Bro. Philip Kress died on Thursday, February 18. The Abbot and Prior had just departed for South America, which meant that others had to fill in the various duties that come with the death of a monk. Subprior Bro. Basil took care of the details of burial; Bro. Victor gave the eulogy, which we print below, and Fr. Boniface was celebrant at the Funeral Mass, at which Fr. Brian preached. Bro. Philip was buried on Monday, February 22, and even though the roads were bad, a good crowd attended.

I know that the last thing Brother Philip would have wanted is a eulogy at his wake service. He often said: "Prayers for the repose of my soul would be much more meaningful and profitable." However, as a long-time confrere and friend of the deceased, I believe we can learn much from reflecting upon the life of this humble and sincere man.

Joseph Kress was born August 25, 1918 near Hirschville, about 20 miles northeast of Dickinson. In those days Hirschville at least merited a dot on the map of Dunn County since it had a church, a store, post office and couple of homes Joseph was baptized at home on the same day of birth by Fr. Felix Hummer, O.S.B., who served Gladstone and Hirschville. He grew up on the farm with two sisters, Susan and Ann, who survive and live in Dickinson. An older brother died in infancy. He attended country school within walking distance from home and he graduated from Gladstone High School as valedictorian in 1937. After one year at Dickinson State Teachers College, he came to the Abbey in November, 1941

When he revealed his intention to enter the monastery, he said his father dealt out some mighty stern admonitions as to what is expected of one who enters a monastery, and how such a candidate will be scrutinized and tested But neither this nor anything else would deter Joseph from his endeavor to become a Brother. Upon application he was accepted as Brother candidate, and several months later, he was received into the novitiate, receiving the name Novice Philip, honoring the patron of his home parish.

Bro. Philip entered the monastery in an era when vocations to religious life were flourishing. At that time too the vocation as Brother was respected as a distinct commitment in itself, offering all spiritual opportunity and merits of a full religious life. Upon completion of his novitiate year and acceptance by the community, it was on the Feast of the Solemnity of St. Benedict, July 11, 1943, that Bro. Philip, together with three other brethen pronounced their triennial vows, and two of us made our final commitment at the same ceremony. Of the class of six who professed vows on that day, all persevered; five have passed on into eternity, which leaves me the sold survivor of that class.

The Solemnity of St. Benedict that year occurred on a Sunday, so it happened that our profession ceremony was held in conjunction with the parish Mass at 10 a.m. Abbot Cuthbert celebrated a Solemn Pontifical High Mass. The Common of the Mass was rendered by the parish mixed choir from the choir loft, while monks tended to the profession ceremonies in the sanctuary. The church was filled with parishioners and guests, and the temperature was near 100 degrees outdoors. People didn't seem to mind. In fact, some must have liked it, because quite a sizable crowd returned for solemn vespers and benediction that afternoon. Can you imagine such a display of faith in this day and age?

Unwavering in his commitment as a Brother in this community, Bro. Philip made profession of perpetual vows in 1946; celebrated his silver jubilee in 1968 and his 50th in 1993. The upheavals of the 1960s in the Church, and the subsequent abolition of the lay brother system that had been in place in monastic communities since the Middle Ages, and to which Bro. Philip made his lifetime commitment, were indeed trying for him. He said: "I want to live out my life as a lay brother," which he did, and had every right to do by virtue of Canon Law.

Bro. Philip worked at many jobs in the monastery during his 58 years as a monk. He was probably best known to the people of Richardton as our mailman for he used to carry the afternoon mail on foot to the post office. He was the local meteorologist for about the same amount of time. Both of these jobs required day-in, day-out fidelity, which was his great virtue. It also came into play in his role as bell-ringer, which not only included the internal monastic bells, but also the church bells for parish functions.

Bro. Philip was an avid reader and a good conversationalist. He was well-versed in history, politics and so on, but his prayer life always took priority. It consisted of daily recitation of the Brothers' Breviary, the complete rosary of fifteen decades, appropriate litanies and other prayers as we used to have them. Whenever possible, he visited our monastic cemetary to remember all who are buried there, and he never forgot to pray at the graves of his own parents in St. Mary's Parish cemetery here in Richardton.

In his last years, one became aware that he spent more and more time alone with God, either in the chapel or in his room. Over the years, our brother had developed an evangelization of his own. He had a long list of prayer requests for whom he prayed individually and by name even as his health deteriorated and his eyesight diminished. I never saw his list, but am most grateful knowing that I have the honor of being on it! Bro. Philip's life was simple and uncomplicated-that's the way he lived and so he died. With the Master in Matthew's Gospel we can truly say today: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant....