FROM EDITOR AND ABBOT
Ruminations on
a Rummage Sale
by Daniel Durken, OSB
F
or the first time in our 150year history, Saint Johnʼs
Abbey had a rummage sale.
Brother Paul Richards, OSB, the
monasteryʼs subprior, suggested
that monks clean out our closets,
unload our lockers and bail out our bookcases for a couple
of good causes: to help tsunami victims and Darfur refugees. The response was positive, for most of us have said:
This is the prayer of the monk:
Why do I have so much junk?
We raised a siege against stuff—a typewriter that has become an antique, a painting that has lost its appeal, trousers
that are tight, coats, caps, scarves, gloves, shirts and shoes
that are seldom worn. Two empty monastery rooms were
filled with prime products for the successful May sale.
Affluenza
A contemporary concern for our addiction to acquiring more stuff is found in the challenging book Affluenza
(DeGraff, Wann, Naylor, San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler
Publishers, Inc., 2002). Affluenza is defined as “a painful,
contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt,
anxiety, and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of
more.” Examples abound:
• We have twice as many shopping centers as high schools.
• Seventy percent of us visit malls each week, more than
attend churches.
• Our CEOs now earn 400 times as much as average
workers.
• There are now more than 30,000 self-storage facilities in
the country; the industry has expanded fortyfold since the
1960s.
• The average size of new homes is more than double what
it was in the 1950s while families are smaller.
A rummage sale may not be the best answer to this plague
of affluenza. Often one personʼs junk becomes another
personʼs treasure. Taking our stuff to a Good Will store, the
Salvation Army or a St. Vincent DePaul center is a better
way to assure that our items get into the hands of those who
really need them.
As I do my fall cell-cleaning and take my extra trousers,
shirts and sweaters to the St. Cloud Good Will store this
week, I will remember that the best things in life are not
things. +
Saint Benedict
advises Pope
Benedict
by Abbot John Klassen, OSB
W
hen Cardinal Ratzinger was elected
Pope, the first reason
for his choosing the name of
Benedict was that his namesake, Benedict XV, served as
Pontiff from 1915-1922, inclusive of the trauma of World
War I. The second reason was the legacy of Saint Benedict,
the patron saint of Europe. I would like to reflect briefly
on some of the resources in the Rule of Benedict (RB) that
may well guide Pope Benedict in the awesome responsibility of leading our Church in this time.
LISTEN!
“Listen,” the first word of RB, is the fundamental stance
of those who try to live the gospel according to its precepts. We know that deep listening requires our best
energies: intellectual, emotional, spiritual. True listening
requires us to trust that the Holy Spirit is present as we
bring the gospel to our relationships and to our world. Out
of a fundamental respect for others we will come to God
and Godʼs truth for our life and our times. Our Church
needs a commitment to listening from Pope Benedict.
HUMILITY
Humility, the subject of the longest chapter in RB, allows
us to “let God be God,” to prefer nothing to Christ and to
realize that we are not God. Humility helps us recognize
that we are always learners, expanding our horizons, more
aware of the complex mystery of each human being and
the surprising ways that Godʼs grace works in each one of
us.
HOSPITALITY
Finally, a commitment to the Benedictine value of
hospitality could open the arms of the Church. Such a
stance harkens back to those stunning parables that Jesus
tells about the great feast, where the poor, the outcast, the
tax collectors are seated at the banquet table. Right now
some leaders in our Church are spending a disproportionate amount of energy trying to decide who is “inside” the
tent and who is “outside.” The virtue of hospitality is
suspicious of this activity. Seeing Christ in another is the
fundamental commitment.
I pray that Pope Benedict takes his namesake seriously
as a model for his leadership. +
The Abbey Banner Fall 2005 page 3
FEATURE
Hugh Witzmann, OSB
Shovels and hardhats stand at attention,
waiting for the groundbreaking ceremony.
Ground is broken and
construction begins on
the Abbey Guest House
by Daniel Durken, OSB
“The work of building a Guest House is the work of an entire community” (Abbot John).
Daniel Durken, OSB
T
The 510-foot utilities tunnel in the making
page 4 The Abbey Banner Fall 2005
here is a tradition that says,
“If it rains on your wedding day, itʼs good luck.” If
that tradition can be transferred to a
groundbreaking celebration, then the
Saint Johnʼs Abbey Guest House is off
to a good start.
on the banks of the Mississippi near
the St. Cloud Childrenʼs Home. Later,
when they procured the present area,
they settled on the other side of what
is now I-94 and constructed a wooden
building. But as Colman Barry, OSB,
writes in Worship and Work:
May 12 was a rainy, chilly day at
Collegeville. Umbrellas and rain coats
were more in evidence than hard hats
and shovels. Foresight, however,
provided a tent at the site of the ceremony and the 150 guests and monks
kept dry. The crowd processed from
the Great Hall to the site of the future
guest house east of the abbey church,
west of the Prep School and overlooking Lake Sagatagan.
ʻPrior Benedict and his confreres
began exploratory excursions across
their nearly 2,000 acres, through
the rolling woods in 1856. Inevitably they paused on the shore of the
delightful and large lake, set like a
jewel in the forest. The lake covered
three hundred and sixty acres, was
fed by springs and creeks, teemed
with several varieties of fish and
was hemmed in on all sides by
wooded shores . . .
After welcoming the assembly Abbot John Klassen, OSB, prefaced the
blessing of the area with these comments:
“When Boniface Wimmer sent five
monks out from Latrobe, Pennsylvania, to found a monastery near St.
Cloud, Minnesota, they first landed
ʻHere were water, woods, seclusion and natural surroundings that
could not but elevate the mind and
heart to God . . . In that year of
1865, as peace finally came to the
divided nation [after the Civil War],
Minnesotaʼs Benedictines decided
once and for all to build on that spot
Vincent James Associates Architects (VJAA)
FEATURE
Architect’s model of south side of the guest house, facing Lake Sagatagan
“Those last words are important. It
has taken so long to get to this point
because this monastic community
wanted to invite our guests to a place
ʻwhere all nature seemed to combine
in securing the development of the
Benedictine tradition of peace.ʼ
“As you can see, this is the place. It
is, more or less, the place where those
Architect’s
concept of the
meditation chapel
of the guest house
monks first stood overlooking the
lake, filled with such hope. We pray
that when this building is completed,
you and many others will come to this
place and know peace.
LEAD DONORS FOR THE
ABBEY GUEST HOUSE
“Hospitality always works both
ways. The roles of ʻguestʼ and ʻhostʼ
are fluid, dynamic. We know you will
give something to us as well, and it
will be most unexpected but, in the
way of the Spirit, it will be exactly
what we need.
(continued next page)
VJAA
where all nature seemed to combine
in securing the development of the
Benedictine tradition of peace.ʼ
Barbara and Steve Slaggie,
Winona, Minnesota
Julia and Frank Ladner,
Lawrenceville, Illinois
Jackie Breher and Bill Jackson,
Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Joyce and Bill Sexton,
Scottsdale, Arizona
Diane Liemandt-Reimann and Ron
Reimann, Tonka Bay, Minnesota
McGough Companies,
St. Paul, Minnesota
John Burns and Steven Pederson,
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Lawrence Kelly Estate,
Campbellsport, Wisconsin
Norma Culhane, San Angelo, Texas
Lois and John Rogers,
Long Lake, Minnesota
Florence Moritz,
St. Cloud, Minnesota
Rev. Ken Knoke,
Reynolds, North Dakota
Ellen and Bob Shafer,
Rye, New York
Joleen Durken,
Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota
Joy and Brian Crevoiserat,
Lakeview, Minnesota
Sandy and Bob Klas,
St. Paul, Minnesota
Rev. Marty Cullen,
Fargo, North Dakota
The Abbey Banner Fall 2005 page 5
FEATURE
Lee Hanley
Abbot John lends a mechanical
hand in the construction work on
the guest house.
“The care of guests has always been
an important work in the life of monastic communities. In his Rule, Saint
Benedict instructs us that, ʻAll guests
who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will
say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me.ʼ The Letter to the Hebrews
adds, ʻDo not neglect hospitality, for
through it some have unknowingly
entertained angels.ʼ
“We regularly pray the psalm: ʻIf the
Lord does not build the house, in vain
do its builders labor.ʼ Whenever we
look to the interests of our neighbors
and serve them, we are Godʼs own coworkers. Let us pray for Godʼs help
through this celebration that God will
bring this construction to successful
completion and keep those who work
on it safe from injury.”
The following passage from Saint
Paulʼs First Letter to the Corinthians
(3:9-11) was read by Novice Andrew
Coval, OSB:
“We are Godʼs co-workers, working
together; you are Godʼs field, Godʼs
building. According to the grace of
God given to me, like a skilled maspage 6 The Abbey Banner Fall 2005
ter builder I laid a foundation and
another is building upon it. Each
builder must choose with care how
to build on it. For no one can lay
any foundation than the one that has
been laid: that foundation is Jesus
Christ.”
Abbot John then blessed the guests
and the ground with holy water. Major
donors to the project joined him in the
breaking of the ground.
Following the groundbreaking, the
Eucharist was celebrated in the Abbey Church after which guests joined
the monks for dinner in the monastic
refectory. The celebration concluded
with Evening Prayer in the abbey
church.
Construction begins on the
utilities tunnel
After Prep School graduation and
the Memorial Day weekend, work
began on the first phase of the construction, the utilities tunnel. Gohman
Construction Company of St. Joseph,
Minnesota, is building this 510-foot
long tunnel that begins between Alcuin
Library and Peter Engel Science Cen-
ter, cuts through the east parking lot
and connects with the guest house site.
