LIVING MEMORIES OF M. EDELTRUD WEIST, OSB Loving ...

LIVING MEMORIES OF
M. EDELTRUD WEIST, OSB
Loving Memories Marking
what would have been
her 90 th Birthday
14 August 2012

Contributions from:
1. Korea - Daegu: Sr. Beda Kim, OSB
2. Korea – Daegu: Sr. Celina Oh, OSB
3. Korea – Daegu: Sr. Elia Lee, OSB
4. Korea - Daegu: Sr. Columba Kim, OSB
5. Korea - Daegu: Sr. Franziska Cheong, OSB
6. Korea – Daegu: Sr. Beatrix Moon, OSB
7. Korea - Daegu: Sr. Placida Lee, OSB
8. Korea - Daegu: Sr. Domina Choi, OSB
9. Korea – Seoul: Sr. Dolores Hong, OSB
10. Korea – Seoul: Sr. Michele Lee, OSB
11. Tanzania - Ndanda: Sr Birgitta Schnell, OSB
12. Philippines - Manila: Manila Priory Community and
Manila School Community together
13. Brazil - Olinda: Sr. Hildegardis Nassen, OSB
14. Brazil - Olinda: Sr Ursula Worringen, OSB
15. Brazil – Olinda: Sr. Consuelo Tavares, OSB
16. Namibia - Windhoek: Sr. Irene Iita, OSB
17. Bulgaria - Zarevbrod: Sr. Rosamaria Santana, OSB
18. India – Punalur: Sr. Antoinette Adelman, OSB
19. India – Punalur: Sr. Lioba Yang, OSB
20. India - Punalur: Sr. Josia ettiappallil, OSB; Sr. Ansela
Silvester, OSB; Sr. Anitta Lawrence, OSB; Sr. Lydia
Jacob, OSB; Sr. Leya Lukose, OSB; Sr. Mariam
Benedicta Kavalippadan, OSB; Sr. Beena Mariam
Theckanath, OSB; Sr. Christina Lassar, OSB
21. India - Rajkot: Sr Monica Nabirye, OSB
22. USA – Norfolk, NE: Sr. Bernadine Beckman, OSB
23. USA – Norfolk, NE: Sr. Celine Schock, OSB
24. Italy – Rome: Sr. Terese J. Zemale, OSB
25. Italy – Rome: Sr. Maoro Sye, OSB
26. Kenya – Nairobi: Sr. Christiane Spannheimer &
Sr. Heriberta Erhard, OSB
27. USA – Madison: Sr. Mary David Walgenbach, OSB
28. Ireland – Kylemore Abbey: M. Máire Hickey, OSB
29. Germany – Archbishop of Köln: Joachim Card. Meisner
30. Germany – General Vicar of Archdiocese of Köln:
Dr. Rudolf Solzbacher
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INTRODUCTION
The Casa Santo Spirito Community in Rome, after receiving the death
notice of M. Edeltrud, had her framed picture as Prioress General
hanging at the notice board on the way to the refectory, with flowers
and a burning candle for a week. Upon the invitation of Sr. Matilda
Handl, we spent several evenings sharing stories and memories about
M. Edeltrud at recreation time. After the funeral, M. Angela sent out
a common letter in special remembrance of her. But some of us had
the idea that we could still offer opportunity for more sharing of
memories and acknowledgements of M. Edeltrud because she has
been a very important person in our Congregation for many years and
has done a lot within the Congregation, in the Benedictine world and
around the world. Talking about this idea with some Sisters here in
Casa Community, the idea developed further into a suggestion to send
out the sharing we receive about M. Edeltrud within August 2012 to
mark what would have been M. Edeltrud’s 90th Birthday on 14
August 2012. I liked this idea and so I took it up to invite sharing of
memories and acknowledgements, to receive them and to put them
together.
I am grateful for the encouraging responses and cooperation within
short notice. Most of the contributions are being sent out the way we
received them. The photos from various sources, are chosen in
reference to the content referred to in the contributions.
Sr. Terese J. Zemale, OSB
4

1976 New Generalate
M. Maria Frohning, OSB
Prioress General from
23 Oct. to 17 Nov. 1976
Sr. Edeltrud Weist
Sr. Bernadine Beckmann
Sr. Angelica Leviste
Sr. Eva Maria Regis
General Chapter of 1976 - M Edeltrud Weist was elected Vicaress
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1981 – 1982 Intensive work of Preparatory Committee for revision of
Constitutions to be approved at the 1982 General Chapter
camera shy: Sr. Pia Lansang (Manila)
CONCO at work:
L-R: Sr. Angelica
Leviste (Rome),
Sr. Edeltrud Weist –
chairperson (Rome),
Sr. Aquinata
Böckmann (Rome),
Sr.
Elisabeth Frenzel
(Norfolk),
Rome, Fasching, 23 February 1982
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3 Dec. 1982:
M. Edeltrud presenting
the revised Constitutions
to Card. Rossi at the
Vatican,
Archb. Simon
Lourdesamy and
Sr. Sigrid Demple
look on
M. Edeltrud Weist,
elected Prioress General
of Missionary Benedictine
Sisters in the General
Chapter of Sept. 1982
Sr. M. Irene Dabalus, Vicaress
Sr. M. Pia Rottinghaus,
General Councilor
Sr. M. Sigrid Dempfle,
General Councilor
Sr. Dominica Kim,
General Councilor
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Delegates of
the General
Chapter, 1982
M. Edeltrud Weist re-elected Prioress General in the
General Chapter of 1988
New General
Council 1988:
M. Irene Dabalus
Vicaress
Sr. Gertrud Kim
Sr. Matilda Handl
Sr Rosa Maria
Santana
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Delegates of General Chapter 1988
During the General Chapter of 2000
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KOREA - DAEGU PRIORY
By Sr. Beda Kim, OSB
Sr. Edeltrud Weist, OSB, a medical doctor specializing in internal
medicine, and Sr. Alesia Beer, OSB, a nurse, came to the Priory of
Daegu located in Daegu, Korea, on January 11, 1961. Then I was an
aspirant in the Priory. The two Sisters were sent by the Priory in
Tutzing and they were to serve at our Fatima Hospital opened in
1956. Sr. Edeltrud took office as the director of our Fatima Hospital
on 22 August 1962, and served her best as the director for 5 years.
Then she was appointed by Mother Gertrud Link, our Prioress
General, to be the third prioress of Daegu Priory, and she was
installed on 14 September 1967. When she completed her term of
office, the delegates of the second Priory Chapter held in August 1972
elected her to be the Prioress. So, for the Priory of Daegu, Sr.
Edeltrud was the last Prioress appointed by the Prioress General and
the first Prioress elected by the delegates of the priory chapter. So
often, Mother Edeltrud was the crossroad of historical changes and so
often Mother Edeltrud initiated and steered through many historical
changes.
During her term of office as prioress from 1967 to 1974, I became
acquainted with her. Mother Edeltrud was a woman of brain and a
woman of prayer and she had a warm heart and open mind. She
especially placed her entire trust in God. So deeply and so truly
Mother Edeltrud loved the Korean people and respected the Korean
culture.
In the fourth century Buddhism came to Korea and from the year 918
to 1392 Buddhism was the state religion of the nation. Mother
Edeltrud “fell in love” with Buddhism. Now and then she visited
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Buddhist temples and loved to experience Buddhism. She enjoyed
Korean traditional architecture and she visited Buddhist temples to
see Korean traditional architecture found there. Once there Mother
Edeltrud loved to meet and have dialogue with Buddhist monks and
nuns. Many important Korean cultural assets are preserved and
maintained in Buddhist temples. One outstanding example is the
famous Tripitaka Koreana consisting of over eighty thousand printed
wooden blocks created in the years between 1235 and 1251, during
Koryeo Dynasty, and they are kept in Hae-in Buddhist Temple.
Mother Prioress Edeltrud loved to visit Buddhist temples. Those visits
she enjoyed and those visits enlightened her to understand Korea and
its people, she thought.
In December 1968, Mother Prioress Edeltrud and I went to Bangkok,
Thailand, where the first meeting of Benedictines including Trappists
and Cistercians in Asia was held. On the way to Bangkok we visited
the sisters in our Manila Priory for a week and then Mother Prioress
Assumpta Filser and Subprioress Sr. Simeona Ricalde of Manila
joined us and we travelled together to Bangkok. The Brothers and
Sisters from Japan, Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka,
Bangladesh, Republic of China (Taiwan), and other countries in Asia
joined us in Bangkok. Abbot Odo Haas of the abbey in Waegwan,
Korea, arrived before we did. The lecturers for this meeting were Fr.
Thomas Merton from the United States, Fr. Jean Leclercq from
France, Sadu Itiavira from Kerala, India, and a few others.
We had the plenary meetings in the morning and the group meetings
in the afternoon. At noon we enjoyed shower and siesta, most
welcome in the tropics. On the fourth day of the meeting Fr. Thomas
Merton was absent at the afternoon group meeting. The members of
Thomas Merton's group looked for him and found him under the
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electric fan in his room. "Doctor! Doctor!" They called out. But the
meeting was held in a secluded area in a suburb of Bangkok. There
were no hospitals. Our Mother Prioress Edeltrud, medical doctor
specializing inte r n a l medicine, ran to the room of Fr. Thomas
Merton. She examined him and pronounced her quick, bright, and
exact diagnosis: Fr. Thomas Merton was dead for 2 hours already. He
was killed by electric shock caused by a leakage from the electric fan.
Then, she added, “After his shower, with his wet hand, Fr. Merton
might have tried to turn on the electric fan!” In Thailand, the weather
is very hot in December and then everybody needs a shower after
lunch. On that day we changed our afte r n o o n schedule and the
whole afternoon we prayed for Fr. Thomas Merton. Mother Edeltrud
played an important role in that accident.
During her term as our prioress, our mission work rapidly expanded.
She was entrusted to run two girls' secondary schools from two
dioceses. In March 1969, from Andong Diocese, we accepted the
secondary school in Hamchang, and in March 1970, from Daegu
Archdiocese, we accepted the secondary school in Gimcheon. In
September 1969, she opened our Fatima Hospital in Masan. The late
Cardinal Kim, then Bishop Stephano Kim, the Ordinary of Masan,
wanted a Catholic Hospital in his diocese and asked Mother Prioress
Edeltrud to start a hospital on a piece of his diocesan land, 4,000
square meters. So Mother Edeltrud began our small Fatima Hospital
in Masan.
Mother Prioress Edeltrud also established a farm station and 3 parish
mission stations; Kyeongsan the farm station in 1968, Hamchang in
1969, Masan in February 1969, and Donam-dong, Seoul, in October
1971.
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Her zeal for mission was boundless and her prayer was deep. Mother
Edeltrud, truly a woman of prayer, understood the longing of the
sisters for a house of prayer. She sensed and honored the inclination
toward contemplation often present in the people of the orient.
In 1971, the Priory of Daegu held its first Priory Chapter. At that
Priory Chapter, our often initiative-taking Mother Prioress Edeltrud
made a proposal to found a house of prayer in Su-jeong-san, the most
beautiful seaside mountain, newly purchased and located near Masan,
where we had our Fatima Hospital. The delegates agreed with her
proposal. At the second Priory Chapter in 1972, the delegates
reaffirmed the decision to establish a house of prayer in Su-jeong-san,
on the seaside mountain. However, soon thereafter when we started
concrete plans for the house of prayer, we learned that the city had
designated the area “not for building”, and had set it aside for natural
preservation. Finally, at the third Priory Chapter in 1974, Mother
Edeltrud and the chapter delegates decided to change the place for
our house of prayer from Su-jeong-san to Kyeongsan, our farming
community near Daegu.
The first members of the prayer house consisted of 4 sisters including
Mother Edeltrud. Mother Edeltrud had completed her second term as
the prioress on 14 August 1974. The sisters came to Kyeongsan on
Oct. 18, 1974 and began their life in their newly formed house of
prayer. There were enough rooms in Kyeongsan. But the prayer house
in Kyeongsan was considered a temporary and experimental house
until we would find the right place for our house of prayer. The living
arrangement was not ideal. The already existing community had 4
members and Sr. Mechtildis Chang was the superior of the
community. Alongside the 4 members of the already existing
community, the 4 Sisters for the House of Prayer also had to work in
13

