by Father Richard Thell, O.S.B.

        Surrounded by his family, comforted by the prayers of his confreres and fortified with the Sacrament of the Sick, Father Albert Massmann, 80, died peacefully at the Veterans Hospital in Omaha on July 13, 2003. In May, Father was diagnosed with two types of cancer. Initially the doctors thought that aggressive treatment might be a wise course of action, but as the weeks progressed it was evident that the cancers had reached advanced stages and Father Albert’s already frail body was not able to fight off infections. Father was scheduled to return to the abbey for his final days, but that was not to be God’s will.
        Father Albert was born on June 23, 1923, at Pittsburg, Kansas. At baptism, he was given the name John by his parents Albert and Abbie Cahill Massmann. He grew up in Pittsburg and attended St. Mary’s Grade School and St. Mary’s High School. After high school Father joined the Marines and served his country proudly during World War II.
        Father Albert was always very proud of his service as part of the Marine Corps. During the war he spent time in the Pacific Theater as an “aerial celestial navigator”; this role made him responsible for the accuracy of aerial bombardment. He loved to talk about WWII and tell of his experiences in the Pacific. As the years went on and as Father continued to relate (exaggerate?) his adventures, the more he was convinced that it was his squadron of Marines that was more or less singularly responsible for the victory of the United States over Japan. (Who are we to doubt such a good Marine?!)
         While resting up after a particularly difficult mission as a Marine navigator, Father Albert first entertained thoughts of monastic life and the priesthood; so immediately after his discharge from the military in 1946, he went to the seminary in Conception, Missouri, operated by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey. He professed his first vows as a monk on September 12, 1950 and was ordained a priest on May 29, 1954.
        Father Albert is considered one of our “founding monks.” He first came to the abbey as a young monk in the summer of 1953; thus, Father’s over fifty years as a Benedictine monk have been dedicated to Mount Michael Abbey and its various apostolates. After coming from Conception to Mount Michael, Father earned an M.A. in mathematics from Creighton University. For many years (1957-1975) he taught math at St. John’s Seminary and then Mount Michael High School; during that time he also served as abbey and school treasurer.
        In the mid-seventies Father Albert’s health took a turn for the worse. Both his kidneys became diseased and for a long time Father required regular dialysis. Several times during that illness it was thought that he would not survive. He was in great need of a transplant; finally one of his sisters proved to be a suitable donor, transplant surgery was performed, and Father was on the road to full recovery.
        As part of his recovery the doctors felt that Father Albert needed a quiet atmosphere in which recuperate, so he was sent on a “temporary” (1976 to 1989) pastoral assignment to St. Gerald’s Parish in Ralston, Nebraska. This assignment proved to be very beneficial for both Father and the good people of St. Gerald’s. There are not many parishioners there that cannot recall one of Father Albert’s unique homilies. Adults who were school children at that time can still remember how he used hand puppets, original poetry, catchy stories, and songs to get his audience’s attention. He would often begin with his trademark opening line, “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,” and then set off to illustrate the scripture of the day. His preaching and, especially, his kindness and compassion for the families of St.Gerald’s Parish will be long remembered. As one St. Gerald’s parishioner put it: “Father Albert is a legend in our parish.”
        Father Albert will be remembered by his brother monks not only for his story telling, his jokes, and his general penchant for entertaining at monastic parties; but, most importantly, he will be remembered for his openness and willingness to accept all his confreres as brothers. Perhaps it was his awareness of his own shortcomings and failings that gave him a great tolerance for and acceptance of both the strengths and weaknesses of his monastic family. He was a monastic brother, a good friend and father confessor to young and old monks alike. He will be missed!
        It has been said that in monastic life a sense of humor is a sign of holiness. It shows that a monk has the ability to recognize that some things in life are eternally important and many other things are not. Humor, even when it seems to make light of death and God and eternity, is really only showing that the monk is at ease in the Father’s house and on good enough terms with Him to be happy despite the difficulties and hardships that he has to face each day. If this is true then our Father Albert was indeed a holy man.
        It was Father Albert’s wish that upon his death his body be donated to science. A Memorial Mass will be held for Father on Saturday morning, July 26 at 11:00 at Mount Michael Chapel.
        In an original poem Father Robert Halter, a fellow monk and good friend of Father Albert, wrote, “Run forward soul! Life will not cease…To God…To God…and peace.”
It is our prayer that Father Albert now enjoys that peace that only life with God can give!

A Memorial Service for Fr. Albert will be held on Saturday the 26th of July at 11:00 AM in the Mount Michael Chapel. Lunch will be served following the service.