Necrology - comming soon

This week

 February 22

Father John Peter Capesius, who went to God in 1993.
Edward Capesius was born on December 1, 1900, in Bous Luxemburg. He received his elementary education in that same city and early in life came to the United States with other members of his family. He attended St. Bernard High School and Junior College from 1920 to 1924. He then entered the novitiate of St. Bernard Abbey taking “John” as his religious name. He professed his simple vows in 1925. Fr. John did his philosophical and theological studies at St. Bernard and after taking his solemn vows in 1928, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1931. For five summers Fr. John studied at Notre Dame University and then enrolled at the University of Alabama where in two years (1933 to 1935), he received both the BA and MA degrees in mathematics. Fr. John returned to the Abbey to devote his life to teaching and various assignments in the monastery and school.
Fr. John served as Cleric’s Master from 1936 to 1938, Subprior from 1941 to 1949, and Procurator from 1949 to 1957. He, along with his brother, Fr. Andrew Capesius, became outstanding members of the school faculty. They were quick to let the students know that “what Fr. John doesn’t know, Fr. Andrew does, and what neither of them know, nobody does”. When the Abbey expanded its educational program into a four year liberal arts college, Fr. John became a dynamic and greatly admired mathematics teacher. After leaving the Procurator’s office in 1959, Fr. John devoted himself full-time to college teaching until 1979. He was also a long time member of the Abbey Senior Council, being called upon repeatedly as a consultant in financial affairs for both the Abbey and College.
Until he broke his hip, Fr. John kept himself active by overseeing the Abbey’s clothing and supply store. One day a week was set aside for the monks’ needs. Each Christmas he served a Santa’s helper by providing and wrapping presents for each monk.
Fr. John was called to his eternal reward in February of 1993. He had received the sacrament of anointing the previous day and his confreres were watching with him as he awaited the call of his Lord. His jovial presence among us is missed. His death brought to a close a special era in the history of our Abbey. 
 

 February 25

 Father Joseph Stangl, who went to God in 1968.
Fr. Joseph was born in Ratisbon, Bavaria, in 1878. He responded to the missionary call of the Spirit by coming to the Alabama missions in 1895. He made his vows in 1900 and was ordained a priest in the old college chapel in 1905.
For the next sixty years F. Joseph labored and built the Faith as a missionary pastor throughout the Southeast: Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Alabama. In the mountains of Southeastern Kentucky, Fr. Joseph’s name was held in benediction.
A stern man with gruff exterior in his years of retirement at the Abbey, Fr. Joseph would begin to smile whenever his beloved mountain people were mentioned in conversation.
In his last years, Fr. Joseph seemed to live constantly in the presence of God. He was found dead sitting upright in his cell with his rosary in hand.

February 26

Brother Roman Veitl, who went to God in 1893.
A note written in the early 1920’s read: “Brother Roman Veitl was the first brother of the new foundation”. He made his vows at St. Vincent’s and being a housekeeper at Tuscumbia at the time of the foundation of the Abbey, he transferred his vows and was called to the monastery where he died the following winter. None of the present Benedictines knew him, but the writer recalls him as a quiet, pious brother and model religious, with a long gray beard. He was humble and retiring in his work, he was attentive and unostentatious. 
 

March 1

 Father Matthew Thompson, who went to God in 1916.
Fr. Matthew was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, on September 3, 1880. He took all his preparatory studies at St. Bernard as a small boy. When he graduated from Latin school he confided in Abbot Benedict his desire to become a Benedictine monk and was invested with the habit on June 29, 1900. He was given the name Matthew.
Fr. Matthew was a keen and industrious student, faithful and dependable. He was well versed in English and took special interest in chemistry and physics; which kept him employed at the College.
Shortly after Fr. Matthew’s ordination on July 6, 1907, his health began to fail. However, he held the pastorate at Middlesboro, Kentucky during Fr. Augustine’s journey to Europe. For a year Fr. Matthew was pastor in Florence, Alabama, where he beautified the residence and church. He then went to Asheville, North Carolina, where he died on March 1, 1916, at the age of thirty-five.