Imperator Emeritus Christian Bernard
Some of you may have met Christian Bernard at Rosicrucian events or read his writings in AMORC books and magazines.
Christian Bernard was born in France on November 30, 1951 and his parents were Rosicrucians.
“As a member of the Junior Order of Torchbearers, a Rosicrucian children's group; Christian … yearned to become a full-fledged student of the Rosicrucian teachings. Therefore, he wrote to the Imperator to be granted special permission to become a member of AMORC at the age of 15”.
(Rosicrucian Digest, May 1990)…
He served as Grand Master of the French speaking jurisdiction from 1977 to 1993.
“Christian Bernard proceeded to effect many improvements in his jurisdiction and expanded the French-speaking membership… For ten years he presided over many Rosicrucian conventions, traveled worldwide for the Order, promoted the creation of cultural centers, and gave his support to the successful launching of a private radio station sponsored by the French-speaking members …”.
(Rosicrucian Digest, May 1990)
In April 1990, the Board elected him to the office of Imperator.
AMORC is not a religion, but is interested in the spiritual dimensions of life. Christian Bernard’s first article in the Rosicrucian Digest as Imperator was titled, “Prayer”:
Prayer is an integral part of a spiritual technique whose implementation justifies itself in the desire to raise one's soul toward the Divinity…
(This) prayer … by St. Augustine … expresses gratitude:
Lord, when I look upon my own life, it seems Thou hast led me so carefully and so tenderly that Thou canst have attended to none else. But when I see how wonderfully Thou hast led the world and art leading it, l am amazed that Thou hast had time to attend to such as I.
(This prayer) by Zoroaster … indicates a sincere remorse:
All that I ought to have thought and have not thought;
All that I ought to have said and have not said; …
All that I ought not to have done and yet have done;
For these thoughts, words, and works, pray I for forgiveness and repent of with penance
…..
(This) is a prayer of intercession by Doctor Rheinhold Niebuhr
God, grant us serenity to accept what cannot be changed;
Courage to change what should be changed;
And wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.
In the words of Jesus, the greatest Master of prayer: "The one who prays with great sincerity for the happiness of others shall himself obtain happiness, and the one who prays for enlightenment to be granted to others shall receive enlightenment himself.
Thus he will open the door to a more expanded consciousness, which is Unity and Love."”
Christian Bernard went on to write three books and many articles in AMORC magazines.
His wife Helene traveled by his side on the Rosicrucian path and assisted him in his work. He is the father of three children, all Rosicrucians, and is a grandfather as well. After Rosicrucianism, his second personal passion has been reported to be soccer. He also focused on ecology and the future of our planet.
In 2019, Christian Bernard resigned becoming the Imperator Emeritus and Claudio Mazzucco became AMORC's new Imperator.
See Also
Harvey Spencer Lewis
Ralph Maxwell Lewis
Rosicrucian Order AMORC