Fr. Bernard Sause (1901-1975)

Father Bernard Sause passed away February 7, 1975.

Once called “The Black Beaver” for his immense literary productivity and just plain work, Father Bernard remains one of the memorable characters in the Abbey community.  All the years of his monastic life after his first profession he remained a loyal and tireless member of the community.  He served as canonist, professor in the School of Theology and St. Benedict’s College, took regular weekend supply, and gave over 300 retreats to various monastic communities and others of men and women.  He consulted with many communities of women and helped some revise their Canonical Constitutions.

Father Bernard was a prolific writer.  He wrote his own commentary on the 1917 Code of Canon Law that he used as a text for his students.  He also wrote a three-volume ascetical work based on the Rule of St. Benedict with a different monastic topic for each month of the year, entitled The School of the Lord’s Service.  He translated Maurus Wolters’ Principia Monastica (Principles of the Monastic Life) and assorted pamphlets such as an aid to making confession entitled, “I Have Sinned.” He was Director of Oblates twice and novice master from 1930-1939.

In the very early days of the liturgical movement Father Bernard worked with the pioneers such as Virgil Michael, St. John’s Abbey, Michael Ducey, St. Anselm’s Abbey, Washington, D.C., and Msgr. Martin Hellreigel, St. Louis.  They remained friends for life.  Father Bernard promoted the national liturgical days and addressed various ones. 

Austin Sause had come to Kansas City, Kan., from St. Louis as a child and, being rooted in St. Benedict’s Parish, became one of the several members of that Benedictine Parish to join our community, many entering the Abbey during the two pastorates of Father Francis McDonald at St. Benedict’s Parish.

Father Bernard did his novitiate at St. Vincent and was sent to Sant’Anselmo for philosophy and theology.  He was ordained there July 8, 1928, and later earned two PhDs, one in philosophy and the other in canon law; hence he was known as Doctor Duplex. 

Father Bernard died of a heart attack shortly after entering the Atchison Hospital where his leg had been amputated as a result of diabetes; he had the brothers bury his leg in the flower bed of the Abbey Cemetery.  He was a monk more than 51 years, and there are scores of stories about Father Bernard and a few will be mentioned.

 He wore a hearing aid and the first night he wore it Father Gervase Burke coughed into the amplifier.  Father Bernard grimaced.  Once a boat sounded its whistle going up the Missouri River.  Father Bernard said, “What that guy can do with that horn is biologically impossible!”  A dog walked into the Little Theater in the Administration Building (St. Benedict Hall) while Father Bernard was teaching a class.  He remarked, “Gentlemen, we have to draw the line somewhere.”  On returning from Rome in 1939 he asked Father Placidus Kieffer when the Solemn Pontifical Mass was celebrated as though it were a daily occurrence.  Father Placidus’ answer?  “Christmas.”

Father Bernard was truly a great man.  Fully participant in a meeting he did not carry disagreements outside; no grudges.  He loved all things that concerned his community and thrilled when Abbot Cuthbert sent him to Rome and Assisi in 1955.