4/4  Saint Bernard The Black

Fourth Day of Easter 2024

There is a saying, “God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called.” Nowhere could this be more evident than the life of St. Benedict the Black. A layman, son of slaves, poor, and illiterate he rose to positions of leadership in two monastic communities. 

He was born in the early 1500’s to Cristoforo and Diana Manasseri, slaves in the small town of San Fratello in Italy. Their real names unknown, Cristoforo and Diana Manasseri were the Italian names given to them when they entered slavery. They later became Christians. Christoforo and Diana were such loyal servants that when Benedict was born, the child was granted his freedom. Freedom is not much, but it’s a start. And, as Saint Janice Joplin once said, it’s another word for nothing left to lose. 

With his freedom, Benedict became a shepherd and though he was poor himself, he was eager to give what he made to the poor. Benedict surely knew that not only is it better to give than to receive, but that giving cultivates within the giver a generous spirit. 

Benedict’s good-natured patience at being taunted for the color of his skin came to the attention of some local Franciscan hermits who invited him to join their independent community, and Benedict quickly accepted. He sold his few possessions, gave the money to the poor, and became the cook for the community. His intuitive grasp of theology, and obvious advancement in spiritual matters brought him to the notice of the community and he was made its leader a few years later. 

In 1564, when Pope Pius IV disbanded independent hermitages, Benedict became part of the Friars Minor and was assigned to the Franciscan Friary of St. Mary of Jesus at Palermo. Again, he started as a cook, but his spirituality was quickly recognized, and he was appointed novice master and, later, guardian of the community. Many came to him for counseling and healing. He helped the community practice a stricter form of the Rule of Saint Francis. 

Benedict never learned to read or write, he was never formally educated, and he was poor all his life. He was a most unlikely saint, or even monk. But here we have an example of one utterly unprepared being equipped by the one who called him. 

 

What are you called to do with your life today? If you aren’t sure, just look around. God tends to put your calling right in front of you, you don’t have to go looking for it. You certainly do not need a committee to “discern” it. Just do what is in front of you.  God will equip you. 

Benedict The Black
Also known as: 

Benedict the Moor
Benedict il Moro

Benedict of San Philadelphio

Benedict of Palermo

Benedict of San Fratello

Benedict the African

 

Born:   1526

Died:   4 April 1589 (natural causes)

It is said that he predicted the time and date of his death. 
When his body was exhumed it was said to have been uncorrupted.

 

Patron Saint of:

African Americans

Black People

Negros

African Missions

Palermo, Sicily, Italy

 

Many churches have been named after Benedict. In the USA:  Washington DC; Bull Bay, Jamaica; at least two in New York City; Dayton, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Savannah, Georgia; Grambling and Bertrandville in Louisiana; and Chicago, Illinois. 

 

He is especially popular in Venezuela and other Latin American countries. 

 

Beatified by Pope Benedict XIV in 1743 

Canonized by Pope Pius VII in 1807

 

When I Googled images of St. Bernard The Black, I got a lot of pictures of black Saint Bernards. Somehow, I don’t think the real Bernard The Black would mind. Enjoy. 

 

While the question today was about what you will do, even if not especially equipped for it; a secondary theme is freedom. It’s just another word for nothing left to lose. Benedict didn’t have much to lose. For much of his life he didn’t have anything at all, referring to possessions as “ours.” What might you do if you didn’t have anything to lose? And, while you think about it, enjoy this from a more recent and uncanonized saint, Janice Joplin:   

You know, any excuse to have some rock and roll.