The opening of the cause of beatification of Fr. Jenaro took place at the Lateran Palace in the Vicariate of Rome on 13 June. Fr. Jenaro died in Rome in 1972 with fame of holiness.
Oath taking of the tribunal
Cardinal Camilo Ruini, Vicar General of the Holy Father for the City of Rome, presided the event. The First Session of the Cause started with the singing of “Veni Creator Spiritus”. Monsignor Gianfranco Bella, Judge Delegate, and the other members of the tribunal took the oath to discharge faithfully and diligently the task of examining the life and virtues of Father Jenaro. Father Samson Silloriquez, OAR, postulator of the cause, vowed to do his job faithfully. The notary read the minutes of the session. From now on, the tribunal will hear the witnesses’ declarations and the notary will take note of the proceedings.
Cardinal Ruini
Then Cardinal Ruini gave a speech in which he underscored that the most consistent trait in Fr. Jenaro’s life was the desire for holiness. “Holiness – said the Cardinal Vicar – was the horizon of his life, from the years of his initial formation until his death. His journals, letters and homilies are all filled with the aspiration and invitation to sanctity. “If I am not holy, what do I want life for”, he asked himself during a retreat in July of 1969”.
Cardinal Camilo Ruini, Vicar General of the Holy Father for the City of Rome, presided the event.
The cardinal recalled that Fr. Jenaro was born in Dicastillo (Navarra, Spain) on 19 January 1909, joined the Augustinian Recollects and was ordained priest in Rome in 1932. In this city he lived most of his life, blending apostolic activity with historical-juridical research. In the General Chapter of 1950, he was elected procurator general of the Order; later, he became general councilor, vicar general and procurator general once again. He always took care to heed the Vatican council’s directions and to elevate the spiritual and pastoral level of the Order and to insert her in the life of the Church.
Fr. Jenaro was also consultant of the Congregation of Religious as well as discharged other ecclesial functions. He always left a good impression on the communities he visited; his virtuous life showed a supernatural sense and his balance and capacity brought serenity and peace. On 26 June 1972, he had a motorcycle accident and on 3 July of the same year, he died, surrounded by the love and prayers of his admirers and friends.
Participants
Nephews and nieces of Fr. Jenaro also came from Spain and Argentina. The opening act of the cause ended with the singing of the Salve. Present in the Lateran Palace were the prior general, Javier Guerra Ayala, the general council and the Augustinian Recollects from Saint Ildephonse College and the parish of Tre Pini, the secular fraternity and the faithful of the chapel of Our Lady of Consolation, Augustinians, Augustinian Discalced, Religious Sisters and friends. The prior provincial of Saint Thomas of Villanova Province, Fr. Miguel Ángel Hernández, and Fr. Jesús Berdonces, archivist of the same province, also came expressly for the event. Nephews and nieces of Fr. Jenaro also came from Spain and Argentina.
Biography in italian
All those who participated in the event were given the recently published book written by Ángel Martínez Cuesta and published in Italian: “P. Gennaro Fernández. Se non sono santo, per cosa voglio la vita?”. The book, which forms part of the collection “Cuadernos de Recolección”, has 285 pages and 16 photos in full color. It has two parts: the first is entitled “The foundations, 1909-1950” where in three chapters it treats Fr. Jenaro’s childhood and youth, his religious and priestly formation and historical-canonical research. The second part “Fullness, 1950-1972” has four chapters: “I have loved my Order as I did my mother”, “In the service of consecrated life”, “Conciliar expert”, “I don’t want to be saved without you”.
Transfer of Fr. Jenaro’s remains
The needed permissions having been obtained, on 12 June, in the presence of various religious, the mortal remains of Fr. Jenaro, which were buried in the Verano cemetery, were identified and preparations were made for their transfer. On the following day, before the opening of the cause of beatification, they were transferred and laid in a tomb constructed in the chapel of Our Lady of Consolation at the general curia.