BLESSED MICHAEL CYPRIAN IWENE TANSI: THE HOPE FOR A NIGERIAN SAINT

In 2014 (exactly three years today), I and my mum was present at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity in Onitsha ecclesiastical province to celebrate the golden jubilee anniversary of the birth in Heaven of Blessed Michael Iwene Tansi. The celebration drew a multitude of Catholic faithful who were mostly members of the Fr. Tansi Solidarity Prayer movement and I was opportune to touch his relics and spent some time reflecting on his spirituality and pattern of life. Delegates from the Vatican City (headquarter of the Roman Catholic Church) were also present to bear witness and probably send feedback to the Holy Father, Pope Francis I. I was very much expectant that sooner than later, Fr. Tansi will be declared a Saint (judging from the numerous testimonies that were said by the faithful and the assurances of the delegate Priests from Rome).

Before I continue with this, I want to note that am a staunch catholic and I also grew up in a strong catholic family. Thanks to my mum for inculcating the catholic faith in me. I still respect the sacred traditions of the Catholic Church and her religious leaders. I will briefly enlighten on who Fr. Tansi was and what he did to merit the graces he enjoins today in Heaven.

History has it that the humble servant of God, Blessed Michael Iwene Cyprian Tansi was born in the early days of Catholicism in Nigeria, 1903 to be precise in Aguleri, a small rural community located in Anambra state. He was born at a time when our people practiced the African Traditional Religion (‘ofufe Arusi’). Circumstances surrounding his birth made his parents to give him the name “Iwe-egbune”, shortened to “Iwene” which means ‘Let malice not kill me’. His dad equally made his own ‘chi’ for him as a means of protection. In other words, Fr. Tansi was born into a staunch pagan family that had no knowledge of what Christianity was all about. Later on, he converted to Christianity and was baptized; he took the name “Michel” as his Christian name. The little boy grew up with his uncle ‘Onye nkuzi Orekie’ who was a well-known teacher and headmaster. When he was of age and after haven being a teacher and also a headmaster (one of the most influential position then), Fr. Tansi opted for the Priesthood. His decision did not go down well with his people who did all within their reach to stop him, but alas God’s will was done. Fr. Tansi entered the Igbariam seminary and in 1937, he was ordained a Priest forever in the order of Melchizedek alongside with Fr. William Obelagu (later a Mosignor) and Fr. Joseph Nwanegbo (later a Mosignor) all of the blessed memory. Fr. Tansi loved his vocation and apostolate that he carried out his priestly duties with joy. He was always ready and willing to deprive himself of material comfort to see that his parishioners lacked nothing. He admonished young girls and guys to live a chaste life and to desist from sexual immoralities. He had special interest in the devotion to our Blessed Virgin Mary. His zeal for evangelization was exceptional and people were particularly struck by his ascetic life. He wasn’t an eloquent preacher, but his message penetrated the hearts of people. In his quest to live an austere life and to mortify himself, Fr. Tansi later joined the Mount Saint Bernard Abbey Monastery in England. He spent the rest of his life as a monk and had a closer relationship with God. As God would have it, he was called to eternal glory on January 20^th, 1964 after a brief illness in Leicester England.

Thirty four (34) years after his death, the Catholic Church deemed it fit to honor him. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II at Onitsha on March 22, 1998 in the presence of over 10 million Nigerians (Catholic and Non-Catholics). He was elevated to the status of being addressed as a ‘BLESSED’ which is a step forward to Canonization. A cause for his canonization was formed and up till now, NO POSITIVE NEWS has been heard. I understand that the Catholic Church owes nobody the privilege of sainthood. There is a lay down procedure for doing things in the Church. It doesn’t actually depend on the number of years. Nigeria is blessed with numerous holy men and women who lived a saintly life while on earth and should have been proclaimed “saints”, but the reverse is the case.

Now, I wouldn’t want to bother you more on this, I will simply pen down my own opinions and keep praying that God will grant us the favour of a ‘Nigerian Saint’. This has to do with some sort of racism in the Church. Had it been that Fr. Tansi was an Italian or maybe a Whiteman, he would have been canonized long ago. The Whiteman does not actually believe that a Black man can be a saint coupled with the high level of societal vices surrounding him. For as long as they care, Nigerians can continue to clamor for a saint for years without any result. Not just Fr. Tansi, the Catholic Faithful in Aba diocese are yet to receive a new Bishop since the death of Bishop Ezeonyia in 2015, same story in Ahiara diocese. Let’s keep praying that things will get better sooner than later.

*In 2018, it will be exactly 20 years since Fr. Tansi was beatified, what then is holding his canonization?

* Pope JohnPaul II who beatified Fr. Tansi has been canonized.

In all, I think the Catholic Community in Nigeria still needs to exercise patience and continue praying that the Heavens will hear our plea.

Make a special prayer today for the canonization of Fr. Tansi.

Blessed Michael Cyprian Iwene Tansi….. Pray for us!

By: ANIEBO ANTHONY C.