Bernard Mary of Jesus
Passionist priest (1831-1911)
Feast: 9 December (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Cesare Silvestrelli was born in Rome on 7 November 1831 to a comfortable family and studied at the Roman College. He joined the Passionists, where he was a fellow novice of Francesco Possenti, the future St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows.
Elected Superior General, he worked hard for the growth and spread of the congregation. He retired to the hermitage of Moricone near Rome and died there after a fall on the stairs on 9 December 1911.
The miracles
The Dicastery's biography does not describe the miracles approved in the cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
A Passionist superior who served his brothers and the spread of his order with tireless devotion.
Connected on this site
- Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows Saint“He joined the Passionists, where he was a fellow novice of Francesco Possenti, the future St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows.” — this site's research
- Paul of the Cross Saint“He re-entered the order after his ordination and went on to hold several positions of leadership within his own order; he was even likened to Saint Paul of the Cross while Pope Leo XIII and Pope Pius X held him in high esteem.” — Wikipedia
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - biography: Bernardo Maria di Gesù
- Wikidata Q4893415 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Bernard Mary of Jesus (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.