the fields and look after the many chickens for egg production. In
other words the 8 sisters had almost similar daily schedule except that
the members of the House of Prayer had an extra hour for personal
prayer. The sisters of the House of Prayer had their special prayers
for 30 minutes before the mid-day office and for 30 minutes before
the vespers. Mother Edeltrud worked on the farm. She weeded the
field with the short Korean hoe and she had to squat on her knees and
heels. It was a hard work but she did her best. She was always happy
in simple labor. But, after a year of experimentation, the House of
Prayer was discontinued. The main reason for the discontinuation
included the facts that Mother Prioress General Gertrud Link called
Sr. Edeltrud to Rome to be a member of the preparatory committee
for the 6th General Chapter, another sister had to undergo a major
surgery, and a third sister left for her home-leave in the United States.
In the year 1976, the 6th General Chapter elected Mother Edeltrud to
be the Vicaress General and then the 7 th and the 8th General Chapters
elected her to be our Prioress General. Thus, Mother Edeltrud served
in Rome for 18 years. Though her dream for a House of Prayer never
became a reality, the flame of her dream has ignited many hearts
among our sisters and someday a house of prayer will be established
on a fertile soil in Korea. Now she is in heaven and with her ardent
intercession our dream will soon come true!
In early 1980’s Korean Catholic immigrant communities in Los
Angeles petitioned us to send Sisters to serve their faith community.
Then there were about 500,000 Korean immigrants in Los Angeles.
Among them were 5 vibrant Korean Catholic communities and they
were housed in 5 different existing parishes including St. Gregory
Catholic Church. At that time, many of the priests serving the Korean
Catholic communities in the States were Columban Fathers, and,
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having served in Korea as missionaries, they could speak the language
and understood and loved the people. When the petition came, I was
then the prioress in Daegu. As the prioress, I visited Archdiocese of
Los Angeles twice because of this matter. When I made my second
visit on July 11, 1985, Mother Edeltrud Weist came from Rome to
accompany me and two Korean Sisters of ours were also with me.
We met His Eminence Cardinal Manning, Archbishop of Los
Angeles, at an archdiocesan reception room. Mother Edeltrud
requested the Cardinal to welcome our Sisters to work for the Korean
Catholic Communities within the diocese. His Eminence hesitated a
while and, after a short pause, told us: "Archdiocese cannot be
responsible for their living expense." His Eminence expressed his
worry about the living expense of our Sisters. However, at once,
Mother Edeltrud replied him in an excited voice: "The first
missionaries of our Congregation went to Africa when and where
there was no diocese and no house and they had no purse to carry!
Putting their entire trust in God they went to Africa with empty hands.
They worked for God and they received their needs from His
Providence." His Eminence was moved by Mother Edeltrud's trust in
God and gave us his permission to work for Korean Catholic
Communities in his Archdiocese and he granted us an official written
Decree of Invitation.
Fr. Anthony Mortell, a Columban priest, serving the Catholic Korean
Community at St. Gregory Parish Church was so delighted to hear
that we got the permission to work for Korean Catholic Communities
in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In great amazement, Fr. Anthony
said that such an almost instantaneous permission had never been
given and it was “truly exceptional.” His Eminence must have been
deeply moved by Mother Edeltrud's trust in God.
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The parish church of St. Gregory like many other parishes in the
United States had an elementary school and the school building was
located within the compound of the parish church. For years Sisters
of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary administered and taught in that
school and the parish had a convent for the sisters next to the school
and within the parish compound. When we approached the pastor of
St. Gregory and spoke about a possible residence for our sisters, he
told us that soon Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary would
depart from the school for lack of teaching sisters and then the
convent will be vacant. Then, if we would take over the school, we
may also use the convent for our sisters. After a long searching we
decided to send a sister just about to finish her studies to St. Gregory
parish school to teach and eventually administer the school. The
sister arrived in August 1984 and joined the last two sisters of the
Holy Name of Jesus and Mary and they lived together in the school
convent. When the last principal of the school died, the other Holy
Name sister left and that was the end of Holy Name Sisters teaching
at St. Gregory School. Our lone Korean sister continued her teaching
at St. Gregory School and lived alone in the school convent.
The first 5 Sisters from the Priory in Daegu arrived in Los Angeles on
Oct. 11, 1986. They were our first missionaries to serve the Korean
Catholic immigrant community in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
The newly arrived 5 sisters joined the one sister already there and
teaching at the school and they formed one community. Thus the first
community of Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing from Daegu,
Korea, was founded in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Now, in
2012, 7 Sisters are in that community and they serve 5 Korean
Catholic Communities (St. Gregory, St. Joseph, St. Paul, St. Gabriel
and St. Raphael) and one Sister, the only pioneer left, is working at
our own Bible Center, "Benedictine Mission House" housed in a
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house purchased in 1992. The superior serves the monastic
community and oversees the entire endeavor. Our apostolate for the
Korean Catholic immigrant communities in Los Angeles is
flourishing today, and we thank Mother Edeltrud Weist for being
instrumental for the founding of the community and above all
teaching us "total trust in God" and her deep love of prayer. I write
these lines with my deep admiration of her and we are ever grateful
for our Mother Edeltrud, God’s most precious gift to us.
M. Edeltrud
working in
Daegu Fatima
Hospital in the
early 1960s
Daegu Priory
Government
14 May 1974,
photo taken
in Masan
L-R back row:
Sr. Mechtild,
Sr. Agnes,
Sr. Beda, Sr. Betwina, Sr. Bernadette; L-R front row: M. Edeltrud,
Sr. Johanna, Sr. Pia, (Sr. Sigilinde was absent)
17

Meeting on Monasticism in Asia, Bangkok, 1968 Photo of Thomas
Merton taken the day before his death on 10 December 1968
L-R M. Prioress Sr. Assumpta Filser (Manila), Sr. Subprioress
Simeona Ricalde (Manila), Sr. Beda Kim (Daegu), M. Prioress
Edeltrud Weist (Daegu)
Daegu, 1972
M. Gertrud Link, OSB
Prioress General
M. Edeltrud Weist, OSB
Prioress of Daegu
& Sr. Pia Chang, OSB
Sub-Prioress of Daegu
18

M. Gertrud,
M. Edeltrud
& Sr. Caritas
Korea 1975
Mother Edeltrud,
Vicaress General,
present at the
ceremony of my
award of honor as
High School
Principal on
19 Oct. 1979.
She also presided at the Election Chapter of Daegu held on 9 Oct.
1979 which elected me as the 5 th prioress of Daegu
19

The 30 th anniversary of the foundation of Daegu Fatima Hospital,
2 July 1986
From the left; M. Edetrud Prioress General, Sr. Beda, Prioress of
Daegu, Sr. Sigillinde Hong, the superior of Fatima Sisters House,
Sr. Bernadetta Yeo, the directress of Fatima Hospital.
Visit of M. Edeltrud to
our school in Gimcheon
with Mother prioress
Gemma Lee during her
official visitation 1992.
From Left: Sr. Juliana
Kim, Mother Edeltrud
Weist, Sr. Beda Kim,
the principal of our
Girls’ High School in
Gimcheon, Mother
prioress Gemma Lee
20

1961 M. Edeltrud in dialogue with a
Buddhist nun
1982 M Edeltrud in a private
consultation
with Pope John Paul II
1983 M Edeltrud with M. Teresa of
Calcutta on the occasion of the Synod
of Bishops in Rome, 1994
21

