those who are. It is an experience beyond the ordinary.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord Jesus, may your love for us continue to draw us closer to you so that we can witness to you in our services to one another. Amen.
Amen.