The tunnel will carry phone lines, fiber optic, video and voltage cables as
well as steam and chilled water pipes.
A pedestrian tunnel will allow guests
a covered walkway from the guest
house to the church. The utilities tunnel was expected to be completed in
mid-August before the start of classes.
In his July letter to the monastic
community, Abbot John announced
that this new facility is named Saint
Johnʼs Abbey Guest House. Because
this does not clearly describe what
the facility is all about, a header—A
Place of Spiritual Renewal—is being
used. The community also desires
to recognize the pioneering efforts
and vision of Jerome Theisen, OSB,
eighth abbot of Saint Johnʼs (197992), who recognized the need for such
a facility. A space in the building will
be dedicated to a plaque that notes his
singular contribution. +
Daniel Durken, OSB, is editor of The
Abbey Banner.
FEATURE
The Abbey of Metten in Bavaria was founded in 766.
From here Boniface Wimmer established
St. Vincent Archabbey in 1846.
Here are the
Sesquicentennial Highlights
by William Skudlarek, OSB
From April 6, 2006, to November 10, 2007
S
aint Johnʼs Abbey and University will officially open its
one-and-a-half year sesquicentennial celebration on Wednesday,
April 6, 2006, the 150th anniversary
of the departure of five Benedictine
monks from Saint Vincent Monastery
in Pennsylvania for the Minnesota
Territory.
Special tribute will be given
to the Sisters of Saint Benedictʼs Monastery, St. Joseph,
Minnesota, and their living witness of
“seeking God after the monastic manner of life.” They will be commemorating their own sesquicentennial
during 2007 and the celebrations will
be both separate and coordinated.
The day will feature the launching
of the Saint Johnʼs sesquicentennial
book of essays and photographs, This
Place Called Collegeville: Saint
Johnʼs at 150, edited by Hilary Thimmesh, OSB. In the afternoon Douglas
Nowicki, OSB, Archabbot of Saint
Vincent Archabbey, will preside at the
community Eucharist. Other celebratory events and exhibits are being
planned for the day.
Spring 2006 events in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud will commemorate
the arrival of the Benedictine monks
as they made their way up the Mississippi River. A special exhibit,
“Benedictines in Central Minnesota,”
is scheduled to open at the Stearns
County Historical Museum in May
2006.
Abbey Archives
The Saint Johnʼs Sesquicentennial will honor the past, but it will
also be about now and the next 150
years. Woven into every feature of
the celebration will be an expression
of gratitude for employees, students,
A drawing of St. Vincent Archabbey in
1855, the year it became an abbey
The principal celebration of the
Saint Johnʼs Sesquicentennial will
take place on June 24, 2006, the
Feast of the Nativity of Saint John the
Baptist, patron saint of the abbey and
its schools. After a festive Eucharist
presided by the abbot of Saint Michaelʼs Abbey, Metten (Saint Johnʼs
“grandmother house” in Germany),
the campus will become a picnic and
fairgrounds for friends and neighbors.
Throughout the 2006-2007 academic year there will be musical perfor-
Abbey Archives
neighbors, alumni, parents,
friends, Oblates—everyone
who contributes to the shaping
and flourishing of Saint Johnʼs.
mances, educational symposiums,
spiritual life programs and special
liturgies. A number of regular occasions, such as lectureships, will have
a sesquicentennial flavor. A special
sesquicentennial concert on September 29, 2006 (Homecoming Weekend)
by musicians from the college, prep
school and local area will feature
Poulencʼs Concerto for Organ, Strings
and Timpani in G Minor, with Professor Kim Kasling as soloist, as well
as compositions that reflect the rich
musical tradition of Saint Johnʼs.
The completion of The Saint Johnʼs
Bible and the dedication of the new
Abbey Guest House, both scheduled
to take place during the sesquicentennial, will emphasize the forward looking nature of the commemoration.
The sesquicentennial observance
will conclude on November 10, 2007,
the 150th anniversary of the first day
of class at Saint Johnʼs. +
William Skudlarek, OSB, and Patti Epsky
are co-chairs of the Sesquicentennial
Board.
The Abbey Banner Fall 2005 page 7
SESQUICENTENNIAL
Demetrius di Marogna, OSB, first prior of Saint John’s
1856: The first five Benedictines
come to Minnesota
Abbey Archives
by Daniel Durken, OSB, and David Klingeman, OSB
Westward Ho! And away they go!
A
s Saint Johnʼs prepares to
celebrate its sesquicentennial,
there are other 150-year anniversaries that might be remembered.
For example, in 1856
• The first railway bridge to span the
Mississippi opened between Rock
Island, Illinois, and Davenport,
Iowa.
• Marshall Field and Andrew Carnegie began their lucrative careers.
• Notables such as Sigmund Freud,
George Bernard Shaw, Booker
T. Washington, Oscar Wilde and
Woodrow Wilson were born.
• James Kelly and Jack Smith in
Melbourne, Australia, fought the
longest bare-knuckle boxing fight
in history for 186 rounds lasting
six hours and fifteen minutes.
But it is the Benedictine beginnings
in that year which capture our attention. In the gray dawn of April 5, the
Feast of Saint Benedict, five monks
of St. Vincent Monastery in western
Pennsylvania, set out for Minnesota.
They were Demetrius di Marogna,
Cornelius Wittmann, Bruno Riss, Benno Muckenthaler and Patrick Greil.
page 8 The Abbey Banner Fall 2005
Selected by Abbot Boniface Wimmer, OSB, who ten years earlier
brought the first Benedictines from
Germany to the United States, this
brave band was answering the plea of
Joseph Cretin, first bishop of the St.
Paul Diocese, to send missionaries
to Minnesota to care for the spiritual
needs of German immigrants.
Down the Ohio River and up the
Mississippi they sailed. When they
got to the newly opened railway
bridge at Davenport, their steamer
was barely able to pass between the
piers. In his 1888 memoirs, Father
Bruno described the ensuing tragedy.
The boilers of the steamboat that
followed exploded and its passengers
were killed. Two other steamers that
came to offer assistance also burned
and “hundreds of lives were lost.”
Presuming the monks had perished,
an Iowa priest sent the Davenport
paper with the news of the accidents
to St. Vincent where funeral services
were celebrated for the truly departed
monks. For another side of this story,
however, be sure to read the accompanying sidebar.
SESQUICENTENNIAL
The faithful five arrived safely in St.
Paul and two weeks later Bishop Cretin
ordained Cornelius and Bruno. They
reached their destination of St. Cloud
on May 20 and settled in two small log
cabins on the riverʼs west bank—the
land claim of Louis and William Rothkopp. The rest is history, recorded in
Worship and Work by Colman Barry,
OSB (Liturgical Press, 1993).
This motley crew of monks was led
by fifty-two-year-old Demetrius di
Marogna, OSB, born in Austria of a
noble Italian family. He was ordained
for the Augsburg Diocese in which he
served for two decades before coming to Chicago where he worked for
five years until he entered St. Vincent
Monastery and was soon appointed
prior (second in command).
His courtly manners, pastoral experience and command of languages
made Demetrius a natural leader. But
poor health soon necessitated his
move to the pastorate of Assumption
Church in St. Paul and then to Florida.
He returned to St. Paul where he died.
He was buried at Saint Johnʼs in 1869.
Four months later, Cornelius moved
the monastery and school eight miles
west to St. Joseph. The following
year he went to Shakopee on the
Minnesota River where some of the
community hoped to move the school.
There he started constructing the first
building until he was advised to discontinue his work.
As a hobby Cornelius carved
numerous wooden statues
and crucifixes
until he became
totally blind.
Saint Johnʼs
living senior member,
104-year-old Angelo
Zankl, OSB, had the duty
as a novice of pushing
Cornelius in his wheel
chair to the chapel. He
died at age ninety-two.
(continued next page)
Abbey Archives
Cornelius Wittmann, OSB,
prior, pastor and first professor of St. John’s Seminary
The wood carvings of the crucifix,
Saints Benedict and Scholastica
were made by Father Cornelius.
A Monk’s Tale?
by Dolores Schuh, CHM
L
ocal histories of Davenport,
Iowa, do not confirm Father
Brunoʼs story about the tragedy
of the three steamers. Davenport
Library records reveal that the
side-wheel steamer, the Effie
Afton, hit a pier of the bridge on
May 6, 1856, about two weeks
after the railroad bridge was
completed. The bridge and the
boat caught on fire and a “number of persons” drowned. Some
accounts record no loss of lives
at all but only that of bridge and
boat.
The steamboat company sued
the Railroad Bridge Company
and the latter was defended by an
Illinois lawyer named Abraham
Lincoln! Although there was a
hung jury and the case was dismissed, Lincolnʼs reputation as a
great trial lawyer was solidified.
Alan Reed, OSB
Cornelius Wittmann, OSB, came
from Bavaria, entered St. Vincent
Monastery and was ordained in St.
Paul on his way to St. Cloud. When
Saint Johnʼs Seminary was opened
November 10, 1857, Cornelius held
the positions of president and sole
professor of the school, prior and pastor of St. Cloud. Five students moved
into the shanty shelter of the monks
and studied history, English, German,
Latin, Greek, astronomy, rhetoric and
mathematics.
Brian Boosel, OSB, assistant archivist of Saint Vincent
Archabbey, could find no mention of funeral services for any
monk there in 1856. There are
no deaths listed in the necrologies for the congregation for the
year 1856. Evidently Bruno was
a good storyteller who enjoyed
enhancing, embellishing and
enlarging his tales.
Dolores Schuh, CHM, is the copy
editor of The Abbey Banner.
