SILVERIO OF ST. TERESA

Writer, general of the Discalced Carmelites; b. Julian Fernández Gómez, Escóbados de Arriba, Burgos, Spain, March 8, 1878; d. Mazatlán, Mexico, March 10, 1954. He was the first of 13 children, eight of whom entered the Discalced Carmelite Order. After finishing his philosophical studies in the diocesan seminary of Burgos, he was professed in the Discalced Carmelites in Larrea (July 5,1896) and was later ordained in Burgos (July 27, 1902). He became editor of the review El Monte Carmelo, and was appointed general historian of the Discalced Carmelites in 1912.

This work was interrupted by the preparation of his critical editions of the works of St. Teresa (1915–25) and St. John of the Cross (1927–30). Father Silverio then dedicated himself to his Historia del Carmen Descalzo en Espãna, Portugal y America. His strenuous literary labors did not free him from the burden of administrative office. At various times he was prior, provincial of Burgos, general definitor, vicar-general, and finally (1947–54), general of the Discalced Carmelites. During his generalate he sought to improve studies in the order, built the new International College in Rome, and visited almost all the provinces of the order. While visiting Mazatlán, Mexico, he died; his remains were transferred to the International College (1955).

The complete list of his writings, which Father Simeon de la Sgda. Familia compiled in Zelo Zelatus Sum (Rome 1952, 65–152), numbers 565 titles. His literary work centered on three major enterprises: Biblioteca Mistica Carmelitana (20 v.); Historia del Carmen Descalzo (15 v.); La Carmelita Perfecta (3 v.). He gathered a large number of documents related to the history of the Discalced Carmelites. These are preserved in Burgos under the title Archivo Silveriano.

Bibliography: valentin de la cruz, Fr. Silverio de Sta. Teresa: Su vida, su obra y su gobierno (Burgos 1962). n. j. otilio, "Bodas de oro de la profesión religiosa de N. M. R. P. Silverio de Sta. Teresa, Vicario General," El Monte Carmelo 50 (1946) 408–412.

[o. rodriguez]