The life of Blessed Cyprian Tansi

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The life of Blessed Cyprian Tansi

Phil McCarthy • October 24, 2023

'If you are going to be a Christian at all, you might as well live entirely for God.' [1]

Blessed Cyprian Tansi, (1903-1964)

'We should reflect constantly that we have renounced the world and as strangers and foreigners we sojourn here for a time.' [2]

Saint Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage (249-258)

Iwene Tansi was born in 1903 in Igboezunu, southern Nigeria. His parents, Tabansi and Ejikwevi, were Igbo farmers who practised traditional religion. In 1909 he was sent to the Christian village of Nduka, where he was baptized three years later by Irish missionaries and given the name Michael.

He was an able and diligent student and qualified as a teacher, soon becoming a headteacher, but in 1925, against his family’s wishes, he entered St Paul's Seminary in Igbariam. After finishing his philosophical and theological studies, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Heerey in the cathedral of Onitsha in 1937. He was the first indigenous priest in the Aguleri region. In 1939 he was appointed parish priest of Dunukofia. His example of prayer and joyful dedication to others deeply affected the community, resulting in many vocations to the priesthood and religious life. He showed the same attributes during his time as parish priest of Akpu, where he served from 1945 until his transfer to Aguleri in 1949. He especially strove to promote the dignity of women and the education of young people.

Despite being a successful parish priest Fr Tansi felt a desire for a life of complete self-surrender to God in a contemplative Order. At a meeting of diocesan clergy sometime in 1949 or 1950, Bishop Heerey expressed the desire that one of his priests would embrace the monastic life so that he could later establish a contemplative monastery in the Diocese of Onitsha. Fr Tansi volunteered, and the Trappist Abbey of Mount St Bernard in Leicestershire accepted him for a trial period as an oblate. Life in Trappist monasteries follows the Strict Observance of the Cistercian Rule with an emphasis on fraternity, solitude and silence.

In the summer of 1950 Fr Tansi led his parishioners on a pilgrimage to Rome for the Holy Year and went on from there to Mount St Bernard. English culture and weather must have been a terrible shock, but he settled into this new enclosed and austere life of prayer, humility and obedience, working in the refectory and bookbindery. After two and a half years as an oblate, he was admitted to the novitiate, taking the name Cyprian, after the 3^rd Century bishop of Carthage of African Berber descent. Fr Tansi was solemnly professed as a monk of St Bernard on 8 December 1956. His brother monks remembered him as “absorbed in prayer” and “a living example of patience and charity”.

In 1963 the time seemed right to establish a monastery in Nigeria, but political tensions in the country led his superiors to choose to found the new monastery in neighbouring Cameroon instead. This was a bitter blow for Fr Cyprian, and his brother monks recalled it as only time they ever saw him angry. At last he came to accept the decision as God's will.

In January 1964 he became suddenly unwell and sadly died a few days later in Leicester Royal Infirmary of an aortic aneurysm. He was buried at Mount St Bernard. Fr Tansi had long expressed the desire to return to Nigeria so in 1988 his remains were exhumed and reburied near the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha, where he had been ordained a priest 51 years earlier. Despite this Mount St Bernard remains a place of pilgrimage, especially for Catholics of Nigerian heritage.

In 1941, as a young priest, Fr Tansi baptised a nine-year old boy from the village of Eziowelle, Anambra. Francis Arinze grew up to follow Tansi into the priesthood, going on to become Archbishop of Onitsha and President of the Nigerian Bishops Conference. He has been a Cardinal since 1985 and was one of the principal advisors to Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Arinze never forgot the man who had baptised and then inspired him, and he recommended Tansi for beatification. At the Mass of his beatification on 22 March 1998, at Oba, Nigeria, Pope John Paul II 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 this 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."

Blessed Cyprian’s Feast Day is on 20^th January. He is the patron of Nigerian priests.

Mount St Bernard Monastery is the destination of the Diocese of Nottingham Pilgrim Way, the Way of Blessed Cyprian Tansi.

PRAYER TO BLESSED CYPRIAN TANSI

Blessed Cyprian,

during your life on earth

you showed your great faith and love

in giving yourself to your people

and by the hidden life

of prayer and contemplation.

Look upon us now in our needs,

and intercede for us with the Lord.