She lives with her community in
Davenport, Iowa.
The Abbey Banner Fall 2005 page 9
SESQUICENTENNIAL
Abbey Archives
Daniel Durken, OSB
The tombstones of the Minnesota pioneer
Benedictines: Demetrius, Cornelius and Benno
are buried at Saint John’s; Bruno is buried in St.
Joseph’s Cemetery, Spring Valley, Illinois.
be
yA
rch
iv e s
The first of the two brother
Another Bavarian, Bruno
pioneers, Benno MuckRiss, OSB, entered St.
enthaler, OSB, was the
Vincent Monastery and
chief cabinetmaker at
was ordained with
St. Vincent Monastery
classmate Corneuntil he joined the
lius. Saint Johnʼs is
Minnesota missionarindebted to Bruno
ies. His carpentry
for exploring and
skills provided more
choosing its present
adequate housing for
site high above Lake
the
community than
Sagatagan. He recthe original two 12ʼx
ognized the potential
12ʼ log cabins offered.
of the “Indianbush”
area four miles west of
A memorable conSt. Joseph and secured
tribution of Benno was
the land by erecting claim
Ab
the acquiring in 1857 of a
shacks and posting land ap150-pound bell from
plication signs.
Bruno Riss, OSB, pastor,
his Bavarian relatives.
explorer and a not too
reliable chronicler
This was the first bell
Bruno returned to St.
in Stearns County and
Vincent Monastery and was
was later installed in the turret of the
assigned to parishes in Illinois and
first permanent structure at the ColPennsylvania. Later he joined the
legeville site. Bennoʼs sudden death
new Benedictine priory of Cluny
in 1859 put a strain on the struggling
in southern Illinois and served as a
community so much in need of his
hospital chaplain. He died in 1900
and is buried in St. Josephʼs Cemetery, building expertise.
Spring Valley, Illinois.
page 10 The Abbey Banner Fall 2005
Little biographical information is
available about the second brother
pioneer, Patrick Greil, OSB. He was
the community cook and bore the
brunt of the first studentsʼ complaint
that “We never had pie or delicacies—
in fact there is serious doubt whether
our culinary lord ever knew of these
agreeable items.” Patrick left the
community around 1865 and moved
to Oregon where he eventually married. He died in 1902 near Kalama,
Washington.
These are the first five fearless
monks, the original bare-knuckle
fighters who not just for six hours
but for years “fought the good fight,
finished the race and kept the faith”
(2 Tim 4:7). Our gratitude to them is
as immeasurable as the hardships they
endured. +
Daniel Durken, OSB, is the senior editor
of Liturgical Press. David Klingeman,
OSB, is the abbey and university archivist.
FEATURE
Pope Benedict XVI
Is he signaling another Johnnie touchdown?
A Benedictine monk
meets Pope Benedict
by Kilian McDonnell, OSB
W
hen The Abbey Banner
editor was looking for a
monk who had personal
contact with the newly elected Pope
Benedict XVI, he learned that I had
several meetings with Joseph Cardinal
Ratzinger over the years.
said that he chose
the name because
Pope Benedict XV
(1914-22) had been
a prophetic voice during World War I.
Benedict XVI therefore wants to be a
pope of reconciliation and harmony.
About twenty years ago I met with
twenty-five cardinals and theologians
at the Unity Secretariat in Rome and
among them was Cardinal Ratzinger.
Five years later the cardinal had some
theological issues with a well known
priest and I was asked to be the
priestʼs theological advisor when he
spoke with the cardinal. Admittedly,
this is a slim basis for bragging rights.
He also mentioned St. Benedict
and the Benedictines as a reason for
choosing the name. As a cardinal, he
often spent his holidays in Benedictine monasteries. The new pope specifically mentioned the Benedictines
as important for “the unity of Europe
and a strong reminder of the inalienable Christian roots of its culture and
its civilization.”
In 2000 Cardinals Ratzinger and
Walter Kasper had something of a
public debate on the issue of the relationship of the local, diocesan church
to the universal church. In 2002 I
published two articles in Theological Studies supporting Kasper against
Ratzinger. My father used to tell me
that I always put my money on the
wrong horse.
Clearly, Benedict XVI is concerned
about the Christian nature of European culture. This is seen in the vigorous defense the Vatican made for the
inclusion of a reference to the historic
role Christianity played in the spiritual
and cultural formation of Europe, a
reference which was excluded from
the prologue to the constitution of the
European Union (EU).
Why did the cardinal choose the
name Benedict? Ratzinger himself
This same position is seen in Cardinal Ratzingerʼs opposition to the
Catholic News Service
The author answers the question:
Why did Cardinal Ratzinger choose the name Benedict?
entrance of Turkey into the EU. There
is some alarm concerning the immigration of large numbers of Moslems;
other countries have similar concerns.
The Cardinal is not denigrating the
faith or culture of Moslems. Rather,
his opposition is related to something
to which he looked to the Benedictines to model for Europe and the
world, namely, the unity of Christian
culture. Turkey does not fit into this
cultural unity.
Finally, Pope Benedict XV protested the genocide of the Armenians
between 1915 and 1918. Today in Armenia one finds a monument to Pope
Benedict XV. The new Pope Benedict
XVI likewise wishes to be a defender
of the oppressed. +
Kilian McDonnell, OSB, is the founder
and president of the Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research at Saint Johnʼs.
He has published several volumes of his
poetry.
The Abbey Banner Fall 2005 page 11
FEATURE
The 2005-2006 Saint John’s
Boys’ Choir
Cass Mackert
as “the Alliance World Festival of
Singing for Men and Boys”) six times
which brings together outstanding
national and international male choirs;
the liturgies of Christmas and Holy
Thursday; and the annual Thanksgiving weekend concert of alumni and
current members.
120 rambunctious songsters and thirty
kids with angelic voices were lucky
enough to be accepted. “We were off
to a roaring start,” Paul remarks.
During his sophomore year he
became interested in monastic life
and spent the January term with the
Trappist community in Snowmass,
Colorado. After his junior year he
volunteered to teach at the Benedictine
Colegio San Antonio Abad in Puerto
Rico where he lived and prayed with
the monks and solidified his interest in monastic life at Saint Johnʼs.
He entered the novitiate in 1978 and
professed his first vows the following
year.
Asked for the highlights of these
twenty-five years, Paul mentions the
tours that include Japan, England,
Italy and from coast to coast in the
States; the popular “Boys on Broadway” performance of show tunes
which once gave Paul the chance to
play Elvis in “Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; hosting
the AmericaFest program (now known
Even though he never played a band
instrument or attended a band concert,
Paul was asked to direct the Prep band
and choir. In the spring of 1981 Paul
approached Abbot Jerome Theisen,
OSB, with the idea of beginning a
boysʼ choir to sing at the abbeyʼs
Christmas Midnight Mass. With the
abbotʼs blessing and a gift of $2,500,
Paul contacted local grade school
music teachers and asked them to
recommend talented boys in the fourth
through sixth grades. He auditioned
When asked what the hardest part
of his work is, Paul replied, “Keeping the kids challenged. They are so
bright!” +
Daniel Durken, OSB, is the editor of
The Abbey Banner.
Bret Amundson
music theory to catch up with his
classmates. He joined the Menʼs Chorus, took piano lessons and focused on
voice and choral music.
Choir members learn more than
music. They develop self-discipline, a
sense of commitment, poise and selfconfidence. Their tours give them opportunities to stay with host families
and see how other people live. They
become aware of global issues like
poverty and homelessness. In turn
these youngsters are admired for their
talent, curiosity, spirit and communication skills.
The Saint John’s Boys’ Choir singing in St. Joseph’s Church in
Greenwich Village, New York City, during their 2005 tour
The Abbey Banner Fall 2005 page 13
FEATURE
The informal Father Hilary
Hilary Thimmesh, OSB,
has served fifty-plus years
and is still going strong
Bill Harvey
by Patrick McDarby, OSB
T
o write about Father Hilary
letʼs begin by paraphrasing
the adage, “Youʼve Come a
Long Way from . . . Osakis!”—actually, from a farm near this town
(population 1300) fifty miles west of
Collegeville. There the first of the
seven children of Theodore and Frances (Schmidtke) Thimmesh was born
in 1928 and baptized Donald Merlin.
Ever precocious, five-year-old
Donald started first grade in a oneroom, eight-grade schoolhouse. At
Osakis High he worked on the school
newspaper, participated in speech,
drama and chorus activities and was
valedictorian of his class. He won a
state scholarship which paid half the
tuition to the Minnesota college of his
choice, Saint Johnʼs, where the tuition
was only $500 in 1946.
Initially an English major with
journalism as a possible career,
Donald was influenced by Godfrey
Diekmann, OSB, and his impassioned
page 14 The Abbey Banner Fall 2005
Hilary has been professor, prior, president
and apostolic administrator.
presentation of classic Christian
spirituality. He soon decided to join
the monastic community. Given the
name Hilary, he made his commitment
to the Benedictine way of life in 1948,
pursued theological studies and was
ordained to the priesthood in 1954.
Later he earned a doctorate
in medieval English from
Cornell University, Ithaca,
New York.
Various assignments
Hilary began his years of
service to Saint Johnʼs educational apostolate with a year
of teaching English in the
Prep School. He is still going
strong with his current full
load as teacher and dormitory
resident in the university.
In his First Communion picture
the young Thimmesh is the
front and center lad with the
shock of dark hair.
