Thomas Merton and Father Philip

I met Father Philip Schuster, O.S.B., one summer when he was substituting for our Chaplain here at the nursing home. During the week, I am a sacristan so I would talk a bit with Father Philip.
Father Philip was here about a week. Probably during that time our conversations didn't amount to more than an hour but I've decided it really takes a very short time to know all about a person. I knew Father Philip.

Later, I learned he was an author, a retreat master and a teacher. It was interesting but I knew Father Philip was more and then I remembered a quote I had heard long ago. It was a quote by Thomas Merton: "A saint preaches sermons by the way he walks and the way he stands--the way he picks things up and holds them in his hands." I think Thomas Merton knew Father Philip too.


Father Philip Schuster O.S.B died on June 10, 2002. He was a victim of a shooting at Conception Abbey.