Marmion celebrates founding abbot's centennial

For Gerald Benkert, Saturday marked a celebratory day 100 years in the making.

Benkert, the founding abbot of Marmion Academy in Aurora, joined friends, colleagues and well wishers at the school to celebrate his 100th birthday and his new place in history as the world's oldest Benedictine abbot.

"My biggest thought through all of this is, 'Thank the Lord,'" Benkert said. "It's a big thanksgiving festival for me today, and my attitude is one of gratitude."

Benkert says his secret to longevity is repeating the same phrase to himself every day: "The will of God brings joy to the heart; we see everything in its light." He called that phrase "the most important thing."

Benkert was ordained in 1934 and appointed Marmion abbot in 1947. He served as academy president for 23 years, retiring in 1969, and then went on to learn Spanish and spend more than 30 years teaching at Marmion's mission school in Guatemala.

"Father Gerald is always a leader. He is a very holy man and a great example to all," said Mike Reynolds of Aurora, a former Marmion student.

Since graduating in 1960, Reynolds has remained in touch with Benkert. Reynolds was just one of the many former students who came to share memories with Benkert.

Benkert now lives in the Marmion monastery, where he can usually be found on short morning walks around the grounds. He's also known for listening to books on tape nearly and his knife-sharp memory.

"Once Father Gerald found out when my birthday was, he would call me or send a card every year. He just does not forget. He is the dearest, nicest man ever," Benkert's former secretary, Pat Hoss said.

For the past decade, Benkert has been putting his memory to good use, chronicling by hand his life as a monk for his memoirs, which were published and on sale at his party.

"It stuck me that Father Gerald is one of the best sources we had for the history of our community," said Father Joel Rippinger, Marmion archivist and teacher.

He began helping Benkert gather his notes in the 1990s and assisted with the publication of his memoirs.

"Father Gerald has become a wisdom figure," Rippinger said. "He encompasses the whole of our history at Marmion. ... Benedictine monks take a vow of stability and he certainly personifies that."