His administrative assignments
include: director of Saint Anselm Hall,
the former living and study facilities
for pre-seminary college students; director of the abbeyʼs Oblates; academic dean of the university; director of
the Hill Individual Learning Program;
FEATURE
Abbey Archives
Hilary is the first actor in the
back row of the 1946 university
production of “Hamlet,” directed
by Dominic Keller, OSB.
chair of the English department; apostolic administrator of Saint Martinʼs
Abbey, Olympia, Washington; prior of
the abbey; and a nine-year term (19821991) as president of the university.
In his spare time he is now editing the
sesquicentennial (150 years) history of
Saint Johnʼs.
University president
Asked what he thought he accomplished in his most visible and
demanding task as president of the
university, Hilary responded:
“I like to think that I consistently
supported our great tradition of
dedicated classroom teaching, coming back repeatedly to the central role
of the faculty and the importance of
positive faculty-student relations. At
the risk of some misunderstanding and
ill-feeling I fostered a larger role for
women in the university. The present
core curriculum dates from the last
years of my term.
“There was a whole range of practical initiatives to consider such as
financial aid, the threat of declining
enrollment, the need for a standard
faculty handbook. The nature of the
presidentʼs job is to be engaged in
critical issues more or less constantly,
some of them high profile, others
down in the boiler room, but all in
need of attention.
“I found that fund raising grows
exponentially. Michael Blecker, OSB,
my predecessor, got us into systematic
fund raising but had to be satisfied
with modest goals. In my time we
could aim higher. I am particularly
happy about the separate campaign for
the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library
endowment that resulted from a well
thought out strategy and gave the
library the beginning of solid financial
footing.
“On sexual harassment and many
other issues I worked closely and happily with the presidents of the College
of Saint Benedict, Sisters Emmanuel
Renner, OSB, and Colman OʼConnell,
OSB. Human rights and human
resources received rapid and sophisticated development in
those years.”
monastic vocation, Hilary believes
that the Rule of Saint Benedict was
written for educated people or those
being educated. Benedict not only
expects his monks to be literate but to
spend a whole lot of time in serious
reading. Thus Hilary sees education as
an eminently monastic work.
Shrugging off the suggestion that he
is a “wise old monk,” Hilary notes the
risk of mistaking prolonged adolescence for holy simplicity. “We are
perhaps too well taken care of for our
own and for the worldʼs good. We
need to counter-balance our security
by accepting real responsibilities for
other people.”
This is but a snippet about Hilary,
certainly not enough about the person,
his humor, his perseverance bordering on Luxemburger stubbornness, his
becoming teary-eyed when declaiming a passage from Shakespeare, his
measured reasonableness, his kindness. All that, and more, awaits his
biographer. +
Patrick McDarby, OSB, is a retired
English teacher and editor of CONFRERE, the in-house newsletter of Saint
Johnʼs Abbey.
Reflections on
monastic life
As for the relationship
between his academic
career and his basic
Hilary and Todd McNerny
enjoy a visit on a
sunny hillside.
The Abbey Banner Fall 2005 page 15
JUBILARIANS 2005
Seventeen monks celebrate significant jubilees
Jerome Coller, OSB
MONASTIC PROFESSION
After teaching theology in the university
and at the Colegio San Antonio Abad in
Puerto Rico and serving as an associate
pastor, Father Jerome became professor
of music at Saint Johnʼs with concentration on piano and composition. He is
a regular weekend parish assistant, an
abbey organist and the abbeyʼs distributor of Mass stipends.
70 YEARS
Mark Schneider, OSB
After teaching Latin and religion classes
and serving as chaplain at the Prep
School for twenty-six years, Father Mark
spent his next thirty-one years as chaplain
at various hospitals and nursing homes.
His story telling and imitations are legendary and occasionally he can still be
heard singing or humming a tune in his
Retirement Center room.
Roger Kasprick, OSB
Father Rogerʼs assignments include
teaching art and theology at Saint
Johnʼs and the College of Saint Benedict, editor of Sisters Today magazine,
Master of Novices, faculty resident in
campus housing, assistant pastor, nursing home and hospital chaplain and retreat work. He is presently the assistant
abbey guestmaster.
60 YEARS
Florian Muggli, OSB
Five years of teaching mathematics
preceded Father Florianʼs sixteen years
of steadfast service as treasurer of Saint
Johnʼs Corporation. He then began thirty-one years of parochial ministry, highlighted by consolidation of two parishes
in Hastings, Minnesota, and construction
of the communityʼs new church.
50 YEARS
Jonathan Fischer, OSB
Father Jonathanʼs earliest assignment
was that of assistant director of the once
popular summer retreats at Saint Johnʼs.
He then taught German and religion
in the Prep School, served as pastor
of several parishes, chaplain of Saint
Benedictʼs Monastery and field director in Germany for the Hill Monastic
Manuscript Library. He is now chaplain at two hospitals in St. Paul.
Timothy Kelly, OSB
Abbot Timothyʼs first assignments were
in Mexico, Bahamas, The Bronx, and
Crookston, Minnesota. He then served as
Novice Master, taught theology at Saint
Johnʼs and was administrator of Belmont
Abbey, North Carolina. He led the Collegeville community as abbot for eight
years and is now Abbot President of the
American-Cassinese Congregation.
James Tingerthal, OSB
Initially a Saint Johnʼs Prep School
mathematics teacher, director of its Study
Abroad Program and headmaster, Father
James then served as director of corporate
enterprises and construction supervisor.
He also worked as director of special
events and manager of campus facilities. He recently completed a three-year
term as administrator of St. Leoʼs Abbey,
Florida.
page 16 The Abbey Banner Fall 2005
25 YEARS
Robert Pierson, OSB
Pastor of two parishes, director of field
education, spiritual director, vice-rector and rector of Saint Johnʼs Seminary
and School of Theology and the abbeyʼs
vocation director have been Father
Robertʼs assignments. He is currently chaplain and director of campus
ministry at Saint Johnʼs and sponsor of
Catholic ministry and liturgy at the St.
Cloud Correctional Facility.
Kevin Ludowese, OSB
Brother Kevin worked in the woodworking shop and was in charge of
the abbeyʼs cemetery and funerals. As
an assistant in the abbey archives he
acquired an encyclopedic knowledge of
persons and events. He is now responsible for the serving and cleanup of the
monasteryʼs evening meal. He processes community garbage and recyclables.
JUBILARIANS 2005
David Klingeman, OSB
Magnus Wenninger, OSB
Before he became abbey and university
archivist, Brother David interned in the
universityʼs administrative computing
services and worked in the Alcuin Library as technical services clerk, government documents librarian and circulation
librarian. He served as secretary for
community chapter meetings and is now
an abbey organist and the music director
of the Collegeville parish.
PRIESTHOOD ORDINATION
60 YEARS
Philip Kaufman, OSB
The abbeyʼs only living convert from Judaism, Father Philip served for eighteen
years as business manager and teacher of
history and religion at Saint Augustineʼs
Monastery and College, Nassau, Bahamas. Then he was involved in ecumenical, retreat and adult education projects.
He is the author of the best-selling book,
Why You Can Disagree and Remain a
Faithful Catholic.
Burton Bloms, OSB
Wherever and whenever leadership was
needed, Father Burton was assigned. He
directed schools in Mexico City, Humacao, Puerto Rico, Nassau, and St. Louis
Park, Minnesota. He served as pastor
in The Bronx and Minnesota as well as
chaplain to Benedictine monastics in
Mexico and to local senior citizen communities. He founded and supports an
orphanage in Mexico City.
Fintan Bromenshenkel, OSB
Father Fintan taught mathematics and
physics in the Prep School and mathematics in the university before becoming director of Saint Johnʼs Computing
Center and a computer programmer and
analyst. He recently completed fifteen
years of his “retirement career” as business manager of Saint Augustineʼs Monastery and College, Nassau, Bahamas.
After teaching mathematics and serving
as accountant and comptroller of Saint
Augustineʼs College, Nassau, Bahamas,
Father Magnus taught mathematics in
the university and was the accountant for
Liturgical Press. He was also director of
Oblates and chaplain for Benedictine monastics. His construction of polyhedron
models has won him an international
reputation.
50 YEARS
Hugh Witzmann, OSB
At the heart of Father Hughʼs ministry
are weekend pastoral assignments and
university courses in art history, photography and sculpture. His award-winning
sculptures have been widely exhibited
and his commissioned works appear in
museums, institutes and churches across
the country. He has received study grants
in this country and overseas.
Simon Bischof, OSB
Father Simonʼs major ministry has been
the parish apostolate. Except for brief
assignments as Prep School chaplain
and vocation director, he was pastor in
the dioceses of St. Cloud, Crookston and
Duluth and the Archdiocese of St. PaulMinneapolis. Congregational singing and
choral music have always been essential
to his ministry.
Allen Tarlton, OSB
Accepted by Saint Johnʼs for priesthood
studies when other communities would
not admit Afro-Americans, Father Allen
was ordained in 1955, the first Black priest
of his native Ohio. He taught English and
directed plays in the Prep School and
taught at St. Augustineʼs College, Nassau.
He is the assistant director of Oblates
and the editor of The Oblate Newsletter.
Photos by David Manahan, OSB
The Abbey Banner Fall 2005 page 17
THE ABBEY CHRONICLE
Fran Hoefgen, OSB
It’s time to turn over a new leaf.
What’s Up?
The Abbey Chronicle
by Daniel Durken, OSB
March 2005
 Vincent Tegeder, OSB, was honored on March 14 for his entertaining presentations at the monthly
luncheon meetings of the Administrative Assembly. For the past
decade this 94-year-old professor
emeritus of history and former
archivist, has regaled the audience with
vignettes of
early Collegeville people,
places and
events.