KOREA – DAEGU PRIORY
By Sr. Celina Oh, OSB
1991 Prioresses Meeting in Daegu
In the early years of our Fatima Hospital, Sr. Edeltrud, a doctor
specialized in internal medicine, came to Korea and took office as the
Director of our Fatima Hospital in 1962. She took care of the
inpatients, emergency section and out-patients. One day I, as a nurse,
had to meet her urgently because of a patient. I looked for her all
around the hospital and finally I found her praying at our hospital
chapel. Sr. Edeltrud who was sunk in meditation was not aware of me
my presence there. I was so sorry to disturb her praying, but she had
to go to the emergency section. In her tide and busy schedule of the
hospital, she worshiped our Lord at the tabernacle in all her spare
moments. We all were encouraged by her religious life of prayer and
to work.
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KOREA – DAEGU PRIORY
By Sr. Elia Lee, OSB
Mother Edeltud came to Gyeongsan to prepare the house of prayer
after finishing her term as the prioress when I practiced the farm
mission as a novice in Gyeongsan. According to St. Benedict’s ‘ora
et labora’, Mother Edeltrud helped on the farm and in the chicken
houses with simple labor. While weeding in the farm she knelt down
since squatting was very hard for her.
In winter at that time, each room of Gyeongsan had a briquette stove
instead of the centralized heating system. Therefore every day
briquette had to be changed. The superior, Sr. Mechtildis ordered two
novices including me to change briquette in the room of Mother
Edeltrud and in that of Sr. Immaculata Martel, an older Sister and a
member of the house of prayer. Every day we went to Gyeongsan
parish for holy mass taking 30 minutes on foot. Mother Edeltrud said
to the superior that she would like to change the briquette by herself.
But we, two novices, changed briquette of two sisters’ rooms after
their departure for holy mass, and we, young novices, ran and arrived
at church earlier. When Mother Edeltrud found that her briquette was
changed, she told Sr. Mechtildis in an excited voice; “When I can’t do
such a simple work, then I don’t need to be here.” She wept. I thought
it was natural that the novices changed her briquette but she was so
simple and humble. She didn’t want to be served. Sr. Immaculat was
satisfied with us to change briquette in her room.
Mother Edeltrud helped us, two novices, to meditate. The three of us
had meditation time together. She loved us novices, gave her time
heartily and listened attentively to our meditation. When she was our
Prioress, she talked with each Aspirant personally 6 months before we
23

ecame Postulants. She kept even the small voice in her heart and
remembered that I had talked to her as an Aspirant. I became aware
that her entire life was centered in the Lord.
KOREA – DAEGU PRIORY
By Sr. Columba Kim, OSB
It could or may be too daring for me even to think of drawing out
some episode with Mother Edeltrud from my past memories of her,
because we haven’t lived together at all as community members.
However, my Final Profession Preparation Group had one hour of
class talk-time with Mother Edeltrud (as our Mother General in
Rome) in 1993, and around the time of our Final Profession
Ceremony and celebration we felt, here and there, moments of her
influencing presence. Since then, I reminisce about these moments,
from time to time, especially when I am troubled in my mind over the
identity of our Missionary Benedictine Sisters.
At that time, I felt that Mother Edeltrud wanted to meet us, the young
Sisters of Final Profession Preparation Group, to talk about her own
life and the true identity of our MBS Congregation, and to implant her
favorite/important ideas deep in our minds. During this one-hour class
period, she drew a long line with white chalk on the black board and
asked us to indicate the point on the line where we were thinking the
proper point is between Prayer and Work, Contemplation and
Mission. At that, I answered 50% plus 1% toward Work. But she
answered very clearly, “No, our our Congregation has 50% plus 1%
toward Prayer.” She explained while connecting this to Benedictine
motto of “Pray and Work.” Her explaining voice had a truly,
internally convinced tone. Her voice was strong enough to make us
24

ecognize and accept it as the clear identity of our Missionary
Benedictine Sisters Congregation.
Till then, I used to say that our Congregation was no different from
any other active congregations. Besides, in this world of competition,
I thought, we were forced to work harder and longer. Even now,
whenever I get in trouble with our identity, I remember her long white
chalk line drawn on the black board with her poor Korean
handwritings. This incident has been vividly carved as a seal in my
memory even today.
One more memory: At our Final Profession Ceremony, we, Sisters,
used to receive our gold ring, a sign of our Final Union with our Lord,
from the main celebrant, usually a bishop or an abbot. Mother
Edeltrud told us clearly that this part of the ceremony (the act of
putting the gold rings on the fingers of the Sisters during the
ceremony) should be done by our Superior (Prioress General or
Prioress) who is responsible for her Sisters. Thus, this part of the
ceremony was corrected for good. We still have a photo in which she
was talking while holding a ring, and another photo where she was
putting the rings on our fingers.
In historical time, M. Edeltrud and I did not have opportunity of living
together. But she, as our Mother General, visited us at the right time,
gave us very profitable classes to us the Final Profession Preparation
Group, and corrected an important part of our Final Profession
Ceremony.
This memory gives me, even now a very strong emotional uplifting,
and Iam, in a way, missing her presence. It seems that I am hearing
her voice saying that the 1% more towards Prayer from our 50/50
“Prayer and Work” Benedictine motto is important. My only regret is
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that I have not always practiced her advice all this while, which
makes me more homesick for her, perhaps.
But then, I am very proud of the
fact that I am wearing the gold
ring which she put on my finger
during my Final Profession
Ceremony.
As the Bride of my Lord Jesus, I
am encouraged to renew my old
self through the thoughts of
Mother Edeltrud and my very few
but important contacts with her.
KOREA – DAEGU PRIORY
By Sr. Beatrix Moon O.S.B.
I recall that when I was a postulant, I had an ear problem. It was a
serious condition as I made it difficult for me to attend our Opus Dei
(Community Prayers), because of my ear-noise. M. Edeltrud Weist
was our Prioress in Daegu at that time. She listened to me about my
suffering from the ear-noise. As long as I did not get well from the
noise, in spite that we had Fatima Hospital in Daegu, she gave me a
special consideration to go to Seoul University Hospital which is a
first class hospital in Korea, for accuracy of diagnosis and treatment.
I was also permitted to have examination at several other well-known
hospitals in Seoul. Until now, I really appreciate M. Edeltrud’s love
and solicitude. She took special care of me as a real doctor.
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My Second Story
M. Edeltrud Weist had known that my mother was strongly against
my entering the convent. But God had finally given grace to my
mother through Jesus Christ with his Holy Spirit, which helped her to
change her mind. Therefore my mother was baptized 6 months after I
began religious life in Daegu Priory.
When M. Edeltrud Weist knew this fact, she gave me a beautiful
rosary for my mother and three days of special vacation. M. Edeltrud
shared her special love and congratulations for my mother. My
mother prayed with this rosary for ten years until she returned to the
Lord. Now, this rosary has become very valuable to me as my
mother’s inheritance since she died. I will give it to one of my
nephews as his grandmother’s inheritance of faith, someday. May M.
Edeltrud Weist rest in peace and joy! I will keep her in my mind and
in my prayers.
KOREA – DAEGU PRIORY
By Sr. Franziska Cheong, OSB
The way I saw her, M. Edelttud yearned for contemplative life and
deep prayer but she also lived a busy apostolic life. She balanced and
accomplished the two aspects wisely. Some of my observations of
her include the following examples:
- During the meal time she reflected deeply and at times she even
did not remember what she ate.
- The time she worked in the hospital, when she walked in the
corridor she would be concentrated and only see in front.
Therefore, if we did not greet her she would not notice us.
27

- When she would come back from the work in the hospital for
Divine Office she would walk in deep silence and prayer.
- When she was Prioress of Daegu, if she got a message in the
chapel she hardly recognized the disturbance because she was
praying deeply.
She had a universal love for all persons with deep faith. For example:
- She listened to each one whole heartily as if there was only that
one person present
- After listening she discerned clearly and give practical advice
- She listened with the ear of the heart but spoke with few words.
So, I see her as the one who lived out the Holy Rule of St
Benedict
- Once a guest brought a box of Ice cream but it was not enough for
all the sisters. The refectory sister suggested calling only the
German sisters. That time it was not yet popular to eat Ice cream
in Korea. But M. Edeltrud said that the human mouth was the
same and therefore the ice cream should be given to whoever
came.
KOREA – DAEGU PRIORY
By Sr. Placida Lee, OSB, ( first profession in 1967))
When I was working as a head nurse in the operating room in
GyengBuk university hospital (1962), M.Edeltrud and Sr. Methildes
Chang visited me (Ursula) and Sr.Ambrosia Lee (Emma). She asked
us to come and work in Daegu Fatima hospital. So I moved to Fatima
hospital and worked there from August 1962 and entered the convent
the following year. During novitiate time I helped her part time in the
hospital. On my feastday she gave me a pax and time for adoration.
28

She said she got permission from my novice mistress and asked me to
do adoration for her when it was impossible for her because of the
meetings. I really prayed hard whenever I was asked. I was really
touched by her attitude and I was eager to follow her good example.
She was so faithful to the rule and obedience in spite of her heavy
responsibility.
When she left Korea for the General Chapter I gave her a short
message wishing her a good trip and good work. She replied to me
briefly on a holy card under the prayer to St. Joseph. I still have it and
I am praying it with the memory of M. Edeltrud.
KOREA – DAEGU PRIORY
By Sr. Domina Choi, OSB
For me M. Edeltrud was one who lived a good religious life as a
woman of God. She showed her love to everybody always without
prejudice, and listened carefully to the person and the incidents.
When she was an administrator in the hospital she spent most of her
time on Sunday afternoons for prayer. Whenever I saw her praying
deeply, I pledged myself to follow her good example in living out our
motto ‘Ora et Labora’ and being a faithful servant of God. After she
became a prioress she showed her concern and love for each of us and
took care of our needs for accomplishing our apostolate as members
of the community. I also appreciate her special concern and love for
the Korean community. My personal special memory with her is
during the International Weeks of Encounter of 1999. I had a foot
injury and I had to stay in bed. She visited me every day and
encouraged me. When I stayed in Haus St Benedikt, she gave me
29

special care and kindness. She arranged a car for me (Ms Margund
Hähn) and explained our history of foundation and how to come to
Tutzing. I would say that M. Edeltrud was a woman of God who was
always open to Him.
In the beginning of Daegu Priory she gave us mental health lectures
with her extensive knowledge and they became like a mirror for many
sisters to face our reality. They were good guidelines for getting to
know each other. I’d like to say she was the one who gave us
assurance to walk in faith to the Lord with true freedom and genuine
poverty.
I share this with my sincere love for her whom I love and respect in
God.
During the IWE 1999 at
St. Ottilen
Mrs. Margund Hähn,
Sr. Domina Choi, M.
Edelturd and her younger
sister
30

