Fernando Rielo facts for kids

Fernando Rielo Pardal (born August 28, 1923 – died December 6, 2004) was an important figure in the Catholic Church. He was a poet, a thinker, and the founder of a Catholic religious institute called the Idente Missionaries. He also created a special way of thinking about life and God, which he called the Genetic Metaphysics.

Fernando Rielo started the Fernando Rielo Foundation. This foundation gives out an award every year called the Fernando Rielo World Prize for Mystical Poetry. The Idente Missionaries, his religious group, began in 1959 in Tenerife, Spain. Rielo wrote many books, mostly in Spanish, which have been translated into other languages like English.

His Early Life

Fernando Rielo was born in Madrid, Spain, on August 28, 1923. His parents were Enrique Rielo and Pilar Pardal. When he was a child, he really loved drawing.

As a teenager, the Spanish Civil War started. One day, when he was supposed to receive his First Holy Communion, he faced a firing squad. The leader asked him to give up his faith, but Fernando refused. Luckily, the leader decided not to shoot him. On August 28, 1939, when he was sixteen, Fernando had a special religious experience. This happened while he was at a youth camp in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains.

His Youth and Studies

After the war ended, Fernando finished his studies at the Royal Institute of St. Isidore in Madrid. He enjoyed reading books about philosophy, including a famous one by Immanuel Kant. He also loved art and read an Argentine magazine about culture. His father encouraged him to read classic books from Eastern cultures too.

During these years, he studied hard for a government job exam. He did very well and got a high score. Then, he started working as an administrator in Granada.

The Motus Christi Movement

Fernando wanted to study more, especially philosophy. He hoped to become a professor at the Central University of Madrid (now the University of Madrid). However, he went to a church and met a Redemptorist priest.

When he was twenty, he joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer at a seminary. There, he studied philosophy and theology. He liked to encourage his fellow students as they prepared for their future work. He started a movement called Motus Christi, which means "the Movement of Christ." This movement aimed to help them grow in their spiritual life. It focused on having a close, loving relationship with God the Father.

His Religious Journey

After finishing his religious studies, Fernando could not become a priest due to several unexpected events. He shared his work on the Motus Christi movement with his superior, who was very happy with it. However, his superior soon became ill and passed away. During this time, Fernando made his public promise to God.

Fernando then asked a respected professor for advice about his situation. After three days of prayer, the professor told Fernando to leave the religious group. So, in 1957, Fernando left the Congregation.

Starting in Tenerife

After leaving the Redemptorists, Fernando Rielo took a government job in Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands. After two years of hard work, he founded the Idente Missionaries. On June 29, 1959, the official rules for the group were given to Bishop Domingo Pérez Cáceres.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1982, Fernando Rielo created The Fernando Rielo Foundation. This is an international group that promotes culture and the arts. This foundation is known for giving out the Fernando Rielo World Prize for Mystical Poetry every year.

In 1988, Rielo moved to New York City to receive medical treatment. He was also a member of the North American Academy of the Spanish Language. In 1996, the University of the Philippines started the Fernando Rielo Chair of Spanish Literature and Thought. This was done to promote Spanish culture. Later, in 2013, another Fernando Rielo Chair was created at the Pontifical University of Salamanca.

See also

In Spanish: Fernando Rielo Pardal para niños