Brother Paul of New Melleray Passes Away 1901

NEW MELLERAY, BROTHER PAUL

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 1/3/2017 at 18:24:53

Dubuque Daily Herald, July 1, 1901

A MONKS DEATH
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Brother Paul of New Melleray
Monastery Passes Away
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HE WAS SIXTY YEARS OF AGE
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For Thirty Years He Was a Member
of the Brotherhood-Sick Three Months
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A monk died in New Melleray Monastery Saturday night. His name in religion was Brother Paul. The deceased was about sixty years old and had been ill for three months.

Thirty years ago, a young man, in the full bloom of early manhood-vigorous, strong and active-knocked at the gate of the monastery. He was admitted by the superior and asked what he wanted. The young man said he was from Georgia, and that he had seen much of the world and of what men called the earthly pleasurers of life and all that failed to satisfy the longing in his heart. The superior listened with a kindly ear to the young man’s story and when he concluded with a request to be admitted to the brotherhood, the good father welcomed him with opened arms. So, Brother Paul received his cowl, his tin plate, and his cell in the choir loft and his lash for self-chastisement.

Faithfully did the young man keep his vows. For thirty years the young man arose at 2 o’clock with his fellow brothers to sing praise to God, and then the reminder of the day toiling the soil, all the while communicating with himself of things not of this world. His was the deep silence of the cloister where everything forces one to self-cross examination and to thoughts of “the last bitter moment.”

A few months ago Brother Paul was taken sick. He had fought the good fight and his weakened body was soon to liberate the weakened soul. Silently did the other monk’s tread the corridors as Brother Paul fought his last sickness. They all loved him—and admired his unselfish spirit, his earnest piety and the true nobility of his soul.

Saturday night the end came. What pen can adequately describe the scene that took place in that simple cell.

The funeral took place at 6 o’clock this morning from the monastery chapel to the burying place nearby. As the funeral procession passed along memories of the twelfth century were revived. There was the mitered Abbott in the lead and the grizzled band of monks following—all chanting the “Miserere” in tones most funeral. Lastly came the body, encased in a pine box, borne by six monks. The body was buried in the cowl that the deceased had worn in life and no shallow tokens of esteem were in evidence. Marking Brother Paul’s grave is a crude iron cross, bearing the inscription, “Requiescat in Pace.”