Br. Benedict Eberle

ST. BENEDICT — Services were held this week for Brother Benedict Eberle, a Benedictine monk of Mount Angel Abbey who died Saturday, April 26 at age 92.
From 1966 until earlier this year, Brother Benedict worked in the abbey bookstore, where he met thousands of guests over the decades. He was born Aug. 11, 1915 at the Eberle family home in Mt. Angel to Joseph and Christina Eberle. His parents were both born in the Ukraine, as Germans from Russia, the heritage in which their family took pride. Brother Benedict was baptized as “Jacob” on August 15, 1915, at St. Mary Church in Mt. Angel.

Four of the nine Eberle children became Benedictines in Mount Angel: Father Luke Eberle, who died in 1995, was also a monk of Mount Angel Abbey and Sisters Bernadette Eberle, who died in 1974, and Teresa Eberle, who died in 2005, joined Queen of Angels Monastery. His other siblings were Val Eberle, Mary Hauth, Helen Worley, Hilda Eberle and Christine Moffenbeier. Br. Benedict had been the senior monk of the Abbey and was the last of his siblings to pass away.

Children of his generation living in Mount Angel were taught by Benedictines. Benedictine sisters conducted his primary schooling at St. Mary’s School while Benedictine monks provided his secondary schooling at Mount Angel Preparatory.
After graduation, he worked at the family grocery store in Mount Angel, then studied at Northwestern School of Commerce in Portland. For two years he worked at Pittsburgh Plate Glass in Portland.

He returned to Mount Angel and worked for the monks from 1940-1942 as editorial assistant for St. Joseph Magazine, a weekly national Catholic publication.
Soon after the U.S. entered World War II, he joined the Army Air Force, serving from 1942 to 1945. He was stationed at Army sites in the U.S. and then spent 21 months abroad near London. He recalled seeing German bombers fly over, headed for sites further inland.

After the completion of his service, Staff Sgt. Jacob Eberle was awarded a certificate of meritorious achievement by his commanding officer.

After the war, Brother Benedict returned to Mount Angel and worked with his brother Val in the family grocery store, serving as clerk for seven years. As many men did after the war, he tested his vocation to the religious life. He entered Mount Angel Abbey as a brother candidate and made his vows of simple profession in 1953.

His patron is Saint Benedict of Nursia, the Patron of Western Monasticism. Three years later, he made perpetual profession, or final vows, as a Benedictine monk.

His life experience led to his initial appointments in the monastery, first as laymen’s retreat secretary, 1952 to 1966, then as bookkeeper in the seminary from 1953-1966 and later as bookkeeper in the preparatory school from 1955 to 1960.

Then from 1956 to 1968 he served as typist for the development drive and at the same time as sacristan for brothers’ chapel until 1969, when the brothers and priests began to gather for one daily community Mass, which is now the practice throughout religious orders in the Church.

Throughout his adult life, Brother Benedict was a sports fan, especially baseball. Many monks remember him reading the sports page in the community room.
In his last few years he slowed down significantly and needed to use a wheelchair, but he still made it to the bookstore a few days a week to help out there. He will be remembered for his quiet perseverance at prayer with the community.

A Vigil for the Dead was held in the Abbey Church on Wednesday, April 30, with a eulogy by by his nephew, Abbot Peter Eberle.
Abbot Nathan Zodrow presided at the Mass of Christian Burial the next day in the church.