May he grant us the favour we ask

through our prayers. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE CANONISATION OF BLESSED CYPRIAN TANSI

O God, who granted many graces to your servant,

Priest and Monk, Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi,

choosing him as your faithful instrument for evangelisation and sanctification of your people,

grant also that I may spend my life loving you and my neighbour and serving the Church.

Deign to glorify your servant Cyprian Michael and through his intercession to grant me the favour I now ask in faith.

[1] Entirely for God: the life of Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi, Elizabeth Isichei (Cistercian Publications, 1980)

[2] On Mortality, Ch 26

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New St Matthew's Way (West)

By Phil McCarthy • March 20, 2025

St Matthew's Way The western Pilgrimage of Hope Way from St David's Cathedral in Cardiff to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham and the Shrine of St Chad in Lichfield. Patron: St Melangell (c 7th or 8th Century) Welsh hermit, consecrated virgin and abbess. According to her hagiography, Melangell was a princess who fled an arranged marriage and became a consecrated virgin in the wilderness of Powys. She saved a hare from a prince's hunting dogs and is associated with protection of wildlife. Her feast is celebrated on 27th May. Overview: The Way starts at St David's Cathedral in Cardiff. The route soon joins the Welsh Coast Path to Newport and then Chepstow. Here the Way turns inland following the Offa's Dyke Path through the Wye Valley to Monmouth. The route follows the Wye Valley Walk to Ross-on-Wye where the Way joins the Herefordshire Trail to Ledbury. The Geopark Way and the Three Choirs Way (3CW) are followed over the Malvern Hills. After Malvern the Way continues on the 3CW until the River Severn is crossed and followed to Worcester. The Monarch's Way is followed to Droitwich Spa and then the John Corbett Way to Bromsgrove. Here the Monarch's Way is regained until just before Illey the Way diverts into central Birmingham along the Illey Way. From the Cathedral of St Chad in Birmingham the Way follows the St Chad's Way , at first along canal towpaths. The Way passes through Sutton Coldfield before joining the Heart of England Way to Lichfield. The route joins the Trent & Mersey Canal towpath to Burton upon Trent and then on to Sawley. Here the Way diverts to Long Eaton and then follows the Way of Blessed Cyprian Tansi along the Broxtowe Country Trail and finally the Beeston Canal towpath to central Nottingham and the Cathedral of St Barnabas. Essential facts: Route length: 215.6 miles Ascent: 11,178 ft Peak elevation: 1,378 ft Average walk day length: 14.5 miles Average walk day duration: 6 hours First walking day: Thursday 28th August 2025 Number of walking days: 14.5 Number of rest days: 1.5 End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral. Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. See the route below.

New St Mark's Way (North)

By Phil McCarthy • March 20, 2025

St Mark's Way The northern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from the Cathedral Church of St Anne in Leeds to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via the St Marie's Cathedral in Sheffield and the Chapel of the Padley Martyrs. Patron: St Hilda of Whitby (c. 614 – 680) abbess and key figure in the Anglo-Saxon Church. Hilda founded and was the first abbess of the monastery at Whitby which was the venue for the Synod of Whitby in 664. She was widely recognised for her wisdom and learning and trained five bishops. Her feast is celebrated on 17th November. Overview: The Way starts at Leeds Cathedral and follows the Transpennine Trail (TPT) SE beside the Aire & Calder Navigation to Mickletown. Here the path veers SW to continue on the TPT along a disused railway line and then the River Calder to Wakefield. The Way follows the TPT again beside the former Barnsley Canal and then along a disused railway to Wombwell. The route turns SW along the Barnsley Boundary Walk to Elscar, and then across farmland to briefly join the Old Salt Rd, beside the A629. The Way soon joins the Sheffield Country Walk and follows this beside the Sheffield Canal to reach St Marie's Cathedral in central Sheffield. From here the Way joins the Padley Martyrs Way , leaving the city through Endcliffe Park and then climbing Houndkirk Moor to arrive at the Chapel of the Padley Martyrs. The path then follows the River Derwent to Matlock. The Way leaves the Derwent at Ambergate and turns E, through Ripley and then along the former Cromford Canal to Eastwood. Here the route joins the Robin Hood Way to Strelley where the Way veers E to Kingsbury and finally reaches St Barnabas' Cathedral, central Nottingham. Essential facts: Route length: 107.6 miles Ascent 3,615 ft: The route is mostly flat with the only significant climb on Day 4 over Houndkirk Moor Peak elevation: 1,388 ft Average walk day length: 13.5 miles Average walk duration: 5-6 hours First walking day Sat 6 September 2025 Number of walking days: 8 Number of rest days: 0 Last walking day: Saturday 13 September: arrival at St Barnabas' Cathedral Nottingham for evening prayer and social celebration Sunday 14 September, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: pilgrims are invited to join the 11.15 Solemn Mass at St Barnabas' Cathedral Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. For a detailed map of the route click the button below.