KOREA – SEOUL PRIORY
By Sr. Dolores Hong (Hong Seong-Im), OSB
On June 15, 2012, the Feast of Sacred Heart of Jesus, I heard that
Mother Edeltrud Weist has left us for the Kingdom of Heaven. I
believe that the German House of Saint Benedict must have had a
truly solemn Feast of Sacred Heart of Jesus through the death of
Mother Edeltrud on that day, a meeting of the Kingdom of Heaven
and the earth. My dear Mother! I miss you. I seem to see you just
running and running to Heaven, again just showing your quick
character.
Crossing the city of Berlin from the East over to the West, whenever
you faced stern check-points, you would answer them with great
dignity, "Doctor Weist" and would pass over the Berlin Wall like a
miracle child! Likewise, when you went to Heaven, I imagine, you,
answering loudly, "Mother Edeltrud!" and passing all the gates of the
Kingdom of Heaven. My dear Mother, I wonder that even in Heaven
you will be busy thinking and working for Korea. My benevolent
Mother! Delightful Mother! Unforgettable Mother! You had a
European outlook but you had a Korean heart.
In February 1966, I met Mother Edeltrud for the first time. She
examined me for my convent entrance medical check-up at the Daegu
Fatima Hospital. With stethoscope she was examining me and I was
wondering how on earth such a beautiful and competent person
happened to come to South Korea, a small Asian country. I hoped that
my physical checkup would be bad enough so that my convent
entrance would be denied. I told her that I felt ill this spot and that
spot. But smiling brightly she told me I was very healthy. To me, she
looked like a smiling angel of Heaven. Whenever I hesitated about my
31

convent entrance, the presence of Mother Edeltrud became a source of
courage for me. What did I dare to be boastful of? What was I
reluctant to part from? Thus, I cultivated my vocation by asking
ontological questions and answering them by myself.
I entered Daegu Priory in August 1966. I always looked at Mother
Edeltrud in the Chapel after the Compline. After the Compline, she
always prayed alone and often she dozed off. All day long, she
examined over 100 patients and for sure she was very tired. But she
stayed in the Chapel for an hour after Compline, even if she was
sleepy. Like the Apostle Peter and his two companions in the Garden
of Gethsemane, her sleepy figure looked very holy to me.
In 1973, I came back to Korea after having finished my Master of
Arts Degree in Theology at St. John's University in Collegeville,
Minnesota in the USA. At that time Mother Edeltrud was our Prioress
at Daegu Priory. The Second Vatican Council was over in 1965 and a
very "New Wind" was blowing and shaking the Church, the Convents
and Monasteries all over the world. It was a very hard period for all
Superiors. Mother Edeltrud kept all the hard happenings of this period
in her heart like the Blessed Mother Mary. During the Lent of 1974,
my fifth uncle (my father's brother) came down from Seoul to Daegu.
At that time, we were not allowed to go out to visit anyone during
Lent. I was a Junior Sister. I hadn't seen my uncle for over seven
years. Mother Edeltrud gave me permission to go out to see him. She
said, “Don't have lunch with him but you can take some ice cream."
We had ice cream in the hotel lounge. Afterwards I went to Mother
Edeltrud and questioned her, “How on earth is it that I cannot eat
lunch with my uncle after seven long years of not seeing him?” At
that, Mother Edeltrud just repeated, “I cannot permit you to do that!”
32

At that time, I learned from Mother Edeltrud that in such a special
occasion I myself should decide what to do!
It was Mother Edeltrud who made arrangements for the land where
the Seoul Priory could later be established. President Park JeongHee
and the First Lady had visited Germany and our Mother-House near
the beautiful Stanberg See. They returned to Korea and looked for the
Korean Benedictine Convent which was a branch of the German
Benedictines. Perhaps they got a very deep impression from the
Benedictine culture and spirituality in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Park
invited the German Sisters of Daegu Priory to their Blue House in
Seoul. Then, the First Lady, Mrs. Yook Yung-Soo, let the Sisters buy
the land of Arirang in 1965. Thus on this land the Sisters constructed
the Sang-Gee Retreat Center and opened it in 1974. In 1909, the Saint
Ottilien Benedictine Monks settled in HeHwaDong, Seoul but they
moved to DukWon, North Korea, after the First World War, leaving
the HeHwaDong settlement to Seoul Diocese. And now the
Benedictine Sisters from Tutzing, Germany were dreaming to
establish their Seoul Priory when they got this large piece of land in
Arirang. Mother Edeltrud had a vision of Seoul Priory already at that
time and so from the start she as Daegu Prioress sent seven Sisters to
SangGee Retreat Center as a kind of preparatory step for a future
Seoul Priory.
In 1975 when she was freed from the Office of Prioress of Daegu
Priory, Mother Edeltrud went to KyungSan "Prayer House" and began
her new mission of a Contemplative Prayer House. She wanted to
start a Prayer House where Sisters could live a Benedictine Way of
Life harmonizing the Prayer and Work. "Unfortunately", after only
one year in KyungSan, in 1976 she was called to Rome by Mother
Gertrud Link, Prioress General, to be on the Committee for the
33

preparation of the General Chapter of 1976. In that General Chapter,
M Edeltrud was elected to be the Vicaress of our Congregation. In the
next General Chapter of 1982 she was elected to the the Prioress
General of our Congregation.
Now as Prioress General, she persuaded the Daegu Priory Sisters to
divide the 300-member Priory into two Priories. Sisters were free to
choose either Seoul Priory or to remain in Daegu Priory. Finally in
1986, the Holy Spirit let the surprising “wind” blow through the
Sisters. Thus, on 16 November 1987, the Seoul Priory was established
in SangGee Center in Arirang. When I went to Rome in 1990, Mother
Edeltrud was on a fasting retreat alone. I did not know yet what the
fasting retreat was, and so I was very shocked by the fact. Therefore, I
"prayed hard" Mother Edeltrud’s health.
Mother Edeltrud, used to have every year a walking vacation period.
The then-Vicaress, Mother Irene was looking for a walking vacation
partner for Mother Edeltrud. She came to ask me to be her walking
partner. I told her that I couldn't accept the offer because I would not
accept any partnership where we would talk only Korean. Then,
Mother Edeltrud promised to talk only in English with me, and she
kept her promise literally. Remembering the incident now, I feel sorry
for making such a demand on her. We went to Montefiolo, 80 km
away from Rome. It was an Italian women's contemplative monastery
on a low mountain. From there we walked in all four directions for
eight days and saw many empty houses. Mother Edeltrud entered each
empty house and prayed that it could be a prayer house later. She
always wanted to pray. One day, when we were at Montefiolo, some
Korean priests came to visit the place. Nearby there was Greccio
where St. Francis of Assisi had made the first Manger of Baby Jesus
with the Nativity Scene, which started the tradition of Christmas
34

Cribs. M. Edeltrud joyfully and spontaneously guided the Korean
priests to go there as pilgrims! Mother Edeltrud loved God very much
and therefore she loved all God's people! Most of all, she loved the
people of her first mission land, Korea! Even in the Casa Santo
Spirito in Rome, she showed her great love for the Asians.
At the age of 76, she answered “yes” to the call to go to the new
mission to India! Thank you, dear Mother, through you I learned that
Life is beautiful. Dear Mother, you showed it to us through your own
acts and practices that to love God is simply to love our neighbors.
Dear Mother, you loved the Church and all God's people.
I thank God who had given us such a precious Mother. When we
celebrate the Silver Jubilee Anniversary of Seoul Priory Foundation,
on 16 November 2012, you will celebrate it in Heaven. Thus, our
Celebration will be much more solemn. Through our celebration
together in heaven and on earth, you are welcome to come again into
the heart of each of us. Thank you, Mother!
KOREA - SEOUL PRIORY
By Sr. Michele Lee, OSB
M. Edeltrud had worked a lot in establishing and in administration
together with Sr. Mary Agnes who had come from Norfolk and M.
Gertrud Link who had been the novice mistress of Daegu at that time.
They came to Korea and learnt Korean language. Fatima Hospital had
opened already on July 2, 1956 and afterwards with aid from Austria
Catholic Women’s Committee the extended hospital had been built so
that on Aug 22, 1962 it had developed into a general hospital. M.
Edeltrud became the first director of Fatima Hospital and Sr. Mary
35

Agnes was the chief of Administration Office. Both of them were not
so fluent in Korean so they used to converse in mixed languages of
English, Deutsch and Korean. I myself, Annunciata Lee and Sophia
Lee who were at that time postulants were helping them in
communicating with the patients and the Hospital staff, but it did not
take many years before they could speak Korean fluently. M. Edeltrud
learnt Korean so well that she never forgot it even long after she had
left Korea. Though she was a young surgeon in her 30’s with poor
Korean she made the best examination and treated the patients well so
that there never lacked patients with her. Many still remember how
lively and lovingly she cared for the patients. In the early stage of
Fatima Hospital she had to serve in Hospital day and night, even the
patients in the emergency, like all other sisters working in the
Hospital. She held the office of Prioress in Daegu from 1967 to 1974.
Being a doctor and a Prioress she had not only spiritual counsel for us
but also she also gave us professional health consultation with a lot of
understanding as a Mother of the Convent. When she found any sister
who was ill, she took care of each of them with great love until the
sister recovered from the illness. Besides that, we would see her in
adoration every day.
When she was Prioress General, she was of great help and support for
the foundation of Seoul Priory. She said she had expected the second
Priory already from the time she had got from our First Lady the land
where now Seoul Priory House stands. In her speech during the
blessing of Seoul Convent she said, “the first moment I saw this land,
I thought it would be for the second Priory in Korea. And I remember
it was the wish of Archbishop Noh Gi-Nam as well. Since then this
idea has never disappeared from me. Now on 16 November 1987 we
have made here a beginning as St. Gertrud Priory.”
36

