Biography:Fernando Rielo
Servant of God Fernando Rielo Pardal | |
|---|---|
| Layman and Founder | |
| Born | Madrid, Spain |
| Died | 6 December 2004 (aged 81) New York City , New York, United States |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Patronage | Idente Missionaries of Christ the Redeemer |
Fernando Rielo Pardal (28 August 1923 – 6 December 2004) was a Catholic Servant of God, mystical poet, philosopher, author, metaphysician, and founder of a Catholic religious institute. Rielo founded a school of metaphysical thought called the Genetic metaphysics of Fernando Rielo and a foundation called the Fernando Rielo Foundation.[1] The foundation awards the Fernando Rielo World Prize for Mystical Poetry annually.
The religious congregation founded by Rielo is called the Idente Missionaries of Christ the Redeemer. The Idente Missionaries were founded in 1959 on the island of Tenerife, Spain. Rielo is an author of many books and works, mostly Spanish, and is translated into other languages, including English.
Early years
Fernando Rielo was born on 28 August 1923 in Madrid to his father, Enrique, and his mother, Pilar Pardal. He was keenly interested in drawing during his childhood years. When he entered adolescence, the Spanish Civil War broke out, affecting people in many Spanish cities, including Madrid. Rielo once stood before a firing squad during the war, when he received his First Holy Communion. The leader of the squad asked him to renounce his faith, but Rielo refused. However, the leader finally decided not to order his men to shoot Rielo.[2]
Youth
Fernando Rielo was interested in reading philosophical works, including Immanuel Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. Rielo developed a keen interest in art, reading the Argentine cultural journal, Billiken. His father encouraged him to read several oriental classics too. During these years, he studied for the Spanish Civil Service examination and performed well in it, securing a high grade. He then found employment as an administrator and went to Granada for work. There he met and fell in love with a young woman. Rielo's ideal was to marry and form a family. According to the upbringing of his time, he wanted to father a child. However, he renounced marriage after a vision at the foot of the Sierra Nevada.
Motus Christi
Rielo wanted to study further and wanted to apply to the Central University of Madrid (now the University of Madrid). He intended to study philosophy and Letters and become a professor at the university. However, he went to a church and met a Redemptorist priest. He then decided to join the Redemptorist seminary of Nava Del Ray. During his priestly studies, he liked to encourage his fellow students in preparation for their future missions. He began a movement called Motus Christi (the Movement of Christ) to revive their spiritual life.
Profession
Rielo could not remain in the Redemptorist Institute. When he completed his religious studies, several coinciding events occurred due to which he could not receive priestly ordination. Rielo shared his work on the Christus movement with the General Superior, a Belgian who was pleased with the movement. However, the General would not remain alive for long and succumbed to cancer of the pancreas. Rielo made his public profession during this period.
Rielo then consulted a highly respected professor about his situation. He told Rielo, after three days of prayer, to leave the congregation. He remained with the Redemptorists till 1956. During Christmas that year, he read the text aloud before several witnesses, indicating that his profession would be immutable.
Tenerife
Rielo had to leave the Redemptorists finally. He established a religious institute, which was to be a painful journey for him.
Rielo, after leaving the Redemptorist house, continued with his professional life. He was sent to Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, to work actively as a Government employee. He arrived in Tenerife on 6 January 1957. After two years and much pain and hard work, Rielo founded the Institute. On 29 June 1959, the official statutes were presented to Domingo Pérez Cáceres, the diocese bishop.
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