Kansas Monks
Of Mustangs and Monks
I don’t know if there is a car that you associate with a loved one, but the car I associate with my maternal grandfather, Richard Lotter, is the 1968 Ford Mustang. It was white with a dark red leather interior, and when I’d ride in it with him, it was usually because he was taking me on a trip to Sylvia’s penny candy store in Philadelphia or to a nearby park to buy a fresh, piping hot soft pretzel. I loved that car. It turns out that a lot of other people did, too. When it was first introduced to the public, the 1968 Ford Mustang was a wildly popular car—and it remains one of the most popular cars in the history of the automotive industry. The car achieved even greater fame when, that same year, it was driven by Steve McQueen in the popular Warner Bros. movie Bullitt. Since 1968, there have been several new models of the Mustang. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, the designs inspired less enthusiasm and sales slumped. In 1994, however, the Mustang underwent its first major redesign in 15 years. The new design incorporated several styling cues from earlier Mustangs, and the popularity once again began to rise. Then came 2005. And something truly amazing happened. The fifth generation Mustang’s styling more aggressively echoed the classic fastback Mustangs of the late 1960s, while also exhibiting all curves, angles, sleekness, and sophistication that people have come to expect from modern sports cars. J. Mays, Ford’s senior vice president of design, called it “retro-futurism.” Over the next two years, sales of the Mustang increased. They increased by almost 70,000 units. Ford’s bottom line was revitalized by “retrofuturism.” What does all this have to do with the monks? Well, “retro-futurism” is basically the concept of combining the time-tested strengths of the past with new and innovative ideas for the future. It is honoring what happened long ago and preparing for what lies ahead—all at the same time.
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That’s what’s happening at St. Benedict’s Abbey. The history of the monks is impressive. For over 150 years these men have served God and others. Every day they have lifted the needs of the world up to God in prayer. Every day they have worked for the glory of God and the good of all—whether as priests, pastors, professors, chaplains, or spiritual directors. So we honor Vaughn Kohler their past. The future of the monks is exciting. In the years ahead, the monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey will continue to lead lives that offer hope to others. While they will always be committed to “prayer and work,” they will also be committed to using the newest resources and latest technology to extend their influence, advance their mission, and inspire others to “prefer nothing whatever to Christ.” Whether they post insights from The Rule of St. Benedict on Facebook and Twitter or broadcast homilies and prayers on KansasMonks. org, they will meet the new challenges of our day with new faithfulness. They are prepared for the road ahead. With this in mind, Kansas Monks has undergone some changes. From this issue forward, we hope the magazine will be a bit like the 2005 Ford Brother Leven Harton Mustang: We hope it will help our friends draw strength from the past, but also help prepare them for the future. We’ll continue to share important and interesting stories about the history of St. Benedict’s Abbey and the lives of the monks. But now, more than ever, we’ll provide new and better resources to help our friends grow in faith and prayer. As always, we welcome your feedback. Should you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us at 913.360.7897 or development@kansasmonks.org. We also encourage you to visit the Abbey. You are always welcome!
A message from Abbot Barnabas About Kansas Monks
To honor our Lord as good stewards, we must show fiscal discipline. Kansas Monks costs the Abbey approximately $140,000 a year— an expense we are no longer able to absorb. Therefore, starting in December, Kansas Monks magazine will become a benefit only for members of the Society of St. Benedict, which is described on page 9. If you join the Society of St. Benedict, you will continue to receive Kansas Monks magazine. If you are unable to make the necessary contribution we are happy to continue to provide Kansas Monks to you via e-mail. Just go to Kansasmonks.org/Signup and fill out the form. Thank you for your love and generosity. k ansas
monk s Winter 2011
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