 Even though
Saint Benedict
says, “The life
of a monk ought
to be a continuous Lent” (RB,
49), there was
no protesting
when forty
Lenten days plus the Triduum were
duly celebrated. Then the Paschal
Candle was lit and ALLELUIA
again resounded in voices and
hearts. The monks who walked
or biked the Emmaus trail to St.
Josephʼs rectory on Easter Monday
were rewarded with a sumptuous
breakfast prepared under the direction of pastor, Gregory Miller,
OSB.
April 2005
Father Vincent
enjoys a
cookie and a
glass of milk.
page 18 The Abbey Banner Fall 2005
lights in front
of the sanctuary. A photographic display
revealed that
sixteen confreres were
present at various papal audiences and had
their picture taken
with this pope.
 The Lenten Food Shelf Drive of our
two campuses netted 1,785 pounds
of food and $2,392.06 for food
shelves in Avon, Cold Spring, St.
Cloud and St. Joseph. The leaders of the 2005 drive were David
Schoenberg, Ginger Delles (SJU)
and Norma Dickau (CSB).
 The death of Pope John Paul II on
April 2 was commemorated with
the pontiffʼs photograph and vigil
Andrew Coval, OSB
T
he Collegeville summer is a
very busy one. Ginger Delles, director of Conferences
and Events, reports the Saint Johnʼs
2005 summer calendar listed 139
events involving 22,929 individuals.
From Juneʼs Minnesota State Frisbee
Tournament to Augustʼs Catholic Biblical Association Convention, there
is no danger of our forgetting Saint
Benedictʼs principle, “Idleness is the
enemy of the soul” (RB, 48).
Daniel Durken, OSB
“Summer ends, and Autumn comes, and anyone who would
have it otherwise would have high tide always and a full moon every night.” (Hal Borland)
May he rest
in peace!
 During Evening Prayer on April 3
Abbot John blessed six of the
scribes and artists who are working
on the calligraphy and illuminations
of The Saint Johnʼs Bible in the
Scriptorium in Wales. The scribes
have now completed Gospels and
Acts of the Apostles, Pentateuch,
Psalms and Prophets. The Historical Books, Wisdom, Letters and
Revelation are partially completed.
 The 2005 Maple Syrup Season began March 24 and ended April 10.
Dr. Stephen Saupe, professor of
biology at CSB/SJU, reported that
syrup-wise the season was disappointing with only forty-five gallons of syrup produced, mainly due
to unfavorable weather conditions.
On the positive side, 115 volunteers
donated more than 455 hours of
7.625”
THE ABBEY CHRONICLE
Jennifer Sainsbury, William
Skudlarek, OSB, and Alan
Christenson empty their sap
buckets into a holding barrel.
May 2005
 At the May 2 Academic Affairs
Awards Ceremony of the university
 On May 8 Saint Johnʼs graduated
427 undergraduate men, the second largest graduating class in the
universityʼs history, and 37 School
of Theology•Seminary graduates.
Neal Laloo, OSB, received the
B.A. in liberal studies; Matthew
Luft, OSB, received the M.A. in
liturgical studies; Walter Kieffer,
OSB, received the Master of Divin-  On May 21 the abbey sponsored the
ity degree. Dr. Martin E. Marty,
first ever Saint Johnʼs Abbey Rumprofessor
mage Sale. Monks were asked to
emeritus of
contribute their surplus stuff for the
the University
benefit of tsunami and Sudan relief.
of Chicago
Parents of members of the Saint
and author
Johnʼs Boysʼ Choir orgaized the
of more than
event under the direction of Paul
fifty books
Richards, OSB. Eager rummage
and thousands
sale shoppers waited an hour in the
of articles,
rain for the doors of the basketball
Martin Marty accepts
was given the the Pax Christi Award.
court to open. The area was loaded
Pax Christi
with books and blankets, clothing
(continued on next page)
Award, Saint Johnʼs highest honor
bestowed on those whose lives
exemplify Benedictine ideals.
Daniel Durken, OSB
Daniel Durken, OSB
Father Angelo celebrates his 104th
birthday with beer and cake.
 At Evening
Prayer on
Pentecost
Sunday,
May 15, the
Pax Christi
Award was
given to
His Beatitude
Ignatius
His Beatitude, Ignatius
IV Hazim,
IV Hazim, Patriarch of
the Orthodox Antioch, studies the
Pax Christi statuette of
Patriarch
Saint Benedict.
of Antioch.
The award
recognizes the patriarchʼs support
of the work of the Hill Museum &
Manuscript Library in its photographing of Orthodox manuscripts
throughout Lebanon, Syria, Turkey
and Ethiopia.
Andra Van Kampen
 The election of Joseph Cardinal
Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI on
April 19 was somewhat upstaged
by a special abbey event: the 104th
birthday celebration for Angelo
Zankl, OSB. At noon Father Angelo was serenaded with a spirited
“Happy Birthday” in the monastery
refectory and when asked what he
would like for lunch, he thought
a moment and said, “A beer!” He
then enjoyed an Old Milwaukee
with a piece of his special birthday
cake decorated with his birthdate,
1901. Angelo is the last link with
one of the first community members, Cornelius Wittmann, OSB,
who died two months after Angelo
made his first profession of vows in
1921.
of Arts on May 14 and viewed the
exhibit of The Saint Johnʼs Bible.
The exhibit with its breathtaking
display of original pages of calligraphy and illuminations proved to be
the Instituteʼs best attended event.
John Biasi
several monks were recognized:
Wilfred Theisen, Luke Steiner
and Melchior Freund (posthumously) promoted to the rank of
professor emeritus; Dennis Beach
and Michael Patella for ten years
of service; Wilfred for forty-five
years; Hilary Thimmesh, Luke
Steiner and J.P. Earls for forty-five
plus years. The retirements of Wilfred and Luke were noted. At the
Administrative Recognition Lunch
of the university on May 4 the following received Years of Service
Awards: Dennis Beach and Cyril
Gorman (10); Timothy Backous
and Kevin Seasoltz (15); Eric Hollas (25); Dunstan Moorse (30);
Jerome Tupa (40); Gordon Tavis
(50 years).
Stephen Saupe
service; two Syrup Festivals were
attended by more than 400 visitors; and 500+ school children were
given educational tours. Visitors
learned first-hand about the Benedictine values of work, community
and stewardship.
 Groundbreaking for Saint Johnʼs
Abbey Guest House took place on
May 12. (See pages 4-6)
 Two dozen monks attended a reception at the Minneapolis Institute
Rummage sale customers look for a
really good deal.
The Abbey Banner Fall 2005 page 19
THE ABBEY CHRONICLE
and candles, pictures and pots. One
could find tables, TVs and typewriters, bicycles, skis and filing
cabinets. Total sales amounted to
$5,500.
Walter Kieffer, OSB
 Sixty-six students were graduated
from Saint Johnʼs Preparatory
School on May 21, the largest
graduating class in almost thirty
years. The class included thirteen
students from the countries of
Bahamas, Ethiopia, Japan, Korea,
Russia, Spain and Taiwan.
 The community retreat,
May 29-June
3, was directed
by Eugene
Hensell, OSB,
of Saint Meinrad Archabbey
in Indiana.
The community’s
The theme of
retreat director,
the retreat was Father Eugene
“The Parables
Hansell, OSB
of Jesus: Paradigm for Monastic Life.ʼ Father
Eugeneʼs spirited presentation,
laced with humorous asides, was
well received by the community.
Andrew Coval, OSB
 The first Donor Appreciation Day
was held on May 29 to honor those
who help the abbey carry out its
mission through annual and planned
giving. About seventy-five guests
joined the community for Evening
Prayer. Due to inclement weather
the planned backyard cookout was
moved to the monastic refectory
which, however, did not dampen
the spirit of the occasion.
June 2005
 The circus came to Collegeville,
June 12-18. Inspired and directed
by Paul-Vincent Niebauer, OSB,
professional circus performer for
thirteen years, two dozen boys and
girls, aged twelve to sixteen, spent a
page 20 The Abbey Banner Fall 2005
Saint Joseph, Minnesota,
was invaded by circus clowns
during the Collegeville Circus
Camp.
 Five young men, identified in the
accompanying picture, participated
in the annual Monastic Experience
Program, June 18-July 13. They
became acquainted with Benedictine life through daily prayer,
work, meals and recreation with the
monastic community.
 On June 25 Abbot John, a 1967
Prep School graduate, received
the 2005 Armor of Light Award
at the 148th Anniversary Celebration Reunion Weekend of the Prep
School. This highest honor given by
the schoolʼs Alumni/ae Association
recognized Johnʼs “positive energy
and integrity as scientist, monk,
teacher, and abbot and his living the
Rule.”
 A veritable Marathon of Music was
held June 29-July 5, when Saint
Johnʼs Boysʼ Choir hosted The Alliance for Arts and Understanding World Festival of Singing for
Men and Boys, formerly known as
“AmericaFest.” About 500 singers, directors and chaperones from
California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, New Mexico and
Oregon as well as from the Czech
Republic, Denmark, Latvia and
Germany presented nightly concerts
in the church.
Thomas Gillespie
week learning and performing basic
circus skills. Performances were
given at the Benedictine parishes of
Collegeville, St. Joseph and Richmond.
Monastic Experience participants:
Front row, l. to r.: Joseph Sullivan,
assistant; Paul-Vincent Niebauer,
OSB, program director; Peter
Schommer. Back row, l. to r.:
John Waddell, Alan Traynor, John
Oshel, Jesse Timm
July 2005
 With the theme of “Forgiveness and
Reconciliation in Communities,”
the twentieth annual Monastic
Institute was held July 2-6. About
ninety participants heard presenters Abbot John and Mary Collins,
OSB, former chair of the religion
department of The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
 Seventy Oblates and Oblate candidates participated in their annual retreat, July 8-10. Theresa Schumacher, OSB, of Saint Benedictʼs
Monastery, St. Joseph, directed the
retreat on the theme of “The Spirituality of the Psalms.”
