World's oldest Benedictine monk dies at 108

[Dale_M]

Father Theodore Heck, believed to be the oldest Benedictine monk in the world, died Wednesday at the age of 108, his abbey in Indiana announced. Born in Iowa in 1901, Heck was less than a month shy of celebrating his 80th anniversary as a priest.
Father Theodore Heck remained active in daily life at Saint Meinrad until recently.

Heck was a monk at Saint Meinrad Archabbey in southern Indiana for 86 years, Archabbot Justin DuVall said.

His main calling was as a teacher, DuVall said, adding that Heck had taught “thousands” of students in his career.

“Up until recently, his memory was excellent; He knew where those priests were and what they were doing,” DuVall said.

And Heck continued learning throughout his own life, said the archabbot, who knew Heck for 40 years.

“Every year, he would take up a subject and read about it,” DuVall said. “When he was 99, he decided he should learn Spanish, and when he was 100, he took up the computer.”

cnn.com/2009/US/04/30/oldest.monk.obit/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

 

[Benedict108]

Ora et labora…It looks like he lived the tradition until the end. God bless him.

It gives me strength to see that a man of 108 could live in this way. I should attack my life with that much more vigor and fervor to serve the Lord.

Grant him eternal rest O Lord.
And may perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace.
Amen.

 

[AdvanceAlways]

What a touching story. Now that is living life to the fullest! RIP.

 

[Scoobyshme]

What a great example to the rest of us!

I recall a priest saying that when he was in seminary, he was friends with an old monk. Coming back to classes after a summer break, he asked the old monk how his summer was. The old monk said, “Well, I had two unsuccessful heart attacks.” He was disappointed that the heart attacks hadn’t “taken him home.”

We should all embrace death at the time, place, and manner of Our Lord’s choosing.

God bless!

Scooby
alabamacatholicresources.com

 

[Disciple96]

Eternal rest grant him, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

I was in at St. Bernard’s Benedictine Abbey (Cullman AL) with a friend a few weeks ago. My friend (who I’m sponsoring in the RCIA) and I were there for Mass and the Divine Office, but it was a little different from what we’d expected. Turned out to be a funeral for Fr. Thomas who had died a day or so before. He was 100 years old and spent almost all of his life there (I think).

The service was beautiful and moving. I imagine Fr. Thomas and Fr. Theodore must be up there now, chanting and praising God, wrapped in the Light of the Divine Glory, now and forever. Amen.

 

[catching]

What a great story.
It give us the strength to do good thing in our life. Age doesn’t matter.

 

[Biblioassistant]

I’m coming in to this very late, but I recently made a retreat at St. Meinrad’s and was deeply impressed. I am discerning a call to be an oblate there.