As she said, she had dreamed of second Priory already from 1965 and
she had brought up this agenda in Daegu Priory Chapter in 1972 when
she was Prioress. This dream became a reality in 1987 while she was
in office as Prioress General. Therefore, I think she has kept special
concern and love for Seoul Priory.
TANZANIA – NDANDA PRIORY
By Sr. Birgitta Schnell, OSB
In the 1980s, Sr. Miltraud Hermes, then Prioress of Ndanda, asked me
to follow her to Nairobi where Mother Edeltrud had called a meeting
of the African Prioresses. There I should ask her for permission to
continue with Pro-Life and NPF work. Mother Edeltrud happily gave
me the permission and told me her story:
When her mother was pregnant with Mother Edeltrud, her mother
went to a doctor in Berlin for examination. The doctor said: "Yes, you
are pregnant, but there is something wrong, we have to remove the
pregnancy," and he gave her the (date) appointment for that on 2
January. On 1 January, the New Year’s day, the sister of the mother
visited her. Her mother told the issue about her pregnancy and that it
should be removed. The sister said, “That is not a small thing, you
better see first another doctor, a catholic one. The first one was a
protestant. So her mother went to the catholic doctor the next day. He
said, "Yes, you are pregnant and there is nothing wrong, everything is
alright."
Some time after the meeting in Nairobi Mother Edeltrud visited
Ndanda. Here she told our whole community during recreation her
story how she was saved. Mother Edeltrud also visited our hospital.
37

She told me that in Korea our hospital has an office where Billing’s
Method is taught. And Ndanda would need such an office. So we
started our Billing's Office in the hospital near my office.
Between my office and the Billings Office was the room for
sterilising instruments. Outside on the door was written “Sterilization
Room”. When Mother Edeltrud visited us again after a few years, she
again went to the hospital and was very happy to find now the
Billings Office. But beside she saw the notice “Sterilization Room”.
She was thinking there are women being sterilized and was very
unhappy about that. She calmed down when she got the explanation
that only instruments were being sterilized there and that we were not
sterilizing women.
When I met Mother Edeltrud in Haus Benedikt last year 2011, she
was very happy to hear that our Family Apostolate had grown big.
And she again told me her story, how she was saved while still in the
uterus of her mother.
PHILIPPINES – MANILA PRIORY
June 19, 2012 Community room. 7:40 PM – 8:30 PM
The Sharing was integrated with Compline. Some sisters shared
stories of their encounter with Mother Edeltrud Weist, OSB.
Highlights of the sharing:
she loved very much the Filipinas
with her one feels secure
has challenged me very much
she is able to say “sorry”
is generous and kind
a very good story-teller
38

is neat, elegant, a real professional
a persevering visionary
a woman of great asceticism and sacrifice
she loved India
tough, holy, humble, a real missionary
she experienced her love for animals
very regal, elegant, well groomed
she changed when she came from India, the change from
Mother General to a Missionary was noticeable
feels that we are all important to her
remembers significant events in the life of a sister
she gives all her time for the sisters
is in love with what she is doing
she volunteered to go to India
loving, humble, nothing is impossible
A child at heart with the heart of a child.
BRASIL – OLINDA PRIORY
By Sr. HIldegardis Nassen OSB
In October 1994 the Bishops Synod took place in Rome about the
Consecrated Life in the Church and World. Prioress General Mother
Edeltrud was also invited for participation. It was shortly before our
General Chapter. That is why she shared her experiences. The
representatives of the religious orders attended all the meetings and
workshops, but they had no voting rights. Mother Edeltrud also
contributed to the final message of the Synod. All participants were
invited for a meal with the Pope, John Paul II in groups, including
39

Mother Edeltrud, and she talked about it, in particular about the
simplicity and kindness of the Pope on this occasion.
BRASIL – OLINDA PRIORY
By Sr. Ursula Worringen, OSB
It was a characteristic of M. Edeltrud that she had a large vision, fast
and very quick in implementation. M. Edeltrud organised the second
International Formators Meeting (IFM) of the Congregation, which
took place from 7 November 1990 to 26 February 1991. The
Preparatory committee included: Sr. Dolores Hong, Sr. Aquinata
Böckmann, Sr. Matilda Handl, and Sr. Ursula Worringen.
In the first days of the meeting one night, I had an attack of glaucoma
in my left eye. M. Edeltrud just sent me to an Opthalmogist doctor in
Rome, who gave me appointment to return to him after on month.
This delay did not please M. Edeltrud. She knew that some Sisters
were going to Tutzing, and she asked me to go with them by train to
Munich. There, waiting for us at the Train Station was Sr. Martha
Baumeister, who drove me to Augsburg, where I was accepted in the
University Hospital and operated on the following day. It was a
lighting action which saved my left eye till today, more than twenty
years.
BRASIL – OLINDA PRIORY
By Sr. Consuelo Tavares, OSB
I consider M. Edeltrud a person with special particularities in her way
of being and acting. She was simple but very original.
40

The first time I met M. Edeltrud was in 1976, when she visited Olinda
Priory as Vicaress. Soon after my final vows I was asked to help in
the Formation work. I did not feel that I could help so much. Then, M.
Edeltrud and I had a meeting, together with another sister who acted
as translator. I do not know if the sister was faithful to translate what I
said, but what I remember is just that after she heard my reasons, she
did not hesitate and with arguments led me to accept the task I was
supposed to do.
As a student in Rome (1979-1981) I lived more closely with her, and
could experience how firm she was and at the same time, how
understanding she was, especially when I had a health problem. Very
quickly she made all the arrangements by herself, despite all the other
work she had, going with me to the doctor, to listen to his opinion.
This encouraged me and helped me not to give up because of being so
far away from my country.
In the intense hot weather of Rome, there were often fires near our
house. M. Edeltrud was the first to pick up a bucket with water and
help us to put out the fire, inspite of all her work.
When I came back from Rome to Olinda Priory and was assigned to
be Formation directress, she accompanied me and asked me how I
was feeling. During her visitations she used to go for recreation with
the formandees and to share about her own life when she was young,
her professional and missionary life. The young people were very
comfortable with her.
In 2007, when I met her for the last time in Tutzing, I thought I would
find her in bed because of her health problems. To my surprise, when
I arrived in Tutzing Mother-House, I found her already on the street,
returning from a meeting with the Germany Chancellor, Angela
Merkel. I thought maybe she was asking for something for the poor
41

people of India, because in her last years of life, she was dedicated
and concerned about them.
The witness left by our dear M. Edeltrud, shows us an authentic
Missionary Benedictine, who gave us the experience of "preferring
nothing to the love of Christ", actualized in "preferring nothing to the
love of the poor and the needy ones". She loved and helped the poor,
God’s preferred ones. She is now our intercessor with God and may
we, like her "prefer nothing to the love of Christ", which helps us to
walk together to the everlasting life, always doing good and being
life-giving in the concrete situations of life.
NAMIBIA – WINDHOEK PRIORY
By Sr. Irene Iita, OSB
Mother Edeltrud played a big role for our final transfer from the
Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku to the Missionary Benedictine sisters
of Tutzing.
When I did my final transfer in Rome in 1999, she came from India so
that she could be present. Yes it was a happy moment for me and for
her. She had given me good advice during my medical studies and
through her inspiration I was able to push through and to succeed. I
am proud of her. May she rest in peace!
BULGARIA - ZAREVBROD, GD
By Sr. Rosamaria Santana, OSB
For me, Mother Edeltrud was a woman of charity, strong faith, self
giving and prayer. She was very concerned about the needs of each
sister.
42

After her two terms as Prioress General in 1994
M. Edeltrud pioneered for a mission foundation in India 1996 to 2007.
Beginnings in 1996: L-R: Sr. Cecile Ido, Sr. Lioba Yang, M.
Edeltrud Weist, Sr. Leoni Manimala, Sr. Veronica Origines
Opening & Blessing of Shanti Nivas Monastery, 03 January
2000. M. Edeltrud, Mr.Tony Xavie (architect), Bishop
Mathias Kappil, & Mr. Thomas Vettor (contractor)
43

M. Edeltrud &
Bishop Kappil
Blessing of
Shanti Nivas
Convent
3 January 2000
M. Edeltrud with Postulants February 2000
M. Edeltrud,
Sr.Antoinette,
Sr. Beena
44

M. Edeltrud & Community – Punalur 2002
M. Edeltrud
with children
from
St. Benedict’s
English
Medium
School
45

M. Edeltrud with teachers and children from St. Benedict’s English
Medium School, Punalur, India
Oblation of Oblate Isabella,
Rome, 4 August 1993
46

INDIA, PUNALUR DIOCESE
By Sr. Antoinette Adelmann, OSB
47

INDIA - PUNALUR, GD
By Sr. Lioba Yang, OSB
A rolling stone gathers no moss
Mother Edeltrud spent 11years in India, from 1996 to 2007. She was
deeply committed to bringing help to suffering people and to the local
Church of the Diocese of Punalur. She was open and courageous to
adapt to the new environment at her advanced age. She tried to learn
the local language, to adjust to the tropical climate and to a simple
spicy diet. She was untiringly committed to helping those most in
need while discouraging any sense of caste superiority.
When she struggled to find the means to alleviate the poverty and
suffering of the people she spent very many sleepless nights. When
she was fatigued with the heavy responsibility and the work of
founding a new mission, she relied on her belief that there would be
no hope but through prayers. After several years of deteriorating
health caused by the accidents which happened to her she faced the
danger to her life. But she was able to recover from her injuries and
sickness.
She was a woman of prayer with vision and deep faith. A rolling stone
gathers no moss was the answer she gave when she was asked about
the reason for starting new foundations in different parts of the world.
Despite her life of love and sacrifice she has not gone without
criticism from which she suffered. Through her deep commitment she
led many people whom she touched to the love of God. She was close
to the heart of those who suffered. She belonged entirely to the heart
of Jesus.
48