 Ten monks renewed their initial
commitment to the Benedictine
way of life and celebrated seventy,
sixty, fifty and twenty-five-year
anniversaries during the festive
Eucharist on the Feast of Saint
Benedict, July 11. A special feature
of the celebration was the choral performance of the National
Catholic Youth Choir, comprised
of forty-six young men and women
from nineteen states and directed by
Anthony Ruff, OSB and Dr. Axel
Theimer.
VOCATION NEWS
Some of the vocation directors of the
St. Cloud Diocese: l. to r.: Crosier Father
Stephan Bauer, Benedictine Sister Mary
Catherine Holicky, Diocesan Council
of Catholic Women Eva Koep,
Deacon Vern Schmitz, Benedictine Brother
Paul-Vincent Niebauer, Franciscan Sister
Marie Dockendorf
Vocation directors
help create a
vocation culture
Steve Gottwalt
by Paul-Vincent Niebauer, OSB
We all have a religious vocation.
A
t a recent meeting of the
St. Cloud Diocese vocation
directors, our religious leaders charged us to create a vocation
culture among the Catholics of this
region. Our task is to help both young
and old, married couples and singles
understand that a vocation is not just
a matter of becoming a priest, a sister,
a brother. Everyone has a religious
vocation.
Accomplishing this mission doesnʼt
mean just speaking to fifth graders
or high school sophomores. Since a
religious vocation is for everyone we
have to talk to everyone.
So we decided to go to parishes
and test the vocation culture of the
congregation. Our vocation office
provided a team of a priest or a
brother, a sister and a lay person. The
parish was asked to supply the pastor,
the permanent deacon (if available),
a married couple and a single lay
person. The congregation—from first
graders to grandparents—was encouraged to attend this program since
vocation is everyoneʼs privilege and
responsibility.
Each team member had five minutes to tell how he or she was living a
religious vocation. A vocation is not
the same as a job. A job starts when a
person is old enough to be hired to do
a particular task. A religious vocation
starts at baptism when we are initiated
into the Holy Family with God as our
Father, Jesus our brother and the Holy
Spirit our live-in counselor and consoler. A job ends. A religious vocation
is permanent.
Team members did not paint unrealistic pictures of daily life as priest,
religious, deacon, married couple
and single person. Each one spoke
honestly and frankly about the ups
and downs, the good days and the bad
days. No one played Superman or
Little Mary Sunshine.
The presentations were followed
by questions and comments from
the congregation. Thatʼs when the
fun began! Married couples began
to recognize that life with a spouse
and children has obvious connections
with life in a convent or a monastery.
Someone turns up the heat. Someone
turns down the heat. Quirks, habits,
idiosyncrasies, faults pop up and
have to be dealt with. Patience is in
large demand but in short supply. The
priestʼs rectory is as lonely a place as
the apartment of a single person or
even a family home at times.
The outbursts of laughter and the
stay-after conversations confirmed
the success of the program.We all are
more alike than different. Nobody
is perfect. We all have to return to
our original commitment as priest,
religious, husband, wife, sibling. The
answer to problems is not to give up
but to try harder. In other words, our
religious vocation as a Catholic Christian is a life style that is centered in
the love of Jesus Christ for me and for
those I live with, work with, pray and
play with. This is the vocation culture.
It is our response to Jesusʼ call of
“Come, follow me.” +
Paul-Vincent Niebauer, OSB, is the
vocation director of Saint Johnʼs Abbey.
The Abbey Banner Fall 2005 page 21
ABBEY MISSIONS
Prior Thomas Wahl, OSB (back left) and Kieran
Nolan, OSB (second from right in back row) gather
with Bishop Raphael Umemura of Yokohama (front
left) and Girard Raymond, C.Ss.R., with some
Fujimi parishioners for the fiftieth anniversary
celebration of the founding of the first Catholic
Church in the region, in Okaya City. The monks of
Trinity Benedictine Monastery are involved in
parochial ministry to Japanese and international
communities in the Yokohama Diocese.
Benedictines in
Japan serve
migrant population
by Edward Vebelun, OSB
Foreign-born Catholics compose fifty-five percent of Japan’s Catholic population.
F
or the first time in modern history, there are more than one
million Catholics in Japan, of
which 550,000 or fifty-five percent are
foreign-born. They worship alongside the 450,000 Japanese Catholics
who welcome to their churches these
Catholic immigrants.
A few years ago William Skudlarek,
OSB, traveled throughout the Yokohama Diocese to celebrate the Eucharist
in Portuguese with Brazilian Catholics. Kieran Nolan, OSB, and Thomas
Wahl, OSB, celebrate the Eucharist in
English with communities of Filipinos
in Fujimi, Kofu and Suwa.
Japan is a central figure in the global
economy and within the Catholic
population the majority are migrant
workers from Brazil, Peru and the
Philippines. The Benedictines of
Japan offer their services to meet the
special needs of these migrants.
Last April I began pastoral assistance at Sacred Heart Cathedral in
Yokohama. After years of Japanese
language study, it seemed ironic for
me to do ministry mostly in English.
But I quickly became aware of the
shortage of available English-speaking
priests and the desire for services in
English. I was greeted with requests
for chaplaincy services at the U.S.
Naval base at Negishi and at St. Maur
International School where children
from dozens of countries are educated.
At the Benedictine community in
Fujimi our first focus is to create a
place of prayer in the monastic tradition that welcomes guests to seek
God. We serve primarily the Japanese with a newsletter and parochial
ministry in Japanese. Service to the
foreign-born population, however,
has been a part of our mission since
Neal Lawrence, OSB, and Aloysius
Michels, OSB, began shepherding the
international community at the Meguro Church and Monastery in Tokyo
in the 1960s. English-speaking monks
from Minnesota continue to help care
for this far-flung flock.
It is more than just an outreach for
us foreigners to minister in our native
language to those who greatly need
the comforting sound of the gospel
in a familiar language. Our ministry
is also an extension to the Japanese
Catholic community that lies at the
root of the future Church in Japan.
Among the three hundred people
from thirty countries who overflow
the cathedral for Mass in English
every Sunday, about ten percent are
Japanese who attend because they like
the liveliness of the congregationʼs
participation.
These worshiping communities illustrate a richly diverse and growing
Church, even if that Church makes
up only a fraction of one percent of
the general population in Japan. Each
group brings its own cultural lens, and
faith is interpreted through the richness of contact with many religions
and philosophies.
Thus the real missionaries to Japan
are the many faithful Catholics in the
diverse Church of Japan. As Benedictines in Japan, one of the most valuable services we offer to the Church
is to provide the sacramental and
pastoral structure that supports and
nourishes these real missionaries in
their effort to communicate the hope
they find in Jesus Christ. +
Edward Vebelun, OSB, is a member of
Holy Trinity Benedictine Monastery in
Fujimi, Japan.
The Abbey Banner Fall 2005 page 23
OBITUARIES
Henry Bernard Anderl, OSB
1918 – 2005
A
sserting his tenacity to live when
he survived influenza when six
weeks old, Bernard was the fifth child
of Henry and Katherine (Schneider)
Anderl of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
David Manahan, OSB
David Manahan, OSB
The Ojibwa Native American Band of
Grand Portage made him an honorary
member, giving him the name “Ki wita ge-shig” (“Around the World”).
During the last decade of his active
ministry Henry was joined by Brother
John, his blood brother, and together
they served a Minnesota and Wisconsin parish.
Melchior Gerald Freund, OSB
1930 – 2005
Inseparable in their retirement at
Saint Johnʼs, Henry and John took
good care of each other. John served
Henryʼs daily Mass in their reserved
chapel and they ate their meals together in the monastic refectory. Both
are buried in their family plot in Chippewa Falls. May they rest in peace. +
M
usic, mathematics and meteorology were some of the defining
features of Father Melchiorʼs life at
Saint Johnʼs. This first son of Ivo and
Angeline (Ditter) Freund of Minneapolis, Gerald was encouraged by his
pastor, Father Pirmin Wendt, OSB,
to attend Saint Johnʼs Preparatory
School.
Father Henry earned the
masterʼs degree in economics
and business administration at
the University of Minnesota and
taught accounting at Saint Johnʼs
for fourteen years. He was the
faculty moderator and photographer of
the student yearbook, The Sagatagan,
and also moderated Young Catholic
Students groups.
Abbey Archives
Young Anderl studied at Saint
Johnʼs Preparatory School, University and Seminary. He was
given his fatherʼs name when he
entered the abbey. He made his
first profession of vows in 1939
and was ordained in 1945.
Father Henry and a student plan the
yearbook, The Sagatagan.
Building on his musical talent developed during grade school, Gerald
performed a piano concerto with the
university orchestra during his senior
year in high school. Willem Ibes,
a Saint Johnʼs faculty member and
concert pianist from the Netherlands,
gave him the opportunity to take lessons in Amsterdam during a summer
study abroad.
Back at Saint Johnʼs, Gerald entered
the monastic community and received
In addition to retiring a parish debt
two years ahead of schedule, Henry
helped restore St. Francis Xavier
Church, the last remaining building
of Indian Village, Chippewa City, the
forerunner of the city of Grand Marais.
page 24 The Abbey Banner Fall 2005
Abbey Archives
Henry then served as a hospital
chaplain, associate pastor and pastor
of several parishes. His most significant pastoral assignment was to the
communities of Grand Marais, Grand
Portage and Taconite Harbor in northeastern Minnesota.
