Trappist Monk Obituary - Interesting Vocation History

[Luigi]

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Taken from the Abbey News website of New Melleray Trappist monastery in Iowa, 28 August, 2012. Sorry about the background color - it came with the cut & paste. [/background][/size][/font][/color]
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"I feel God is giving me a second chance."[/background][/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=Verdana, Helvetica][size=3][background=rgb(217, 195, 145)]
[img]http://www.newmelleray.org/images/albracket2.jpg[/img]Albert Anton Bracket was born in Wakefield, Michigan, on July 14, 1927, the son of Anton Louis Bracket and Theresa Frigo. He died in the monastery infirmary on August 24, 2012, at the age of 85.[/background][/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=Verdana, Helvetica][size=3][background=rgb(217, 195, 145)]
Brother Al had two sisters, Virginia Coolidge and Rita Meir, and three brothers, Rev. Louis Bracket, John David Bracket, and Jim Bracket, along with many nieces and nephews.[/background][/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=Verdana, Helvetica][size=3][background=rgb(217, 195, 145)]
A love of the outdoors filled his early life with hunting and skiing. His social calendar didn't suffer as he also enjoyed dating girls. "I wasn't a great church-goer, but I prayed a lot," he said.[/background][/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=Verdana, Helvetica][size=3][background=rgb(217, 195, 145)]
In July, 1945, he answered the call to serve his country in the Navy during World War II. He arrived in Japan in August, after the atomic bombs were dropped that led to Japan's surrender. He was put on duty aboard a mine sweeper. In December, while stationed near Nagasaki, he walked up a hill to see the city. "The sight I saw changed my whole life." He decided to serve his Lord. He was discharged in September, 1946.[/background][/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=Verdana, Helvetica][size=3][background=rgb(217, 195, 145)]
Brother Al entered New Melleray Abbey for the first time on October 5, 1948. He made his simple profession of religious vows on Dec. 22, 1950, and professed solemn vows on Christmas Day, 1954.[/background][/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=Verdana, Helvetica][size=3][background=rgb(217, 195, 145)]
While a monk at New Melleray Brother Al became a licensed plumber and served the community in this capacity. He installed new boilers in the 1950's, and helped install our 1,500-foot-deep well which he maintained for many years.[/background][/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=Verdana, Helvetica][size=3][background=rgb(217, 195, 145)]
Brother Al experienced a crisis in his vocation in the early 1960's and asked to be dispensed from his vows. He left on April 27, 1963.[/background][/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=Verdana, Helvetica][size=3][background=rgb(217, 195, 145)]
He met Armella "Bobbie" Kluck and they were married two years later. After she died from a stroke in 1991, Al asked to return to the monastery. Being accepted he said, "I feel God is giving me a second chance." He re-entered the monastery on April 4, 1993, and made his solemn profession on Nov. 1, 1997.[/background][/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=Verdana, Helvetica][size=3][background=rgb(217, 195, 145)]
Reflecting on his years after returning to the monastery he said, "I've never been happier." At least until now, in heaven![/background][/size][/font][/color]

[PhuturePriest]

This is a very wonderful story! I am glad he came back. It seems there are too many stories of people leaving Communities in times of crisis, and I think a lot of the time if they simply stayed for a little longer until things calmed down they would have decided to stay. It is wonderful that the Monastery welcomed him back and that he was able to fully live the life of a Monk again.

[Mary's Margaret]

How wonderful that he was welcomed back. I believe there are many who are called but for one reason or another choose another way, then later, perhaps when their spouse dies, discover the call is still there. God doesn't change His mind, but is faithful in waiting and honours our free will. Unfortunately, many of these people are left with nowhere to go since (understandably) not many communities are open to accepting people with this rather late "re-call".

[Mr Cameron]

All I can say is God love him. That's so interesting.

[emmaberry]

Am I cynical to think that this situation would not have panned out quite the same had the monk been a nun?

I am happy that he was able to re-enter the monastery and die as a monk. The graces of dying in holy vows to God are very great.

Thanks for posting!

[Luigi]

I've read other stories - one from Gethsemani Abbey in the Nineteenth century (in a Merton book, I think) - about Trappists leaving and then coming back to the monastery years later. I don't know if it's just the Trappist monks who are flexible that way, if the nuns are also flexible that way, or if other orders also take former members back in.

But I did think it was interesting.

[AnneLine]

I know of several sisters who left, some of whom married and later were widowed, and then who returned to their communities.

It isn't right for everyone...but for some, it seems to be the way God works.

All of us have broken places; all of us can learn to listen... better.

[krissylou]

Trappists follow the Rule of Benedict, and the Rule of Benedict explicitly has provisions for people who leave and re-enter. If you leave and want to return they are supposed to welcome you back up to three times. Or maybe they welcome you back two times but if you leave a third time, that's it. Something like that.

Sometimes it takes us a while to find our way, and Benedict understands this.

[emmaberry]

[quote name='AnneLine' timestamp='1346353680' post='2476367']
I know of several sisters who left, some of whom married and later were widowed, and then who returned to their communities.

It isn't right for everyone...but for some, it seems to be the way God works.

All of us have broken places; all of us can learn to listen... better.
[/quote]

That's great! I don't know if I would call every 'monastery to marriage to monastery' as God's will, though. He certainly can work that way, but sometimes it may just be a fault on the part of the discerner.

[quote name='krissylou' timestamp='1346355770' post='2476377']
Trappists follow the Rule of Benedict, and the Rule of Benedict explicitly has provisions for people who leave and re-enter. If you leave and want to return they are supposed to welcome you back up to three times. Or maybe they welcome you back two times but if you leave a third time, that's it. Something like that.

Sometimes it takes us a while to find our way, and Benedict understands this.
[/quote]

[i] [/i]I wonder if the Trappists have an age limit? Or, if they do, if it is waived for those who want to re-enter after pursuing marriage?