Fernando Rielo
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 also founded a school of thought and a foundation based on a new metaphysics. His metaphysics is called the Genetic metaphysics of Fernando Rielo[1] and the foundation is called the Fernando Rielo Foundation. 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. Fernando is an author of many books and works, mostly in Spanish and being 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. Fernando once stood before a firing squad during the war, when he was receiving his First Holy Communion. The leader of the squad asked him to renounce his faith, but Fernando refused. However, the leader finally decided not to order his men to shoot Fernando.[2]
Youth
Fernando Rielo was interested in reading philosophical works, including Immanuel Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. Fernando 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. Fernando'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
Fernando 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
Fernando could not remain in the Redemptorist Institute. When he completed his ecclesiastical studies, a number of coinciding events occurred as a result of which he could not receive priestly ordination. Fernando had shared his work on the Christus movement with the General Superior, who was a Belgian, who was pleased with the movement. However, the General would not remain alive for long, and succumbed to cancer of the pancreas. Fernando made his public profession during this period.
Fernando then consulted a highly respected professor about his situation. He told Fernando after three days of prayer to leave the congregation. He remained with the Redemptorists till 1956. During the Christmas that year, he read the text loud before several witnesses, indicating that his profession would be immutable.
Tenerife
Fernando had to finally leave the Redemptorists. he established a religious institute, which was to be a painful journey for him.
Fernando, after leaving the Redemptorist house, continued with his professional life. He was sent to the island of 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, Fernando founded the Institute. On 29 June 1959, the official statutes were presented to Most Rev. Domingo Pérez Cáceres, the Bishop of the Diocese.
Notes
- ↑ Marie-Lise Gazarian: Fernando Rielo: A Dialogue with Three Voices, page 73. Fernando Rielo Foundation Press, 2000.
- ↑ Marie-Lise Gazarian: Fernando Rielo: A Dialogue with Three Voices, page 48. Fernando Rielo Foundation Press, 2000.