INDIA - PUNALUR
By Sr. Josia, Sr. Ansela, Sr. Anitta, Sr. Lydia, Sr. Leya, Sr.
Mariam Benedicta, Sr. Beena, Sr. Christina,
From Sr. Josia Ettiappallil, OSB
When I think of M. Edeltrud, I see her as a good-hearted mind,
generous, loveable, kind, understanding, and always with a smiling
face. She lived a simple life. When I was an aspirant she was our
superior. Every day she came to our room and asked, “How was the
day?”. And she then gave a blessing to us.
One recollection day, a Saturday, we got food poisoning. We all were
vomiting in the room, corridor, and bathrooms. She was the one who
took care of us, and she alone cleaned the floor. It was very striking to
me. Who will do such a thing with hands?
When we were students during our study period in the evenings, she
would come at night at 11 or 12 o’clock. We would be studying or
sitting or sleeping. Then with a smiling face she would give us the
blessing and wish us a good night.
I think she never forgot my brother’s name, Berlin. Even after she
left India, through the phone when I spoke with her, first she would
ask about my brother, Berlin.
When she was admitted in the hospital, twice Sr. Leya and I were
care-givers staying in the hospital room with Margund. As a caregiver
I was eagerly watching when she calls for me. Most of the time
she called me, and spoke in German. If Margund was nearby she told
her, “Mother speak in English.” When she recovered, she, Margund
and I went to the beach for a short time.
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
49

From Sr. Ansela Silvester, OSB
She was a good person and always smiling and prayerful. If we
needed something, we went and asked from her. If at that time she
did not have what we asked, she tried to find a way to get what we
needed in order to care of us.
She would check how we were studying, and she would ask to see our
books and check them for mistakes. Then she would write the
corrections and tell us about the mistakes.
One time when we went home for my confirmation, I lost my
umbrella. I was afraid to tell her. But the next day I wanted to go to
school and it was raining. When I went to Mother and told her about
the umbrella, she said, “Don’t worry, we will buy a new one.” And
she did give me a new one.
I had the chance to take care of M. Edeltrud one day when she was in
the infirmary. Though she was sick we did not feel she was sick
because when we looked at her face it was bright. And she was
speaking very gently and calmly. We got new inspiration.
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
From Anitta Lawrence, OSB
For me, M. Edeltrud was an innocently smiling and caring person. I
recall the day of my entry into the monastery. The first foreigner I
met was Mother Edeltrud. The warmness of her smile, her child-like
innocent smile and face, gave me the assurance of great acceptance
and of being loved. That is the most striking scene which comes to
my mind whenever I think of Mother Edeltrud. I am so impressed by
her heartfelt caring character. If anyone happened to be ill, M.
Edeltrud was very caring and concerned about it.
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When she was sick we took turns to go to her room and just spend
some time with her while she slept or rested. Whenever she woke up,
she would speak in German. This time gave me a sense of her loving
character toward each one of us.
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
From Sr. Lydia Jacob, OSB
When I was studying in Higher Secondary School, M. Edeltrud
helped me and encouraged me with my studies. She always came to
check if we were studying or not studying. She would bring some
sweets at night to encourage us, and she always gave the blessing.
She also took meditation with us and I found it very meaningful even
though some words were difficult to understand.
She always had cheerful smile and was caring for the community
members. She helped many poor people especially those who had no
house.
I was touched how she did not forget the name of each sister, even
though she was elderly.
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
From Sr. Leya Lukose, OSB
Mother Edeltrud was the Superior when I entered into the community
at Punalur. I am very grateful to her because she is the one who taught
me the real meaning of the vow of poverty and true quality of
simplicity. She would buy new shoes for us when the old ones were
torn. She was the Superior, but I saw so many times that she gave her
shoes to be repaired until they could no more be used.
She always kept a smile on her face even in her pain and suffering. I
saw and experienced it when she fell down the stairs and was
51

admitted in the hospital. She smiled even in her pain and consoled us
by saying that it was okay. She would not allow us to do the work for
her if she was in good health. She was always ready to offer help to
others.
I really appreciate one of her qualities. She would not believe
everything that she hears from others. She would call the person and
ask the things and get the issue clarified. Without hearing the other
side she would not take any action or she would not scold us. She
was a good person to be approached. She listened to us as a mother
listens to a child and gave us everything if they were necessary to us.
She would have a meeting with each of us in private every month. I
really could share everything with her without hiding anything
whatever happened within a month.
She was so kind-hearted. She helped poor people in their needs. One
of our neighbors was suffering from cancer. M. Edeltrud always asked
the lady about her treatments and the dates of check-ups. Once the
lady told M. Edeltrud about her appointment the next month. M.
Edeltrud understood that she did not have the money, so she sent me
to give the lady 1000 Rupees.
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
From Sr. Mariam Benedicta Kavalippadan, OSB
M. Edeltrud was a mother of loving heart. I first met her in Rajkot. At
that time I was a nursing student at Jonas Hospital. One day she
showed us some photos of Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing
and explained their apostolic work. It helped me to reflect upon this
congregation. Then one day while I was praying the rosary, I got a
phone call. It was M. Edeltrud calling from Punalur. After a loving
greeting, she informed me that soon we will start a formation house
52

here in Vilakkudy. If you wish to join with us, you are most
welcome. By and by I experienced her loving care and
encouragement for the growth of my spiritual life. She was my
novice mistress.
I also recall class times, especially afternoon classes. She made jokes
with actions in order to wake us up from our sleepiness. On feast
days and other particular days we first-batch members were lucky to
get enough chocolate and other small gifts. She also cared very well
for those who were sick in the community and other people as well.
She was a friend for all people and showed great concern for their
various needs.
Again I remember one afternoon when it was raining, two of my
companions were enjoying taking a shower on the terrace. The rest of
us were laughing at them. Suddenly we heard the footsteps of M.
Edeltrud. We thought surely she will scold us. But we were surprised.
She said, “O my dear ones. I am sorry that we don’t have enough bath
rooms!” Then she asked, “Shall we make a curtain here on the
terrace?” Thus we experienced her great concern, generosity and
responsibility everywhere. Her presence was a blessing for
everybody. Sometimes I had an opportunity to take care of her when
she was sick. On those occasions, I felt the touch of her satisfaction /
encouragement.. Mother Edeltrud shared many personal stories of her
earlier life, like hunger during the war, her joys and trials when
traveling, etc. Surely she will be an intercessor for us.
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
From Sr. Beena Mariam Theckanath, OSB
I was privileged to stay with Mother Edeltrud for about 5 years in
Punalur. For me she was a very loving and generous grandmother. I
cherish most our Constitutions classes with her. Mother Edeltrud
53

loved to speak about her mission experiences in Korea, how she
passed the medical exams, founding of small stations, how she
examined the patients, etc. We had very engaging discussions about
which values are more important, and I believe that M. Edeltrud loved
these exchanges, because, if I didn’t ask any questions, she would
worry about me.
I was inspired by how she adapted to the new culture even in her
advanced age. Each time she had to exit India, she would arrange her
cabinet and tell us to pray that she will come back; even though she
had the visa already. So I used to tell her “Mother, you must have
faith.” She agreed and told me, “Please pray for me to have more
faith.” I don’t think it shows her lack of faith but her complete trust in
God.
In the first year of our new monastery, one evening after rosary, M.
Edeltrud brought all the keys of the house to the feet of Mother Mary
and entrusted the house to her.
Even though she had to bear so many hardships, I believe that she
enjoyed it all in the spirit of faith. And she surely loved the Indians.
May Mother Edeltrud intercede for all of us, especially our Shanti
Nivas community.
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
From Sr. Christiana Lassar, OSB
M. Edeltrud’s vision about us was “Just as the seed is meant to be a
tree, we are meant to grow in Jesus”. When I remember Mother
Edeltrud, the first thing that comes to my mind is a smiling and
prayerful person. She was second Mother Teresa of Calcutta, because
the poor people in the street and entrance of the gate of our Cathedral
54

were coming and kissing her hands and some were giving her a hand
shake. She was open-hearted and also grateful to all those who helped
her in her life. She told us that she didn’t take money if the giver
gave for certain purpose because they would ask how did she use it.
Mother helped even if she was so weak and tired. She forgot her
tiredness and weakness. If somebody was sick she took care of them.
When many of us got food poisoning and vomited she was the
mother, nurse and doctor to help us get well. Really she had a heart of
love and caring for others.
When she gave class to the novices she shared what she saw and
experienced after her religious profession. She also explained about
the experiences of other sisters. Her classes really gave us eagerness
to hear and experience the real religious life. Many times there were
funny stories that she shared to give examples of the teaching. It
helped us to understand our beginnings as religious.
She couldn’t accept that her body was weak and she was tired. She
was always energetic, went everywhere doing good, and speaking to
everyone even if they would not speak to her.
One day the electricity went off. M. Edeltrud was quick and wanted
to switch on the light before anyone else. Really we were searching
for the light. M. Edeltrud tried the steps in the dark and fell down half
the staircase. She said something that we thought was a joke and
everybody laughed. Then we learned that she had broken her bones.
She told us God gives us what we need. She told us once she was tight
for money. She prayed earnestly in front of the tabernacle and really
after one week she got unexpected money from an unknown person
55

