Ordained : 19 Dec.1937
Died : Jan 20,1964
Beatified : 22 March, 1998 by Pope John Paul II
Feast : 20 January
Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansian was an Igbo Nigerian. Ordained a Roman Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Onitsha, Nigeria.
He worked in parishes of Nnewi,Dunukofia, Akpu/Ajali and Aguleri.
He was later a Cistercian Monk at the Mount Saint Bernard Monastery in England. After being recommended by Cardinal Francis Arinze, who was inspired by Tansi as a boy (he had been one of Tansi's students and knew him personally), he was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 22 March 1998,who said"Blessed Cyprian Michael Tansi is a prime example of the fruits of holiness which have grown and matured in the Church in Nigeria since the Gospel was first preached in the land.
He received the gift of Faith through the efforts of the missionaries and taking the Christian way of life as his own he made it truly African and Nigerian.
Heritage and Early Life
At that time there were very little acceptance of black people becoming priests in Nigeria. The Bishop was Irish, and most of the clergy were from Europe. Bishop Shanahan saw the native Igbo, even after conversion,as still being steeped in pagan culture, and that it was going to be very hard to get them to become proper priests.
Igbo could become priests, but they were subject to very hard regulations and could be denied continuance in their study very easily by the priest who taught them who often were very careful to make sure only the best people would become priests.
Michael attended seminary from 1925-1937. His family was appalled at his entrance to the seminary, because they wanted him to go into business or something that would take them out of poverty, which was what his father had always planned.
His family was poor and they desperately needed his help, but he felt that God, the same God he had learned about in the mission school his parents had sent him to as a child as a means of getting material benefits for the family wanted him to continue in the seminary rather than do something else.
Thus today the Aguleri,Anambra, Nigerian born priest and Monk is venerated in the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
AbleMoJah® Nigeria.
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