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AURA MARtA BERNAL DE SANCHEZ
1899—1986
Aura Maria Bernal was born in Bogota, Colombia, on 18 June 1899. For 1% years she was in the school of a Catholic Convent and
received very strict religious education. She studied nursing, along with her sister Juanita Bernal, and worked as a nurse and midwife.
When she was 31, she married Luis Sénchez Cuervo, a free—thinker who was affiliated with several schools of thought,
THE BAHA’l WORLD
such as Theosophy and the Rosicrucian school. In 1942, at a theosophical meeting, a German Bahá’í with Canadian citizenship had the opportunity to speak about the Faith. At the end of the talk, Mr. Sénchez invited the man to his home. From that point, they had weekly meetings to talk about different aspects of the Faith. During one of these, Mr. Sénohez received as a gift the book Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, the only Bahá’í book published in Spanish at that time. Aura began to read the book systematically and to ask questions at the talks every week. In 1942, Aura became the first Colombian to accept the Faith. When she made her decision, in order to celebrate it, she prepared and offered a sabajo’n, a Colombian drink with some liquor. Her teacher, smiling, accepted the cup, and then said: “Mrs. Amita, this was our last drink. There is a law for the Bahá’ís which forbids alcoholic drinks.” She replied that normally she did not drink this type of drink but with it she had wanted to demonstrate that she was celebrating a special event. She said she naturally accepted and would follow this law. Mr. Sénchez came into the Faith some months after her.
Previously, Aura had joined her husband in activities with various associations but she had never made a personal commitment to any of them. When she officially became a Bahá’í, many people were surprised and made fun of the Faith in front of her. But being the only Colombian Bahá’í did not worry her; she shared the Teachings with everyone around her. Thus, the number of Bahá’ís soon increased, and Aurita was elected to the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Bogota, which was also the first in the country. Several of her friends also became fundamental pillars in the development of the Faith.
From the first moment of her life as a Bahá’í, her orientation and guidance were the Sacred Teachings, her behaviour exemplified simplicity, humility, and determined collaboration, both within and outside the
IN MEMORIAM
Aura Maria Berna] de Sdnchez
community. Parallel to teaching the Faith, she devoted her best efforts to the education of her two children, giving them the responsibility of demonstrating “a model of Bahá’í life.”
During the 19508, she travelled with her daughter to different places in the country, such as to the departments of Santander and La Guajira, to expand her beloved Cause. By 1960, she had moved to Manizales with the purpose of establishing a Local Assembly there, to help achieve the desired goal to elect the first National Spiritual Assembly of Colombia at Riḍván 1961. Her efforts were positively rewarded.
She always had deep conviction in the truth of Baha’u’llah and His Teachings, and was surrounded with the feeling of service. The last 15 years of her life were devoted to the care of the Bahá’í Center, and whoever entered into that house received affection and attention from her, in one way or another. Everyone who met her called her “Mamiz‘a.”
Until the last moment of her life, she counselled her family to be firm and constant,
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emphasising that the only real and enduring things are noble and pure acts in service to the Kingdom and to humanity.
On 15 August 1986 she took flight to the infinite, in true peace and tranquillity, at the home of her son in Bogota.
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA’I’s OF COLOMBIA