She is living in India. She is the person who bore us in her heart until
her death. She is our mother in faith; she gave birth to us, and had
hope for us to grow deep and profound in the spiritual life as
Missionary Benedictine Sisters.
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
INDIA - RAJKOT, GD
By Sr. Monica Nabirye, OSB
Gratitude as the memory of the heart!
I am remembering M. Edeltrud not only the times I encountered her in
Nairobi Priory and Manila priory, but more from my conversation
with her 3 weeks before her passing away. I see Mother Edeltrud as a
saint of our time. A woman of wisdom and integrity. Gone but not
forgotten. She has left a legacy in our congregation.
With gratitude to what M. Edeltrud has been to our congregation,
during our visit to Haus St. Benedikt, most of us saw the near to the
end M. Edeltrud. Some Korean sisters could not hold back their tears
when they saw her. I recall her with her walk support push cart
reaching out to all the IWE 2012 to hand a beautiful rosary to each.
I recall her as a woman of zeal. I remember her in 1990 in Manila
trying to fit on all kinds of lay clothing with M. Irene in order to reach
out to China. In India those who walked side by side with her recall
her falling more than 3 times in bushes along the rubber trees going
up the hill in process of figuring out the path where the road would
be. They feared she might die in the process but she got up and
continued until the mission was accomplished. Now there is a
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eautiful tarmac road with curves and a complete U-turn leading to
Shanti Nivas the beloved youngest mission of Mother Edeltrud.
Interested to hear more about India, M. Edeltrud invited me to visit
her again before my return to India. On 26 May 2012 I had
conversation with M. Edeltrud for one hour. With a sense of humor
she narrated that she had died already in India but 3 Korean sisters
called her back. She repeatedly said her health cannot allow her to go
back to India. With gratitude she shared much about the time when
she was admitted in hospital and a heart surgeon who visited her
suggested to her to have an operation. The doctor honestly told her he
was not sure if she would survive the operation but M. Edeltrud
surrendered to him trusting in whatever would be the will of God. She
kept telling me that her health concern is the heart. No wonder she
surrendered it totally to God on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
On 30 May 2012 I was
again with M. Edeltrud as
she had requested me to
pick up letters for India.
As she handed the letters
to me she kept saying,
“Tell them I love them
and I will pray for them,
but I cannot return there
anymore.” We could have talked more but time was up. So thank you
mother and GOOD BYE!!!!!! Her last words were, “I pray for you
all”.
57

USA – NORFOLK PRIORY
By Sr. Bernadine Beckmann, OSB
I had the privilege of travelling with Mother Edeltrud, the then
Mother Vicaress, for Visitations in the African Priories. One thing
that amazed me was how relaxed she always could be. After we
boarded a plane she would fasten her seatbelt and then go off to sleep.
All the racing down the Runway, lift off and climbing didn't seem to
bother her. As soon as the plane reached the cruising mode she would
wake up and be ready to work on whatever she brought along.
On one trip from Johannesburg to Vryheid we were the only two
passengers on board. In the airport the announcement had been made
that the very stormy weather was not conducive for flying and that
any passengers were free to book for another day. The pilot said he
was going to make the trip. Mother Edeltrud was convinced that the
Lord would watch over us. The ride was very turbulent and we did
much bouncing up and down. The beauty of the stormy sky with the
lightening cutting through was such an awesome sight, something I
will not forget. I am thankful to God that I had the opportunity to live
and work with such a down-to-earth Saint.
U.S.A. – NORFOLK PRIORY
By Sr. Celine Schock, OSB
The only incident I remember very clearly was a time I took her to the
airport to return to India. She had about seven carry ons, all little bags
and some of them were not even shut they were packed so full and
tight. The clerk at the ticket counter informed her that she could not
take all of them on with her and that she would have to check in some.
She chose some of her open bags to be checked in. After she checked
them in she told me that she had all the money that was given to her
for someone to build a house in one of those opened bags. That
58

money value had several digits. I was stunned that she could send
that bag open for check in, but her response was very simple: “There
are good people and it will reach India.” Mother Edeltrud had an
honest belief and trust in people. She saw only goodness in people,
and she proved true.
ITALY – ROME, CASA SANTO SPIRITO
By Sr. Terese J. Zemale, OSB
During the International Formators’ Meeting of 23 November 1990 to
19 January 1991, which she had convoked, she herself also gave a
series of inputs on “The Charism of our Missionary Benedictine
Congregation”; and on the “Development of our Constitutions”. She
showed us two models of religious life, the Monastic- Apostolic (type
1) and the Active-Apostolic (type 2), with their characteristics. In this
way we could understand why our Congregation belonging to the
Monastic-Apostolic type has a communal approach to prayer, mission
and practical life. She also gave us a diagram of our “Family Tree”
tracing our roots from St Benedict at Monte Cassino, - St. Paul
outside the Walls in Rome, - Beuron – St. Ottilien – Tutzing – Rome
– and on to the young branches till that time of 1990. I share the
diagram of the “Family Tree” below. I personally found those inputs
and discussions very enlightening and inspiring, and they have
remained with me. The clarity about our Congregation, its roots and
its place in the Benedictine Order, increased my love, admiration and
gratitude for our Congregation in the Church and in the world.
59

ITALY – ROME, CASA SANTO SPIRITO
By Sr. Maoro Sye, OSB
I met M. Edeltrud personally when she had a canonical visitation for
Daegu Priory in 1986.
That time I was preparing for my final profession. The intensifiers
also had a personal interview with her. I told her that when I entered
the convent I thought of contemplative Benedictine life and even I
didn’t know at that time that I was joining a Missionary Benedictine
Congregation. She seemed to be surprised…
Three years later I was sent to Rome before the International
Formators’ Meeting of 1990. I had to study English before
participating in that meeting. M. Edeltrud had not forgotten what I
shared with her. I was supposed to go to England from Daegu, but M.
Edeltrud suggested to me that if I go to Nairobi Priory I could learn
English and to see our Mission. Without doubt I said Yes. When I
came back from Nairobi after six months she suggested to me to go
also to Norfolk Priory before IFM. Until now I really appreciate how
M. Edeltrud guided me and arranged for my mission experience
besides learning English. Whenever I came to Casa she would ask me,
“how did you feel about our charism”. During IFM 1990 -91, she
really emphasized about our Charism and explained it very clearly. I
see M Edeltrud as the one who lived out our charism with expanded
heart and who enlightened me with her life and teaching.
I accompanied M. Edeltrud when she returned to India after her short
visit to Korea in 2004. That time I stayed with her in the young
Punalur Community for three weeks. The Indian Sisters were still
young and Sr. Lioba and Sr. Edel were away. M.Edeltrud had to take
care of many things in the community as well as for the poor. But she
never forgot her personal prayer and the liturgy. I was touched how
61

she was living simply but was always generous to the poor, her
friends. I saw that her personal belongings were worn out, but she did
not want to change or buy new ones. So, I tried to repair them for her.
I could observe how her simplicity, frankness and good sense of
humor brought a good effect on the situation.
My last encounter with
M. Edeltrud was on 28
May 2012 at Haus
St.Benedict. This year I
was lucky to accompany
our IWE Participants
from Rome to Tutzing.
After I visited Haus St.
Benedikt with the whole
group I still visited her
two more times.
I could see that her heart was still in India and all over the world
wherever our sisters are present.
When I visited her again on 28
May she shared with me her
dream for the contemplative
life as a Missionary
Benedictine. She had been
able to let it materialize for her
for only one year at the House
of Prayer in Korea. She said
that it is necessary to have a
House of Prayer for Sisters
who want to rest and recover in the Community in silence, prayer and
simple manual work in the midst of this hectic world and our busy
activities. I assured her, “It is also my dream and I will continue your
62

dream when I return to Korea soon”. She gave her last blessing to me
and I promised her to telephone to her on her 90 birthday. She was not
sure she would live until that day and she promised me to pray for the
Election Chapters in Korea (Daegu and Seoul 2012). On the feastday
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus she passed away at the time when I was
having adoration in Korea. We miss her very much. She lives on in
our minds and hearts as a woman of God who really integrated
apostolic life and contemplative life in daily life as a missionary
Benedictine sister. We trust she will intercede for all of us!
KENYA – NAIROBI PRIORY
By Sr. Christiane Spannheimer on behalf of
Sr. Heriberta and herself
When the group of 5 was due for entering in Tutzing Sr. Irmengard
Bachem wanted to have them all enter at the same date. As M.
Edeltrud was still passing her medical examination, the entrance date
had to be delayed until March/April 1952. M. Edeltrud was then the
last entering. She was exactly 10 years older than the last aspirant.
Quickly she became the leader of the group having already much life
experience compared to the others, all the more so because Sr.
Irmengard after a short time handed over the care of aspirants and
postulants to Sr. Gonzaga Fuchs. It was of greatest joy for all four
when M. Edeltrud was elected Prioress General. Seldom could Sr.
Heriberta meet with M. Edeltrud being sent to Tanzania. Yet the
celebration of her Golden Jubilee was a celebration and reunion with
the whole group and to their joy even M. Edeltrud could be present.
Sr. Heriberta’s last homeleave was already a pre-monition of M.
Edeltrud’s imminent death. Still M. Edeltrud was alert and wanted to
63

know so much about the mission in Nairobi. Soon afterwards M.
Edeltrud died being the first of their profession group to die.
When I myself joined in 1956 M. Edeltrud had just pronounced her
first vows and was already working as a young doctor at the Tutzing
Hospital. Soon she became for me a model not only of religious life,
but also as a medical doctor, since to study medicine had been my
own dream. M. Edeltrud appeared to me so firm and unshakeable in
both vocations. She seemed to know exactly and immediately what
was right and what was the case, even later in life. As a young
postulant I came once to the infirmary because of one of those little
common ailments after the entrance. For me it was important to see
her as a doctor and I thought it necessary to be examined. She simply
said: “I know the problem”, which was said in such a convincing way,
that I simply stood in awe and did not think of further necessity for
examination. Even later in life I on several occasions heard her say or
found in a letter: “this is God’s will” or “this is not God’s will”.
Soon our ways went in different directions because M. Edeltrud was
sent to Korea and I went for studies to Munich. But M. Edeltrud was
always very interested to hear of me and of my experiences.
USA - Holy Wisdom Monastery, Madison Wisconsin,
By Sr. Mary David Walgenbach OSB, Prioress
I had the opportunity to meet with Mother Edeltrud several times. I
was usually asking her for sisters to help us in Madison. On one
occasion we were both in Meihekou, China. I was visiting Sister
Michael Marie OSB. An opportunity came for Mother Edeltrud to
meet with an important government official late in the evening. His
64

support for the building of their hospital was important and even
though it was late at night she would go to meet him. I asked if I
could come along. The streets were dimly lit and empty. Arriving at
the place Mother Edeltrud presented him with a gift and a picture of
the ground breaking of the hospital. Pointing to his picture with other
high officials, she was reminding him of the importance of the project
and of his commitment to it. How could he resist. She had disarmed
him with respect and expectation for the future.
I often think of Mother Edeltrud and her years of service in
leadership. She met the challenge to release in herself the strength of
soul to do the call of God to found Benedictine Missionary
communities. From her example I am encouraged to identify, nurture
and embrace the life and mission emerging in my midst.
Thank you Missionary Benedictine Sisters for raising up Mother
Edeltrud for the wider Benedictine community.
Thanks Terese for asking me,
Mary David Walgenbach OSB
Prioress
Holy Wisdom Monastery
Please note our change of address:
4200 County Road M
Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 831-9300
mwalgenbach@benedictinewomen.org
www.benedictinewomen.org
weaving prayer, hospitality, justice and care for the earth into a shared way of life
65

