The Memorial Endowment Fund in Honor of Ignatius Charles Brady, OFM

1 Franciscan Studies 63 (2005) THE MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT FUND IN HONOR OF IGNATIUS CHARLES BRADY, OFM On November 16, 2004 during a gala celebration in the Regina Quick Center for the Arts, the Franciscan Institute formally announced to the members of the faculty and administration of St. Bonaventure University the establishment of a Memorial Endowment Fund by the St. John the Baptist Province of Friars Minor (Cincinnati, Ohio) in honor of Fr. Ignatius Brady, OFM, one of the greatest scholars of the Franciscan intellectual tradition in the 20th century. The endodwment is in the form of a one million dollar gift to the Institute in support of its research projects. One of Ignatius Brady’s little-known contributions to Franciscan studies was his English translation of the writings of St. Clare, completed in the 1950s. Taking this as his point of departure, Jacques Dalarun , the Joseph A. Doino Visiting Professor of Franciscan Studies, delivered the first Ignatius Brady Lecture on the theme: “Clare and Francis of Assisi: Differing Perspectives on Gender and Power.” 2 MICHAEL W. BLASTIC IGNATIUS CHARLES BRADY, OFM 1919-1990 AN APPRECIATION The Franciscan Institute November 16, 2004 Fr. John Vaughn, the General Minister of the Order, wrote these words upon hearing of the death of Fr. Ignatius: As I once told Ignatius, I first met him through his books and class notes when I was a student. He opened to us the riches of Franciscan philosophy, a love and pride for things Franciscan . When finally I met him in person some twenty years later, I found that he really embodied everything he had written about. A wise man, a scholar, a man of the Spirit, a real Friar Minor. He could teach you and inspire you at the same time. He was above all a simple, humble friar in the best tradition of Franciscan scholarship, working faithfully and with devotion , and putting always in the first place the workings of the Spirit.1 Having come to know Ignatius only through his writings and now through the memories of some of his colleagues and students, I can vouch that these words of the General Minister are not just a formality 1 Acta OFM 109 (1990): 271. IGNATIUS CHARLES BRADY, OFM 3 or an empty encomium – they do describe the central dimensions of Ignatius Brady’s spirit and life. This afternoon we honor the memory of Ignatius Brady as we recognize the generosity of his brothers, the Province of St. John the Baptist, for their gift to the Franciscan Institute in their brother’s memory. Ignatius was invested with the Franciscan habit in August, 1929, and was ordained a priest on June 9, 1937. After teaching philosophy for a year, he began studies at the Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies, receiving a Master of Arts degree in 1942 and a doctorate in Philosophy in 1948. From 1942 to 1952 Ignatius taught philosophy and served as Master of Clerics at Duns Scotus College in Detroit. Among other schools, he taught at the Franciscan Institute here at St. Bonaventure University in 1947, 1950, 1953-1955, and returned for summer sessions in the 1970’s. Ignatius began working at the Collegio San Bonaventura, in Quarrachi, near Florence, Italy (the research center for the Order of Friars Minor), in 1956. In 1961 he was appointed the Prefect of the Theology Section and remained in that position until he returned to his province in 1983 for health reasons. While at the Collegio, he taught at the Antonianum. Among the many honors he received during his life was that of Lector Jubilatus, the highest recognition for an Order’s teacher, in 1962. He was also awarded the degree Doctor of Letters, honoris causis by St. Bonaventure University on July 15, 1974, during the celebration of the seventh centenary of the death of St. Bonaventure.2 While Ignatius’ academic career was dedicated to very detailed work on critical editions of medieval texts and philosophical and theological questions, his work was never disconnected from his life as a formator, a spiritual director, a peritus at chapters, or from day to day Franciscan living. Throughout the years of his teaching and research, Ignatius gave retreats and workshops...