Ernesto Cardenal—Nicaraguan poet, mystic, revolutionary—died 3/1 at 95. A former Trappist novice under Thomas Merton, he left Gethsemani for reasons of health, was ordained, founded a contemplative community of artisans and peasants in the Nicaraguan archipelago of Solentiname.
Conversation
During Mass he recorded conversations about the gospels that were later published as The Gospel in Solentiname. In the context of the Somoza dictatorship, the peasants had no trouble recognizing the political and subversive message of the gospels. Later published .
Somoza destroyed the community, but later Cardenal was named Minister of Culture in the new Sandinista government—one of 4 priests (including his brother, Jesuit Fr. Fernando Cardenal, and Maryknoll Fr. Miguel D’Escoto, founder of Orbis Books).
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He saw this service as an expression of his priestly ministry—a form of “efficacious charity” on the social level. But the Pope disagreed. When the 4 priests refused to quit their gov posts they were deprived of priestly faculties.
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Cardenal later returned to Solentiname. He and his brother eventually broke publicly with the Sandinistas, following the authoritarian turn of President Ortega. In 2019 Pope Francis restored his priestly faculties.
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In a poem on the death of Merton, Cardenal wrote: “Beloved is the time of pruning, / All the kisses will be given that you could not give. / The pomegranates are in bloom. / All love is a rehearsal for death.”
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A personal note: At the Catholic Worker in 1976 I wrote Cardenal to thank him for a contribution, and in return received a note urging me to “go up to Maryknoll and meet my friend Miguel D’Escoto," founder of Orbis Books. Thus, pointing me toward my destiny. Thank you, Ernesto!
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One of my volumes - I have often turned to them before preparing my Sunday sermon and being enriched and challenged by the wisdom they contain. Thank you, Brother and Comrade Ernesto. #ErnestoCardenal
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