Remembering … fr Bernard Delany OP (1890 – 1959)

fr Bernard Delaney was baptised Francis Kieran and was born in London on the feast of the Epiphany in 1890. Like those wise men who came in search of Christ, he spent his life in “quiet, unflagging resolution” in his quest for Truth, for which the Order of Preachers is famed. As he wrote in 1920 concerning the work of the Order: “The divine truths contained in the treasury of Christ’s Church and their bearing on men and things will be our primary concern”. He was also noted for being gifted with wisdom. After all, this talented man, who was professed in 1908 at Woodchester, was entrusted with much by his brothers in his 50 years in the Order.

After his ordination in 1914, he served first as a military chaplain in France during the First World War, where he “went through all the horrors of the trenches”, and was later sought out by men of all ranks with whom he had served. After the war, he graduated with a B.Litt. from Oxford University in 1924 and he so distinguished himself in medieval studies that his academic supervisor lamented his not being allowed to make medieval studies his life’s work!

Between these two milestones – one pastoral and the other academic – he was appointed the first editor of the journal of the English Dominicans, Blackfriars, in 1920. According to John-Baptist Reeves OP, he was chosen by fr Bede Jarrett OP for this position because of the “conformity of his life to the Rule of St Augustine and the ascetic discipline of the Dominican constitution”. And this way of life also led to years of faithful service as a superior, which he accomplished with admirable humility. It was thus said that “he never expected good of himself or praise from others” and “he was too humble already” to be discouraged by humiliations or failure. During his time as editor of Blackfriars, he won the admiration of such writers as Hilaire Belloc, G. K. Chesterton and Ronald Knox and set the journal on a sound and respectable footing.

His “exemplary Dominican life” was also appreciated by the brothers, for in 1927, he was elected Prior of Hawkesyard but was later moved to Oxford by the vicar of the Order who on 28 May 1929 appointed him the first prior of the Priory of the Holy Spirit in Oxford. On the left is a photo from the opening Mass in the new priory church in that year. Given the importance of this re-foundation for the Order and the Church, his appointment was a sign of the confidence which the brethren had in him, and this was confirmed by his election as Prior Provincial of the English Province in 1932 just months after his election to a second term as Prior of Oxford. fr Bernard served as Provincial for ten years during which time the Dominican house at Cambridge was re-established. Subsequent to his time as Provincial he was elected Prior of London and later served as superior in Cambridge and Edinburgh.

In 1951, he went out to South Africa – then a vicariate of the English Province – to serve as chaplain to the Dominican sisters at King William’s Town. He did this until 1954 when he was appointed student master at Stellenbosch. He returned to England in 1958 for the Provincial Chapter but fell seriously ill. He endured a long sickness with admirable patience, and it is reported that when he was told he was dying “he was for a moment incredulous. Then at once his spirits rose and remained high [for] he was no longer responsible for anyone or anything in this world”! He died in London on 7 February 1959 and he is buried in Woodchester (shown on the right).

Perhaps on account of the burden of office and responsibility, which he was never without throughout his Dominican life, it was said that fr Bernard, “often seemed a victim to his moods”, perhaps prone to “the pessimism of world-weary old age” and “low spirits”. Nevertheless, fr John-Baptist, his biographer, writes that “deep in his heart there was a perennial spring of happiness, a firm and undaunted moral resolution, a sensitive affection for his fellows, men, women and especially children; a keen sympathy with suffering; a horror of sin; a genuine poetic vein; a frolicsome spirit of fun. Those seniors and contemporaries who were intimate with him were aware of all this”.

Lawrence Lew OP