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While in St. Louis, Fr. B. began attending the Annual March for Life every January in Washington DC.  This Rally marks the January 22nd, 1973, anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade decision by the Supreme Court that legalized the killing of unborn children throughout all stages of pregnancy, throughout the entire USA.  Fr. B.'s last trip to DC was in January 2011 at the age of 95.  How did he manage the long bus ride, the overnights, the long walk, the lack of sleep, the cold?

         "You know, when you're walking, your blood gets stirred up and generally the weather in Washington wasn't so bad," he replied.  "Providentially, it was normally mild.  It was very cold a couple of times.  It's a two and a half mile hike up Constitution Avenue.  It was wonderful to get up to the Supreme Court and look out over the crowd.  Constitution Avenue is six lanes wide and we fill it up with nearly 500,000 people and every year it grows.  It's a wonderful expression in the belief of the sanctity of life."

         Fr. B. has said over the years that he doesn't take any pills or medicine and that he walks 15 minutes for exercise every day.  On a treadmill?  "No, it depends on where I've lived," he said.  "Here at St. Louis I walk in the church and pray my rosary at the same time.  In Omaha, at St. Thomas More, I walked in the church too.  One Sunday just before Christmas, there was a lady in church who was in charge of Perpetual Adoration, and she was very conscientious and came over to me and asked, 'Is it lawful to make peanut brittle on Sunday?'  I acted very seriously and said, 'Yes, as long as you give some to the priest.'  Every year after that she gives me peanut brittle at Christmas."

         Father Bernardine is never seen without his friar's habit, even in the heat of a St. Louis summer.  Why?  "Two reasons," he said.  "Canon law prescribes it -- canon law is the official legislation for the universal Church -- and, two, I love to be a Franciscan.  I want everybody to know it.  I'm happy to be a Franciscan.  It's one of the best ways of spreading the Faith.  I've had nothing but thanks and congratulations for wearing it.  It's a sacramental, you know.  It's too bad so many people have lost the value of it.  The orders flourish where members are wearing their habits.  That goes for diocesan priests, too, and their Roman collars."

         "I had a tragedy the other day," he said.  "I gave Brother Javier my cowl to wash and my little black book was destroyed in the wash.  I'm trying now to remember and write down the names that were in there.  It included my mother and father's names, of course, and many others."

         A cowl is the big loose hood that is part of a friar's habit.  The little black book contained a long list of people, added on over time, that Father Bernardine prayed for every day, by name.  Why was his book in the cowl?  "There's a pocket in there," said Fr. B.  "There are pockets all over the habit -- in both sleeves, on the right side and the left side, in the cowl, and there came to be a slit in the side of the frock so we can reach into the pocket of our trousers to get at the mic that we have to use now at Mass."

         The halls at the St. Anthony Friary are wide.  There's a refectory for meals, sitting rooms, a library, offices, and archives.  It's a brick three-story building.  The grounds are green and growing with ancient trees providing shade.  The church is big and beautiful.  The chapel is small and historic.

         St. Louis has become the seat of Fr. B.'s favorite baseball team.  "My favorite team is now the Cardinals, or otherwise I'd have to leave town," he said.  "St. Louis is a great sports town.  Whether they win or lose, these people love their team."

         Up until the last several months, Father Bernardine has been pretty much fit as a fiddle.  He had back surgery for a pinched never last summer and it was totally successful.  "I came home from the hospital at a hundred percent," he said.  "It was perfect.  And then one day, actually it was this past November 1st, I got up from my chair and my left leg just collapsed and I've struggled with that to this day.  In the meantime I picked up a compression fracture on my spine.  I may have dropped into my chair too hard.  They say those fractures take care of themselves, and it's true.  I'm much better now than in the beginning."

         Fr. B. has been sleeping in his chair in recent weeks, rather than his bed.  When he spends time in bed, his back hurts, also when he gets up from his chair.  "I'm on the disabled list right now," he said, "but I'm hoping to be good by Easter time.  I seem to be very weak now."

         Father Bernardine is now unable to drive his car, for lack of insurance coverage.  As a matter of fact, he's a bit perturbed that they've taken away his driver's license.  "I've never had an accident in my life!" he said.  "I had the best grades on my driver's test among all of us elderly friars.  If I were younger, I'd probably sue them for age discrimination."

 

In Conclusion

         And so at age 97, the oldest Franciscan still has spunk and a mind of his own.  Actually, his mind is one with the Church and the Faith.  He is not disobedient and he is not a dissenter.  He is a rock in the midst of turmoil.

         As a friend, this editor can tell you more.  I can tell you that Father Bernardine is polite but he is no pushover.  He might be a lightweight in physique, but he's a giant in every way that counts.  He is meek and mild and yet stronger than the hammer and nails and lies of the world.  His strength is not his own, but the Lord's, and he passes it on to those who are open to receive it.  He is a happy man because he loves God and he lives for others.  Love you, Fr. B.

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March 2013