Fr. Cornelius Caples (1899-1966)

Yet another of the vocations from St. Benedict’s Parish, Kansas City, Kan., Father Cornelius died in Garnett, Kan., on May 24, 1966, after having suffered a heart attack.  He had traveled to the area for the funeral of the mother of Father Harrington, a long-time friend and pastor at nearby Emerald. 

Frater Cornelius Caples pronounced his first vows July 2, 1919, and was ordained priest June 6, 1925.  He earned a doctorate in Latin in 1938 from the University of Toronto and taught regularly at St. Benedict’s College after that.  Previous to his advanced studies he taught at Maur Hill.  He was Chair of the Department of Latin and Greek for many years and served frequently as weekend and summer supply in various parishes.

Father Cornelius was a gentle man, rather shy, with a very dry wit and sense of humor.  He would quote poetry with ease, both in Latin and English; e.g. He had memorized much of Ogden Nash.  One was entitled “Ice Breakers.”  It went something like this, “Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker!”  He would have his students answer roll with a “verbum Bonum,” a Good Word like In vino veritas (There is truth in wine) or Ne quid nimis (Nothing to excess.)  There were many more.  Once a student named Ken, when called on said, “Father I am not too well prepared. Father Cornelius said in reply, “Kenneth, you can never be too well prepared.” 

On another occasion he said to a class, “You are all laboring under three difficulties.  You have Father Cornelius, for Latin, after lunch.” 

He and Father Gervase Burke were rather alike in their sense of humor, brilliance; nod “out of the limelight” existence.  It is speculated that Father Gervase would have preferred to study the Classics and Cornelius, English.  We shall find out when we all meet again.