Father Melchior stands beside the astronomy building north of the apple orchard.
OBITUARIES
Saint Augustineʼs College was well
on its way to becoming the premier
educational facility of the nation.
Melchior completed his college and
seminary studies and was ordained
in 1957 with Saint Johnʼs Seminaryʼs
largest class, a total of thirty-four
priests, twelve of them Benedictines.
He taught mathematics in the Prep
School and university and studied at
the Universities of Nebraska and Iowa
with an emphasis in astronomy.
When Saint Augustineʼs Monastery
was stable enough to become an independent priory, Father Silvan returned
to pastoral work in Nassau and Family
Island parishes. At one time or another he was the pastor of many of the
Nassau congregations.
When the computer age dawned,
Melchior learned its quirks and
quarks, designed a program for grading multiple-choice exams as well as
an inventory program for the chemistry department and taught introductory
courses in computer science.
For forty-two years Melchior was
Collegevilleʼs weather monk, daily
recording temperatures, precipitation and the first and last ice on Lake
Sagatagan.
A serious fall from the observatory
roof, heart fibrillation and lung cancer
all contributed to Melchiorʼs death.
May he rest in peace. +
Remember our loved ones who
have gone to their rest:
Colonel James Brummer
Marie Cordie
Rev. Frank Ebner
Julie Feders
Wilard Goltz
Doloria Jabas
Edmund Klein
Eugene Nestor
Mildred Ostrowski
Lorraine Raden
George Schneider
Alvina Smith
Gladys Tupa
Dorothy Wilberding
May they rest in peace!
Silvan Alvin Bromenshenkel,
OSB
1915 – 2005
A
lvin was the third of the nine
children of Alex J. and Theresia
(Unger) Bromenshenkel of Sauk Centre, Minnesota. After graduating from
high school he worked on the family
farm and in a retail dairy business. His
younger brother Alfred attended Saint
Johnʼs University and entered the
abbey with the new name of Fintan.
Alvin, deciding to follow suit, was
given the name Silvan in religion. He
made his first profession of vows in
1942.
The brothers soon parted company:
Fintan assigned to teach in the university and Silvan sent to the Bahamas
after his ordination in 1947. There he
served forty-seven years as teacher,
pastor, director of Oblates, editor,
administrator and archivist at Saint
Augustineʼs Monastery and College in
Nassau.
Silver-haired Silvan returned to the
college in 1985 and taught religion
classes. Always ready to fill a pastoral
need, he served a year as pastor of the
churches on San Salvador Island and
then returned to the monastery to offer
weekend assistance. Silvan and Fintan
were reunited in 1990 when the latter
began his “retirement career,” taking
charge of computer operations at the
school.
Silvan is also remembered as the
founding editor of Bahama Benedictine, a newsletter sent to friends
and benefactors of the monastery, as
director of Oblates and as community
archivist. He returned to Saint Johnʼs
in 1995 and patiently endured the travails of the aging process. A few hours
before he died in the early morning
of July 8 he had an alert conversation
with the prior of Saint Augustineʼs,
Mel Taylor, OSB, who had just arrived for a visit. May he rest in
peace! +
Father Silvan taught for nine years at
the newly built Saint Augustineʼs College for high school students. He then
served as rector of St. Francis Xavier
Cathedral and the Acting Chancellor
of the diocese for four years. He spent
three more years as pastor of a Family
Island parish and then succeeded Frederic Frey, OSB, as the prior of Saint
Augustineʼs Monastery.
To expand the school Silvan invited
his confrere, Burton Bloms, OSB, to
become headmaster. New buildings
soon filled with new students and
Abbey Archives
With his typical intensity Melchior
taught astronomy and mathematics at
Saint Johnʼs for over fifty years. He
designed a new $20,000 observatory.
David Manahan, OSB
the name Melchior, the traditional
name of one of the magi star-followers
of Matthewʼs Gospel.
Father Silvan checks a student’s work
at Saint Augustine’s College, Nassau.
The Abbey Banner Fall 2005 page 25
Clemens Schmidt
BANNER BITS
I
Benedictine Peace Statement 2005
n Fall 2002 Benedictine men
and women in the United States
presented a statement opposing the
proposed and unprecedented pre-emptive attack against the people of Iraq.
Today more than ever do we see that
violence and war do not lead to peace.
Thousands of vulnerable people in
Iraq have died or been displaced from
their homes, resulting in an increase
in terrorism and a destabilization that
threatens continued violence in this
world.
As Benedictine men and women, we
reverence the Gospel of Jesus Christ
who is called the “Prince of Peace.”
Our Benedictine manner of following the gospel has continued for 1500
years through faithfulness to this gospel, which teaches us to be just to all,
receiving all as Christ, and welcoming
especially the poor, the sick and all
who are needy.
We believe that violence does not
yield peace. We are concerned about
the military and political ethos of our
own country where justice is defined
on the basis of our self-interest rather
than on a consciousness that we are
page 26 The Abbey Banner Fall 2005
part of a common humanity. We are
deeply disturbed by
• policies of disinformation which
create distrust of our nation;
• policies that incarcerate citizens,
contrary to our Constitution;
• policies that incarcerate foreigners
without regard to accepted rules of
war;
• policies approving methods of
interrogation contrary to the Geneva
Conventions;
• policies that promote the use of
brute force rather than negotiation;
• policies which indicate our unwillingness to consider the advantages
of a world court where questions of
fair treatment of vulnerable persons
can be adjudicated.
As Christians and Benedictines we
call for a return to the basic moral
principles of our nation, principles
of justice for all, hospitality to the
oppressed and the immigrant, recognition and acceptance of legitimate
differences, help for the poor, the
deprived and the sick. We as a nation
must know that the user of power is
accountable to God, that might does
not make right, that respect for all
people is the duty of the civilized nations of this world.
As Christians and Benedictines
we believe that “Those who say, ʻI
love God,ʼ and hate their brothers or
sisters, are liars; for those who do not
love a brother or sister whom they
have seen, cannot love God whom
they have not seen. The commandment we have from [God] is this:
those who love God must love their
brothers and sisters also” (1 John 4:
20f.).
Our brothers and sisters include all
peoples, all races, all nations. If we
are indeed pro-life, we must be for
the lives of all people of this earth.
With Pope Paul VI in his address to
the General Assembly of the United
Nations, our cry from the heart is, “No
more war. War never again.” +
This statement was prepared on March 5,
2005, by leaders of Benedictine Congregations and Federations, subsequently
signed by 2,357 Benedictine men and
women and sent to President George W.
Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice.
BANNER BITS
An illuminated page of The Saint John’s Bible,
courtesy of the Hill Museum & Microfilm Library.
The Saint Johnʼs Bible
goes to prison
by Rev. Gary J. Ternes
“One evening I tried something different for our prison
‘Bible Study’ time.”
T
here is no shortage of Bibles in
prison. The chapel library always
has plenty of various versions of
the Bible ready for use by interested
inmates. As prison chaplain I receive
regular inquiries from groups willing
to supply Bibles to the prisoners.
The Bible is one of the few hard
cover books inmates can have as a
personal possession in their 9ʼ x 6ʼ
cell (most often shared with another
inmate and sometimes two). The
Bible is widely perceived as the ultimate self-help tool for correction and
governance.
One evening I decided to try something different for our prison “Bible
Study” time. My brother works for
The Saint Johnʼs Bible project and he
loaned me a copy of the BBC video
“The Illuminator” concerning this
project. I was impressed and wondered if this project would interest the
inmates. Surly inmates, disappointed
with the offering of the evening, had
walked out on me before, sometimes
taking several others with them.
Would this be one of those occasions?
Men in orange jump suits filled the
room. They were beginning their stay
in prison and most were bored, scared
and depressed. They come to chapel
events just for something to do and
maybe find something positive in an
environment of “No” – No freedom.
No family. No friends. No phone
calls. No visits. No job. No money.
No dignity. No forgiveness. No
trust. No love. No hope. Prison.
The video begins with the bells of
Saint Johnʼs Abbey calling the monks
and those within earshot to prayer.
The inmates easily settled in to the
spiritual mood of the video. Sitting
in the back of the room I watched
the men for signs of restlessness and
disruption. Soon I forgot my concerns
and watched the men enjoy the video
in the stark context of prison life.
When the film ended I asked the
inmates if they had any questions or
reactions. Silence. Then one bold
fellow just said, “Wow!” The men
started to murmur with agreement.
One after another expressed appreciation for the dedication, vision, art and
mysticism of the Bible project.
They picked up on the openness and
universality of the project. This, they
observed, is not a Bible that beats you
over the head for your sinfulness but
one that invites you to enter the mystery of God. The Bible project had
worked its magic and created another
welcome to the presence of God for
these men in orange.
Since that initial viewing I have
used the Bible video with inmates several times. Each time the message of
this project cuts through to the spirit
and announces Godʼs presence, not in
dogmatic words, but in the Word. It
elevates the Scriptures beyond memorized and quoted passages to a living
document of Godʼs life among us
today.
Religion versus spirituality is frequently a discussion topic for men in
prison. Often the message of religion
tends to proclaim who is right rather
than what is good. The spirituality of
the Bible project announces the Word
of invitation to spiritual goodness.
Through this video these prisoners
taste the freedom of that invitation
for a moment before returning to their
cells.