New St Luke's Way (East)

By Phil McCarthy • March 20, 2025

St Luke's Way The eastern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist in Norwich to the Cathedral Church of St Barnabas in Nottingham via the National Shrine of Our Lady at Houghton St Giles and the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham at King's Lynn. Patron : Julian of Norwich (c. 1343 – after 1416) English anchoress, mystic and theologian. Julian's writings, now known as Revelations of Divine Love, are the earliest surviving English-language works attributed to a woman. They are also the only surviving works by an anchoress in English. Her feast is celebrated on 13 th May. Overview The Way starts at the Cathedral and leaves the city along a disused railway line. The route follows the Walsingham Way along lanes to Great Ryborough. The path then follows the Way of the Annunciation to Fakenham and onto the National Shrine to Our Lady at Houghton St Giles and then Walsingham. The Way follows lanes to Dersingham and soon joins the Norfolk Coast Path to King's Lynn. The Way continues to Wisbech, Spalding, Bourne and then crosses farmland to join the Danelaw Way. The route continues along paths and tracks to Grantham. From there the route crosses farmland to Bingham and soon after joins the Trent Valley Way to central Nottingham and finally St Barnabas' Cathedral. Essential facts: Route length: 158.7 miles Ascent: 1,886 ft Peak elevation: 443 ft (the route is generally flat) Average walk day length: 15.8 miles Average walk day duration: 6 hours First walking day: Tuesday 2 September 2025 Number of walking days: 10 Number of rest days: 1 End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral. Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. For a detailed map of the route click the button below.

New St John's Way (South)

By Phil McCarthy • March 20, 2025

St John's Way The southern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from Southwark and Westminster Cathedrals in London to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate & St Thomas of Canterbury in Northampton. Patron : St Anne Line (c. 1563 – 1601): English married lay woman, convert and martyr. After the death of her husband, who had been banished for attending Mass, Anne was active in sheltering clandestine Catholic priests. Finally arrested, she was condemned to death and executed at Tyburn. She was canonised in 1970. Her feasts are: 27th February (individual), 25th October (with the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales), 30th August (with SS Margaret Ward and Margaret Clitherow). Overview The Way starts at the Cathedral of St George in Southwark and crosses the River Thames to reach Westminster Cathedral. It then passes through Royal parks to the Shrine of the Tyburn Martyrs. At Paddington the Grand Union Canal is reached. Apart from optional diversions to churches the Canal arm is followed to Northolt where the Way joins the Dog Rose Ramble and then the Hillingdon Trail. At Bayhurst Woods the Way diverts W to Harefield and soon rejoins the Grand Union Canal. Apart from diversions to Rickmansworth, Abbots Langley (birthplace of Adrian IV, the only English pope), and Leighton Buzzard the Canal is followed to Newport Pagnall. After the town the route follows the Three Shires Way, then the Midshires Way, the Northamptonshire Round and finally the Nene Way to Northampton Cathedral. The path leaves the city and rejoins the Midshires Way to Arthingworth and soon after follows the Brampton Valley Way to Market Harborough. The Way continues N on the Rutland Way and then the Leicestershire Round. Where this bends W the path follows the Jubilee Way to Melton Mowbray. The Way crosses farmland to reach Willoughby-in-the-Wolds where it breifly re-joins the Midshires Way before diverting to Keyworth. The Way heads towards Nottingham, briefly following a disused railway line, to finally reach Nottingham Cathedral. Essential facts: Route length: 173.3 miles Ascent: 4,931 ft - the route is mostly very flat Peak elevation: 656 ft Average walk day length: 14.9 miles Average walk day duration: 6 hours Number of walking days: 11.5 Number of rest days: 1.5 Start date: Monday 1st September at St George's Cathedral, Southwark, London End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral. Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. For a detailed map of the route click the button below.