IRELAND – KYLEMORE ABBEY
By M. Máire Hickey, OSB, Abbess
Previously Abbess of Dinklage Abbey from 1983 for two terms
First Moderator of C.I.B. 1997 - 2006
I only met M. Edeltrud in 1984, but I had heard of her long before. In
1976, while I was a novice in Dinklage, she was elected Vicaress, and
I listened with interest to what the sisters were telling about her in
recreation: She had wanted to enter in Alexanderdorf , but had
recognised her missionary vocation and gone to Tutzing instead; she
had been at the meeting of Asian monks organised by A.I.M. in
Bangkok in December 1968 during which Fr.Thomas Merton had
died, and had been among the first, as a medical doctor, to be called
to his side; Then she had resigned as Prioress of Daegu in order to
start a House of Prayer and live a contemplative monastic life there,
but had just now been called away from that to become Vicaress of
the Congregation in Rome, and she had unhesitatingly said “Yes” to
the call. These anecdotes about a contemporary Benedictine were a
kind of signpost for me at that time, as I tried to make sense of what I
was hearing and reading about the two forms of religious life, the
contemplative and the apostolic, and looking for orientation for my
own journey to God. Real life on that journey, this unknown Sr.
Edeltrud was saying to me, is not bound down by the theological and
canonical distinctions between the contemplative and the apostolic
lives. God, in His search for us, does not know such distinctions nor
the boundaries that they set up. He wakens a boundless and insatiable
longing for Him wherever He will, and that longing becomes flesh in
a radical, concrete response to His call to the service of humanity,
whatever form that may take.
66

So when our ways met in 1984, M. Edeltrud had already played an
important role in my life. In that year, at the end of the Abbots´
Congress, Abbot Primate Viktor Dammertz called a meeting of the
then members of the Comission of Moniales and the Commission of
Sorores. These two commissions had been set up by his predecessor
Rembert Weakland, to explore the status of the nuns and sisters within
the Benedictine Confederation, and Abbot Primate Viktor was
committed to continuing with the task. M. Edeltrud as Vicaress to M.
Gertrud Link, had been already involved in the work of the
Commision of Sisters, but was now replacing M. Gertrud as a
member. I was new to the Commission, replacing M. Judith Frei of
Varensell as a representative, along with Abbess Joanna Jamieson of
Stanbrook and Abbess Ildegarde Sutto of Citerna, of the Benedictine
moniales.
In the years following that meeting with Abbot Viktor, the C.I.B.
emerged, the Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum. This is not
the place for details of the story of what the regular meetings of sisters
and nuns that took place from 1984 on were to mean for the future of
western monasticism. That story is not yet ready to be written,
because it is still happening. But the passing of M. Edeltrud is surely
the moment to acknowledge her enormous contribution to the
development of women´s monasticism. She opened up the space
provided by the Congregation of Tutzing for the working of the Holy
Spirit. During her years as Prioress General, the Casa Santo Spirito in
Rome became a place where the task of the CIB was understood and
encouraged in every possible way. It was one of the places that
enabled the CIB to find its identity. M. Edeltrud got the resources of
the Congregation accessible for the development of the new
Communio, and the international spread of the Congregation was able
to facilitate the gradual acceptance of the C.I.B. in every part of the
67

world. Talents of Tutzing Sisters was made available with great
generosity, and warm Tutzing hospitality awaited us wherever we
went.
One of the aims of the C.I.B. from the beginning was to enable
Benedictine women of different origins and traditions to discover the
monastic spirituality that they had in common. Clarity was one of
M.Edeltrud´s outstanding qualities. She made no bones about the
injustices and prejudices that had created bizarre relationships
between men and women and between monks/nuns of one tradition
and another over the years and could be quite outspoken. But her
friendly and open nature enabled her to deal with the tensions that the
different backgrounds sparked off among us. She did have the
limitations of her own background and character, but she did not let
that prevent her from respecting and honouring everyone. Her
winning smile and her sense of humour were enough on many
occasions to restore common sense and charity when a discussion got
overheated. She never tired of looking for ways of getting round the
intransigence of some of the authorities we had to deal with as the
Communio developed, and got obvious satisfaction out of the
alliances she was able to form with e.g. American sisters, European
Abbesses and many others. Without being committed to any feminist
camp, she had the uncomplicated conviction that in God´s kingdom
the distinctions we live with between male and female, religious and
lay, contemplative and apostolic have no place. In the years 1984 –
1994 she worked tirelessly to let the emerging C.I.B. be a space in
which this aspect of the Kingdom of God could in the long term
become a reality.
In the long term: she knew it would take a long time, and was not
disheartened by hindrances. She knew it was God´s project, and that
68

he was present to our planning, decisions and gatherings, and that he
would bring it to fulfilment in his own time.
We missed her greatly when she moved on in 1994 to take up her new
mission in Punalur. Several times in the years that followed, she
happened to be in Rome in the Casa Santo when the Administrative
Council would be holding a meeting. Age and health problems were
catching up on her, but she still exuded the energy, faith and
encouragement for the aims of the C.I.B. that had inspired the project
since its beginnings.
Thank you, M. Edeltrud, for all that you shared with us and have left
with us. Where you are now, you are experiencing that oneness with
God that you were tending towards all your life, in all that you did.
Kylemore Abbey, Kylemore, Connemara, Co Galway, Ireland.
T: +353 95 52000 | F: +353 95 52069 | E:
info@kylemoreabbeytourism.ie |
W: www.kylemoreabbeytourism.ie
69

The Archbishop of Köln
(a translation of the letter, the original is below it)
Ven. Sister Ruth Schönenberger
Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing
Bahnhofstr. 3
82327 Tutzing
Köln, June 20, 2012
Very Venerable Sister Ruth,
dear Sisters!
On the occasion of the death of Mother M. Edeltrud Weist OSB, I
want to express to all of you, to all Sisters, all relatives and all who
were close to her, my heartfelt condolence.
The Lord over Life and Death has called her home into His
Fatherhouse after a long life of faith, lived on earth and in the
convent. First she studied medicine and got her doctorate, until, at the
end of 1953, she entered into your order, where she engaged herself as
physician for the Order, first in the hospital in Tutzing and then, from
1960 onward, in various countries of Asia and in Korea, where she
took over the direction of the newly-founded Fatima Hospital and
served there as Prioress until 1974. From 1975 on, she lived for 18
years in Rome and was elected into various positions in the
Generalate, of which she was Prioress General for 12 years. After
that time, she was – already 74 years old – sent to the new foundation
in Punalur/Kerala in India. During my visit there, I was able to bless
the chapel in that convent. I remember very well this event, because
during the ceremonies, the electric current failed. From there, she
returned to Germany in 2007, after a severe heart attack.
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Her heart continued to beat for the places of her missionary service in
Korea and in India. Thus, Mother Edeltrud has untiringly engaged all
her strength and faith in your Order and has passed it on to many
persons entrusted to her. Even when she is now missing in your
midst, your heavenly community has become greater by one fellow
sister.
As believers we know, that death does not mean disappearance, but it
is the passing from one hand of God into the other. Through the Heart
of God, we remain really and truly united to our deceased loved ones.
May Mother Edeltrud now, by her intercession, be at the side of your
community from the greater perspective of God.
I met Mother Edeltrud repeatedly. For me, these encounters were
always a true gift which had been given to the World Church by the
poor diaspora church of Berlin. I have prayed for Mother Edeltrud
that the Lord may accept all that was good in her life, and that He may
complete in His Love all that remained fragmentary and incomplete in
her life.
I promise to continue praying for Mother Edeltrud and your
community, and I send to you all my episcopal blessing for the
present and for the future.
Thus I bless you and all entrusted to you in easterly hope and
heartfelt solidarity,
Your
sgd + Joachim Card. Meisner
Archbishop of Köln
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ERZBISTUM KÖLN
GENERALVIKARIAT
DIÖZESANSTELLE
Weltkirche-Weltmission
_______________________________________________________
Erzbistum Köln – Generalvikariat – 50606 Köln
Missions-Prokura
der Missionsbenediktinerinnen
Benediktenweg 5
Bearbeiter: Di/So .
82327 Tutzing
Aktenzeichen: WWW
Telefon: 0221 / 1642- 1581
Telefax: 0221 / 1642 – 1576
e-mail. rudolf. solzbacher@erzbitum-koeln.de
Datum: 26.6.2012
Very Revered Sisters,
With great sadness and sympathy did we in the Archdiocese of Köln
receive the news of the decease of the dear Mother Edeltrud Weist
OSB. Herewith I express to you, the dear fellow sisters, also in the
name of the Archbishop, our deeply felt condolence. We unite
ourselves with you in prayer for the dear deceased, for whose
exemplary active and contemplative life we may be grateful to God.
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I myself could encounter Sister Edeltrud more closely after the end of
her second term of office in connection with the new foundation in
Punalur. She visited several times our diocesan office together with
Ms. Margund Haehn. During his journey to India in the year 2001,
Cardinal Meisner has blessed the new chapel in Punalur, and we could
stay over night in the convent. This visit will remain unforgettable for
me.
God willing, this plant in India – which so much was prayed for and
worked for - may flourish and bear rich fruit.
With friendly greetings,
Sgd. Dr. Rodolf Solzbacher
Director
75

Rome
14 August 2012
76