Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi was born in September 1903, in Aguleri, Nigeria. He lived as a teacher and the headmaster of St. Joseph’s School in Aguleri and was also an Igbo Nigerian Roman Catholic Priest of the archdiocese of Onitsha. He died on January 20 1964, aged 60, in Leicester, England, due to arteriosclerosis and a ruptured aneurysm. His Feast Day is celebrated on January 20.
Saint Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi Biography |
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| Date of Birth | 1903 A.D |
|---|---|
| Country of Birth | Nigeria in Africa |
| Matrimony/Holy Orders | Saints who were Monks |
| Profession | Roman Catholic Priest |
| Place of Work | Nigeria |
| Date of Death | January 20 1964 |
| Place of Death | Leicester, England |
| Feast Day | January 20 |
| Beatification | March 22 1998 by Pope John Paul II |
| Canonization | N/A |
| Patron Saint of | N/A |
Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi’s Life History
Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi was born in September 1903, in Aguleri, Nigeria, as Iwe-egbunu, shortened to Iwene, meaning, “let malice not kill”. His parents were poor farmers, Tabansi and his mother, who was murdered due to claims that she was a witch causing mischief, when he was at an early age.
He studied at the Holy Trinity School in Onitsha as his father saw education as a ticket out of poverty. When he was young, he served as an altar boy and as young catechist. Upon his graduation, he became a teacher, working hard and climbing the administrative ranks till he was headmaster of St. Joseph’s School in Aguleri.
He later attended a seminary at Igbariam from 1925 to 1937 as he had developed a desire to become a priest as he grew up and this led to his father’s utter disappointment in him. He developed a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Priests, in those times were mostly Europeans as Blacks mostly faced hard times and excessive negative bias in the seminary schools from their instructors and were mostly expelled due to small mistakes. In light of this, Europeans also thought that they were the only ones better suited for that kind of work. Priests were caters for by parishioners of their dioceses as it had been made mandatory that they were to be provided for the locals. It almost seemed that the Holy Orders was also a ticket out of poverty as the clergy and laity were well fed, housed and their transport well catered for.
Unlike other priests, Cyprian was different. He lived a life full of austerities, eating even low quality foods than the locals, living in a traditional house and was never interested in the special treatment other clergy had. He was kind as he walked around the village assisting others in their small projects and even giving them efficient techniques on how to build better houses for themselves. He also educated the villagers on some aspects of food security.
It is said that he once helped a lady ward off a group of men who were planning to harass her and after convincing the lady to take the matter to court, they won, leading to start of the fight for women’s rights in Nigeria.
He was later selected for a project, whereby candidates were to o to Europe to become monks so that they would later return and build monasteries in the localities. Cyprian was described to be a very humble man and a person of deep prayer by his fellow monks, though also a perfectionist. This desire was cut short as upon wanting to return to Africa, he developed symptoms of a severe illness.
He was to go to Cameroon to establish a monastery there but his health subsided and was taken to the Leicester Royal Infirmary where he was diagnosed with arteriosclerosis and a ruptured aneurysm. He died on January 20 1964 and was buried at a monastery in England. His remains were later transferred to the Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, in Onitsha, Nigeria.
Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi’s Birth
Cyprian was born in September 1903, in Aguleri, Nigeria.
Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi’s Death
He died on January 20 1964, aged 60, in Leicester, England, due to arteriosclerosis and a ruptured aneurysm.
Family Background
His parents lived as poor farmers, his father being Tabansi of Igbezumu. He had a brother. After his mother’s death, his father remarried and with the second wife had other four sons and a daughter.
Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi’s Nationality and Ethnicity
He was Nigerian in nationality and of the Igbo people.
Education
He studied at the Holy Trinity School in Onitsha.
Profession
He lived as a teacher and the headmaster of St. Joseph’s School in Aguleri and was also an Igbo Nigerian Roman Catholic Priest of the archdiocese of Onitsha.
Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi’s Beatification
He was beatified on March 22 1998 by Pope John Paul II.
Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi is Venerated in
He is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church.
Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi’s Feast Day
His Feast Day is celebrated on January 20.
Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi’s Quotes
The following are quotes by Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi;
“Count no one saved until he is found in heaven“
“God will give you double for what you give Him“
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