Spring 2008
Kansas Monks
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Marked with the sign of Faith
Theodore Leuterman (1912–1980)
Perhaps one of the most colorful and storied members of St. Benedict’s Abbey, at least in modern times, Father Theodore Leuterman died of a heart attack at a hospital in Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 9, 1980. He was pastor at St. Ann, Effingham, when first stricken. He was a native of Milwaukee, Wis. Early on a member of the Catholic Central Verein, he graduated from St. Benedict’s High School in 1930 and from St. Benedict’s College in 1935, magna cum laude in philosophy. From 1935–1940 he earned a doctorate in theology at Sant’Anselmo and during
that time was ordained priest at Monte Cassino. Before the involvement of the United States in World War II, he returned to the Abbey in 1941 and began a thirty-six-year teaching career at St. Benedict’s College, Mount Saint Scholastica College, Benedictine College and at the former Abbey School of Theology. He was prior of the abbey for 10 years, and later simultaneously chaplain of St. Benedict’s College and Mount Saint Scholastica College. At his death he was also pastor at St. Ann’s, Effingham, Kan. He was a zealous preacher and teacher. When the monks who knew Father Theodore gather at “haustus,” or when his name
comes up, the stories flow readily. His language was colorful and often as earthy as his theology was celestial. He was a dynamic teacher and went through boxes of chalk as though in a competition. To punctuate a statement he might, to get attention, say, “Here now, students!” On one occasion he is supposed to have said, “God went to work and said, ‘Here now!’” Or perhaps, St. Thomas Aquinas “went to work” and said… He covered the black-
Editor’s Note: Abbot
Owen Purcell is at work compiling a necrology of St. Benedict’s Abbey, a volume of brief profiles on each of the deceased members of the Abbey from its founding to
the present. This document offers a thorough, poignant and often entertaining look into the history of the Abbey, one monk at a time. In order to provide our readers with some insight into the lives
of the men who have made the history of St. Benedict’s, Kansas Monks will publish one or more of these profiles in each issue. If you have an anecdote about the monks you read about in these pro-
board in the theology classroom each class with multiple scratchings over scratchings. Once, Father Bernard Sause followed with a Canon Law class after Father Theodore had finished, and said, with a twinkle in his eye, “Honest to John what has that man been doing up here?” Theodore’s memory will live forever in the story telling of our community.
files or about any other deceased monks, Abbot Owen would enjoy hearing from you. You may contact him by telephone: (913) 360-7817, or more easily by e-mail: ojposb@yahoo.com. 27
