We are told that Saint Francis decreed that his friars not have pockets in their habits. How he wanted them to be poor with the poor Christ! How to depend on Jesus alone for all we need? How to cling to Him, a Treasure always ready to hand and heart?
Our
Father Gabriel Bertonière passed quietly to Lord late last evening. He will be
remembered as one who loved the brethren and this place. Gabriel was a
gifted musician and master of Gregorian Chant, training many of the monks in
proper chant style. And even into his later years, Gabriel sang like a choir
boy. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 17, 1932, to John A.
Bertonière, Sr., and Hazel Montaldo, he graduated from Jesuit High School there
in 1948 and went on to study at Harvard University. Immediately upon obtaining
his BA cum laude from Harvard with a major in English in 1952, he
entered St Joseph’s Abbey, whose community had only recently transferred to
Spencer after a devastating fire destroyed their monastery in Cumberland, Rhode
Island.
Father
Gabriel made temporary profession of vows in 1954 and solemn vows in 1957, and
he was ordained a priest in 1958. In 1962 he was sent by the Abbot to Rome to
continue his theological studies. While in Europe he visited the monasteries of
Mount Athos in Greece in order to deepen his growing appreciation of the
Eastern monastic tradition. Byzantine Christianity and worship would become
vital to his spirituality. In 1963 Fr Gabriel received his Licentiate in Sacred
Theology cum laude from the Oriental Institute in Rome. In 1965 he
began a long period of absence from the monastery. During this time he lived at
the monastery of Chevetogne in Belgium, prepared his doctorate at the Collegium
Russicum in Rome, and taught there for the extension program of an American
university. He completed his doctoral dissertation in 1970 cum laude and
returned permanently to Spencer to resume his monastic life in 1988. He is the
author of several books, most prominently, Through Faith & Fire:
The Monks of Spencer 1825-1958. After his return to Spencer, Fr
Gabriel generously served his brothers for many years in several essential
capacities, most significantly as archivist, novice master, organist, and choirmaster. He also served for a number of years as chaplain to our Trappistine
sisters at St Mary’s Abbey in Wrentham, MA.
The younger of two children, Fr Gabriel was predeceased by his parents, John and Hazel, and his sister, Yvonne. His dear and devoted cousin, Jonathan Montaldo, of Mantua, NJ, shares this reminiscence, which speaks volumes about the quality of Father Gabriel’s life: “Gabriel and I were once in the infirmary kitchen with others, including Fr. Matthew, and some monk remarked how close Gabriel and I seemed to be. Matthew said, ‘Close? They are thick as thieves.’ Yes, but I was only a follower. Only Gabriel knew how to pull the heist of living life full tilt.”
Father Gabriel’s wake and funeral Mass will be private.
But,
brethren, from all that might be said of His character I single out one point
and beg you to notice that. He loved to praise, He loved to reward. He knew
what was in man, He best knew men's faults and yet He was the warmest in their
praise. When He worked a miracle He would grace it with Thy faith hath saved
thee, that it might almost seem the receiver's work, not His. He said of
Nathanael that he was an Israelite without guile; He that searches hearts said
this, and yet what praise that was to give! He called the two sons of Zebedee
Sons of Thunder, a kind and stately and honorable name! We read of nothing
thunder-like that they did except, what was sinful, to wish fire down from
heaven on some sinners, but they deserved the name or He would not have given
it, and He has given it to them for all time. Of John the Baptist He said that his
greater was not born of women. He said to Peter, Thou art Rock, and rewarded a
moment's acknowledgment of him with the lasting headship of His Church. He
defended Magdalen and took means that the story of her generosity should be
told forever. And though He bids us say we are unprofitable servants, yet He
Himself will say to each of us, Good and faithful servant, well done.
And
this man whose picture I have tried to draw for you, brethren, is your God. He
was your maker in time past; hereafter He will be your judge. Make Him your
hero now. Take some time to think of Him; praise Him in your hearts. You can
over your work or on your road praise Him, saying over and over again, Glory be
to Christ's body; Glory be the body of the Word made flesh; Glory to the body
suckled at the Blessed Virgin's breasts; Glory to Christ's body in its beauty; Glory to Christ's body in its weariness; Glory to Christ's body in its
Passion, death, and burial; Glory to Christ's body risen; Glory to Christ's
body in the Blessed Sacrament; Glory to Christ's soul; Glory to His genius
and wisdom; Glory to His unsearchable thoughts; Glory to His saving words;
Glory to His sacred heart; Glory to its courage and manliness; Glory to its
meekness and mercy ; Glory to its every heartbeat, to its joys and sorrows,
wishes, fears; Glory in all things to Jesus Christ.
Excerpts from a homily by Gerard Manley Hopkins.
Guido Reni, Saint Jerome, c. 1624, oil on
canvas, 111.8 cm x 86.4 cm, National Gallery, London. Meditation by Father
Emmanuel.
