P. Jesús Fernández Álvarez de la Madre de Dios Sch. P. (Arija, 7/IV/1930 – Bogotá, 30/XI/2008)
“Science adorns the religious, but virtue crowns him”. St. Joseph Calasanz, 1640
Today marks the 15th anniversary of the death of Father Jesús Fernández, Piarist. The fame of his virtuous life and his dedication to the Calasanzian educational ministry resounds at this time, if possible, with greater intensity among those who knew him, shared with him life and tasks, or benefited from his fruitful activity as formator, preacher and spiritual master.
An experienced companion of God’s action in each one, Father Jesus knew how to live “following the inspirations” of the Spirit (CCal 23), as is attested by so many people who, in different ways, in retreats, exercises, conferences, or in personal and epistolary accompaniment, recognize having coincided with an authentic master of spiritual life. His profound intuition, together with the study and knowledge of the great Castilian mystics, of the documents of the magisterium and of the Calasanzian sources, forged in him a solid, vast, and clearly Piarist interiority.
Last November 27th, coinciding with the Patronage of St. Joseph Calasanz, the Order received with great joy the institution of the new Piarist ministry of “listening and accompaniment”, to educate and evangelize children, youth, and adults, thus deepening one of the essential keys of the Calasanzian vocation. It is very significant to contemplate Father Jesus as a paradigm of this ministerial activity, in harmony with the project of St. Joseph Calasanz, who defined the educational apostolate as “most worthy, because it revolves around the salvation, together, of soul and body” (M.T. 7).
Remembering with grateful memory Father Jesus on the anniversary of his death, brings us closer to the figure of the good and wise Piarist, challenging us to seek with true desire our own way to access the intimacy with God that he enjoyed, and to go out to meet our brothers and sisters to encourage their search. On the 15th anniversary of his death, the invitation resounds to keep alive his testimony of life and mission, letting the irradiation of the goodness and the example of his well-lived Piarist vocation stimulate the journey of our Order.
F. Ángel Ayala Guijarro Sch. P.
General Postulator of the Pious Schools
