Br. Marko Slat (1882-1980)

Brother Marko Slat passed away March 7, 1980.

Brother Marko was born in Croatia when it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  He immigrated to the United States working in a coal mine near Beatty, Pa., where he used to catch a train near St. Vincent Archabbey.  He later moved to Colorado – which he pronounced ColoRAYdo – to mine coal.  Later he heard of St. Benedict’s Abbey and made profession Dec. 28, 1923.

His main occupation as a monk, that he did almost until his death, was as a horticulturist and groundskeeper.  Brother Marko was a master gardener.  The four terraces south of the present St. Benedict Hall was aglow with color, especially in the spring. From his handiwork he would sell some bulbs and seeds.  Brother Marko would cut the terraces with a scythe as sharp as a razor blade and, even in his 80s, climbed the trees to trim them.

Brother Marko was intensely interested in politics and was a Republican through and through.  It seemed that the Democrats fell into the category of “Bolsheviki,” which he denounced at every opportunity.  He loved the radio and each recreation after lunch he would press his ear to the speaker and hug it. With glee to break the news he would announce the latest tragedy to the novices who did not have access to such worldly equipment. 

He could laugh while passing on the most somber news.  Often he would end a conversation with, “I don’t know about you fellas, but I’d do dat different.”