“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”

These lines from a Robert Frost poem were especially meaningful to Father Edward Malone, O.S.B., and he quoted them often almost as a personal testament and prophecy. It would seem that once he had kept all his promises and traveled all his moles he then fell asleep in death to enjoy the lovely, dark and deep peace of GOD.

Any attempt to summarize the life of Father Edward will be, at best, a weak attempt, for his life represented so much and touched the lives of so many.

Two institutions were the major beneficiaries of his immense talents: Conception Abbey and Mr. Michael Abbey. For many years he was a moving force at Conception Abbey as rector of the seminary, 1937-1955, and as subprior of the abbey, 1947-1955. At Mount Michael he also served as rector of the school, 1956-1965, and as superior 1955-1965. He was one of the pioneers, coming to Elkhorn in 1955 in advance of the official opening of Mount Michael Priory.

Father Edward was a very active, creative person. In addition to his primary duties, he was always actively engaged in other important activities. He was president of the American Benedictine Academy for many years and encouraged Benedictine scholarship. He saw, well in advance of Vatican II, the need for ecumenical encounters and took the initiative in promoting understanding among the various religious denominations of the area.

A gifted speaker, Father Edward was called upon widely as a guest lecturer, retreat master or occasional speaker. His ideas were imaginative and sometimes provocative. He had a flair for the humorous and loved to embellish a serious thought with a homey piece of yarn.

He was also a gifted writer. His doctoral thesis at Catholic University, “The Monk and the Martyr,” is a definitive work. He translated several titles from the German, wrote the centennial history of Conception Abbey and a number of spiritual book. In recent years he had accomplished research and had written a preliminary draft for a twenty-five year history of Mount Michael Abbey.

Two of his heroes were St. Thomas Becket and St. Thomas More. Like them, he had a bent toward the genuine, a candor which would not fade in the presence of opposition. Also, like them, he saw things more clearly than most, yet had the grace to forgive lesser vision in others.

To have known him was to love him. The friends he made were friends for life, and they were many and varied. Characteristically, Father Edward shared these friends with the Mount Michael community, as if they were one and the same. His interest in the well being, the smallest happening in people’s lives endeared him to all. In his final hours, as he was drifting in and out of consciousness, one of his final remarks was a question, “Are the kids ready for the State Basketball Tournament?”

The funeral liturgy, March 12th, was attended by Archbishop Sheehan, Abbot Anselm Coppermsith, O.S.B., monks of Conception Abbey, numerous parish priests, the Malone family and a host of friends. Father Abbot Raphael in his homily characterized the funeral liturgy as a joyful act of praise and thanksgiving to GOD for the gift of Father Edward Malone to the Church and to Mount Michael Abbey.