Following our discussion of “The
Illuminator” I usually ask the men to
use their time and spiritual talent to
explore the mystery of God within
themselves. After seeing the movie
and experiencing the golden touch of
God in the Bible project, everyone
in the room knows what Iʼm talking
about. The Word made Flesh takes
another incarnate step forward in the
Bible project. +
Gary Ternes is the Catholic chaplain at
the South Dakota State Penitentiary in
Sioux Falls.
The Abbey Banner Fall 2005 page 27
BANNER BITS
Members of the ninth annual Juniorate Summer
School gather for a parting photo. The two monks
in white habits are members of the Anglican Order
of the Holy Cross who follow the Rule of Saint
Benedict. J. P. Earls, OSB, director of the program, is in the left-hand, front corner of the group.
Saint John’s Abbey
hosts summer
session for junior
monks
by J.P. Earls, OSB
“My experience at Saint John’s was top notch Benedictine hospitality.”
I
t was like the “good olʼ days” of
the 1950s and 60s—the choir stalls
of the abbey church almost filled to
capacity, a breakfast bottleneck while
monks jockeyed for a turn at the milk
and coffee dispensers and monks with
hair, even dark hair, on their heads.
These welcome changes lasted two
weeks while thirty-one monks from
sixteen Benedictine communities
took part in the ninth annual Juniorate
Summer School at Collegeville from
June 12-25. The “junior monks” are
those who are in the formation process
between their first vows and their final
commitment of solemn vows. The
median age of the group was thirtyeight. Ages ranged from twenty-three
to fifty-seven.
The summer school centered on two
classes. Elliott Maloney, OSB, of St.
Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, taught “The Kingdom of God
and the Monk of Today,” a course on
the gospels. Jude Brady, OSB, of the
Benedictine Priory, Savannah, Georgia, presented “Community Life—The
Glory in the Cross of Benedictine
Monasticism.”
page 28 The Abbey Banner Fall 2005
A trip to the Minneapolis Institute
of Arts to view The Saint Johnʼs Bible
was arranged and directed by Michael
Patella, OSB, a member of the Bibleʼs
committee on illuminations. The
group also visited some of the used
bookstores in Stillwater, Minnesota.
Nearby Saint Benedictʼs Monastery
provided a tour of the Native American exhibit, “The Living Culture of
the Anishinabeg.” A fun time was had
by all at the Valley Fair amusement
park.
Reactions to the Juniorate Summer
School included the following:
“Beautiful campus, beautiful
forests and lakes, beautiful
people and beautiful, jolly and
hardworking monks—truly a
special place and a very purposeful junior summer camp.”
Lucas Sauls, OSB,
St. Leoʼs Abbey, Florida
“Everyone went out of their way
to make us feel welcome and to
make sure we had everything
we needed. It was a great
experience.”
Crispin Rork, OSB,
Blue Cloud Abbey, South Dakota
J.P. Earls, OSB, is the director of formation for Saint Johnʼs Abbey and the
facilitator of the 2005 Juniorate Summer
School.
NEW ABBEY
ASSIGNMENTS
Julius Beckermann: pastor of St.
James Parish, Jacobs Prairie, and
chaplain of Assumption Nursing
Home, Cold Spring
Isaac Connolly: Business Office
with attention to health care
expenditures
Joel Kelly: parochial assistance in
the high desert of southern California for relief of asthma
Doug Mullin: full-time teaching in
CSB/SJU Education Department
Robin Pierzina: director of Resdential Life in the university
BANNER BITS
David Manahan, OSB
Meet Father Cyril, our new doctor in the house.
Cyril Gorman, OSB,
earns doctorate in
theology
T
o write 369 pages on the topic of
perseverance took a lot of perseverance on the part of Father Cyril.
Last March, however, he successfully
defended his dissertation at the University of Notre Dame. Commencement on May 15 was doubly memorable for Cyril when baseball great,
Hank Aaron was given an honorary
doctorate.
Cyrilʼs dissertation, entitled “Augustine and High Medieval Theologies
of Perseverance: The ʻPerseveranceʼ
Teachings of Augustine, Thomas
Aquinas, Matthew of Aquasparta
and Gregory of Rimini” was written
under the direction of Dr. Joseph P.
Wawrykow.
Central to the theological battles of
the Reformation in the sixteenth century was the debate over grace, the issue
of faith versus works in which Martin
Luther was involved. The controversy,
however, began in the early Church no
later than the writings between Augustine (+430), known as the “Doctor of
Grace,” and his opponents. Augustine
taught that both the first grace of our
conversion and the final grace of perseverance are gifts of God.
Later theologians quote Augustine
extensively. The teaching of Thomas
Aquinas (+1274) on perseverance corresponds with the teaching of Augustine. But in the late Middle Ages the
Franciscan theologian, Matthew of
Aquasparta (+1302), lacked a correct
understanding of Augustineʼs teaching while the Augustinian theologian,
Gregory of Rimini (+1358), went
beyond what Augustine taught.
Cyrilʼs examination of these four
theologians convinced him that none
of these held the Churchʼs current
teaching, which allows for the possibility of all people being saved. From
his study, Cyril believes that if great
theological thinkers of the past could
disagree, we might be more tolerant and respectful of the theological
debates of our own time.
After his ordination in 1990, Cyril
served as an associate pastor, earned a
masterʼs degree in library science and
worked in the Alcuin Library at Saint
Johnʼs. He is presently the pastoral
editor at Liturgical Press. +
Brother Gregory accepts the
Saint John’s Cross (and a cookie).
M
aking it clear that he is NOT
retiring, Brother Gregory
graciously accepted the Lifetime
Achievement Award for his thirty years
of creative and dedicated leadership as
director and designer of Saint Johnʼs
Abbey Woodworking. Prior Raymond
Pedrizetti, OSB, made the presentation,
accompanied by the gift of a handcrafted Saint Johnʼs Cross, at a mid-afternoon celebration on June 30.
Gregory will continue to be actively
involved in the day to day operation
of the shop while Christopher Fair,
OSB, assumes the position of shop
supervisor. Brother Christopher has
completed a nine-month comprehensive course at the Center for Furniture
Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine.
Grounded in the work ethic of a
Stearns County native born in Melrose, Minnesota, seventy-one years
ago, Gregory was assigned to do carpentry work as a monastic candidate
and novice. After his first profession
of vows in 1952 he continued this
work at Saint Johnʼs for another five
years.
Lee Hanley
Gregory Eibensteiner, OSB,
receives Lifetime Achievement Award
He then brought his repair and
maintenance skills to the Saint Johnʼs
Indian Missions in Red Lake and
White Earth, Minnesota, and to St.
Anselmʼs Parish in the Bronx, New
York, for the next nineteen years. He
became the director/designer of woodworking at the abbey in 1976. +
The Abbey Banner Fall 2005 page 29
SPIRITUAL LIFE
Clemens Schmidt
How to do a
Benedictine Day
of Prayer
by Simeon Thole, OSB
Guests enjoy the relaxing rhythm of prayer, meals, silence and prayer.
W
hy do they come?
“My life is so rushed and
confused. I canʼt think
any more.”
“I needed some silence, time for
myself.”
“I have been through hard times. I
needed some peace. This place is so
peaceful.”
These are a few of the reasons
people have come for the last ten
years to the Day of Prayer hosted by
the monks of Saint Johnʼs. Of course,
they come TO PRAY, but they find
in the silence and rhythm of the day
these other realities of their lives as
well.
Who are these people? Senior citizens? Retirees? Yes, but certainly not
all. Most are active people: CEOs,
day laborers punching the clock,
moms and dads chasing the schedule
of their kidsʼ school activities. Some
minister in Catholic parishes; some
are pastors of non-Catholic congregations. Friday, the usual Benedictine
Day of Prayer, seems to provide a
chance to steal a day from the end of
a hectic week. Forfeiting time and
income seems worth it.
Arriving at the abbey church shortly
before 7 a.m., in rain or shine, winter darkness or summer dawn, from
Fosston or Frazee, from Pearl Lake or
Eden Prairie, these folks find the monastic community gathering for Morning Prayer. The guests join the monks
in song and psalm in a service they
have never experienced before. Of a
sudden they are in a totally religious
world, so different from the shrill and
siren of the secular one in which they
live.
After Morning Prayer the guests
are escorted to the dining room for a
hot breakfast. Here they meet their
companions for the day from different
geographies and different theologies
but all coming to meet their one God.
Next a host monk offers a thirty-minute presentation on the prayer theme
of the day taken from the liturgical or
festal calendar, or from the rhythms of
nature or nation.
After a mid-morning break for
refreshments the group gathers for
lectio divina to experience praying the
Scriptures, another form of Benedictine monastic prayer. This provides
them with an alternative form of
prayer as they disburse for two hours
of private prayer.
At noon they gather again with the
monks to hear themselves addressing
God, from whatever place they are in
their lives, with the message God has
given them in the psalms. A leisurely
lunch follows, and then a second
experience of lectio divina that hopes
to move them into deeper prayer. This
is followed by another hour of private
prayer, then a final gathering with
closing comments and questions. Participants usually leave about 3:30 p.m.
Something about this Benedictine
Day of Prayer that the monks no longer notice, but their guests experience,
is the relaxing rhythm of the day—
prayer, meals, silence, prayer. They
leave wishing they could continue this
experience as they return to their daily
lives. And so do we. +
Simeon Thole, OSB, is a director of the
abbeyʼs Spiritual Life Program.
For dates and topics of
Benedictine Day of Prayer go to
www.saintjohnsabbey.org/slp
and click on “Day of Prayer”
or call 320-363-3929.
The Abbey Banner Fall 2005 page 31
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Organization
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PO Box 2015
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www.saintjohnsabbey.org
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