frater Andreas Engels:frater Andreas - Fraters - CMM Brothers

lost in heavenly thoughts? Was it not a wonder that despite this he
always managed to be exactly on time? Did it not amount to a
superhuman achievement, complete control over time and a total
regard for colleagues and school order?
It became more embarrassing for Brother Andreas when his fellow
brothers started using the nickname as well. The community’s
superior Frumentius van Hulten once said in the chapter,
when he explained the rules: Take Brother Andreas, for example,
he is a ‘holy brother’ who applies the rules perfectly. After that
Brother Andreas felt that everyone was watching him. It made
him even more timid and nervous than he naturally was. In res -
ponse he applied the rules even more conscientiously than before.
He did not want to offend anyone and was afraid of not being
worthy of his fellow brothers or of setting them the wrong example.
The more he was used as an example – and Superior Brother
Frumentius had the habit of using him as a model brother all too
often – the more anxious and unhappy he felt. He dismissed every
compliment and developed a hearty dislike for his nickname.
Brother Andreas never lost his holy reputation. Children longingly
looked forward to meeting the ‘holy brother’ for the first time,
but were disappointed when they met him. Was that all? Was that
so ordinary and drudging teacher supposed to be the ‘holy bro -
ther’? The school children’s parents were curious too and watched
him when they visited the Ruwenberg Institute. They were surprised
at his simple appearance and retiring manner. The ‘holy
brother of Ruwenberg’ had conjured up very different images in
their imaginations! His fellow brothers were not unnerved by the
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