Fr Josef Anton Schanzenbach

   Other names for Josef were Fr Benedict Father and Pr Benedict Pater.

  General Notes:

(this is the copy of the obituary written in 1956)
ABOUT OUR DEAD
P. Benedikt of Binswangen, Senior of the Provinz
P. 205 Surely the Kapuzin Province in Rheinland-Westfalen was given a good and sincere leader in P. Benedikt. His worldly name was Anton Schanzenbach. His Latin teacher playfully called him "little Schanzenbach." His crib was located at the Neckar [a river], in the Sulm valley, in Binswangen by Heilbronn, which was surrounded by vineyards. There he was born on October 5, 1868, the youngest son of Michael Schanzenbach and Maria Agnes, whose maiden name was Ingelfinger. The parents already had three other sons (4, Alois, Franz Alphons, Karl Joseph and Eugene) and one daughter (Maria Ida). The latter died when she was eighteen years old(actually 15 yrs old). The parents of P. Benedikt were large and gaunt, as he was himself. The father was a capable carriage builder. In addition he had a farm and a vineyard. Because of this our honored Senior maintained his love for the grapes all of his life. Many years were spent cultivating the vines with love and care. Many lovely clusters of grapes were laid on the lunch table of his cloisterbrothers. The father died relatively young. P. Benedikt received a good upbringing from his pious mother. Two of his brothers (Eugene and Karl Joseph) immigrated to America later on. He maintained contact with those families. (One of those nephews (Joe) came to Trier as an American soldier towards the end of WWI. P. Benedikt was having drills at about the same time in the Priest's Seminary. I don't know if the nephew ever met him. At any rate, he made a great effort to visit his spiritual uncle. P. Benedikt often told me that he did not meet his nephew.) A third brother, Alois, was a sausage maker (a master) in Worms. He had a great and certain influence in the life of our dear departed. After little Anton received Latin studies from Pastor Baumann, who was an excellent priest, he spent some time in the Latin school in Neckarsulm. Then he went to Worms where his elder brother lived and attended the high school. An older niece who
P. 206--lives in Binswangen today. She still remembers Anton, who associated with P. Lukas Vogt.
Among other attributes, that a Kapuzinnovice should bring with him, good health should be mentioned. P. Benedikt certainly had this. I don't know if he was ever seriously ill before 1947. Yes, there was one time, in 1930. At that time one believed that he wouldn't make it. A stroke was spoken of and one feared the worst. The departed told me later that it wasn't even a stroke. And that is probably true. At the time Dr Bergmann told him that it was probably an anesthetic or poisoning from too-strong medicine. In his old age he complained of stomach pains. He loved to be active, liked to walk, made an effort to remain standing in his cell and in the choir during the examination. P. Benedikt constantly and consistently made an impressive and worthy appearance at the Kapuziners. I first began to know him when he started to age. At his anniversary celebration he showed me a picture from his best years. I saw a large, imposing Kapuziner. He was blond and earlier had a reddish beard. He believed in proper cleanliness and felt at home with etiquette requirements. He walked uprightly even in his old age. He had luck even with his own name. The name of the Father of evening lands fit him well. An official in Kleve called him "Prince from Spyck." Others in Kleve could have been asked if P. Benedikt had ever been an officer.
How he came to the Kapuziners I was unable to discover. He set a good example, because five from Binswangen followed him into the Kapuziners--the P. Dominikus, Lukas, Fortunat and Benignus, as well as Br. Agidius.
P. Benedikt's heart was devoted to his order. As a Kapuziner he wanted to remain just as he was brought up. On the 4th of October 1887, he took his vows. P. Bonaventura and Kilion also received orders. The total number was just 53, and out of these only 14 Paters and 16 brothers remained within the provincial borders. The others were in America and the Tyrol.
The aesthetic education to begin the restoration of our province was for the most part conducted by the Tyrolian Kapuzinners. They were, as we know, strict. Humility was strictly adhered to. The interaction of the Kapuziners with the world was minimal. One took the forbidding of riders (he means riding horses) or certain foot wear very seriously. P. Benedikt lived out of this tradition. His cell was poor. It would have been impossible that he could have kept a piece of clothing in his cell for any length of time. In January 1944 the old man traveled in socks and sandals to Bavaria, in order to have drills/exercises there. One couldn't say that he never traveled in a car for/on a mission. But he often went on foot. His confessioners (those who confessed to him) knew exactly that he didn't care to remain a long time in the conversation room. He was also thrifty in his letter-writing, even though he know how to maintain the forms of etiquette. He very seldom wanted free stamps, and visits to the city were seldom and short.
To us modern Kapuziners, many things appear exaggerated and petty. But one ought to have respect for the loyalty of these men, who remained faithful even in small things, because they felt themselves bound in duty to the spirit of the order..
It should not be hidden that P. Benedikt was timid and nervous. The timid person suffers. He is not always evaluated correctly. He cannot prevent that his piety has a side to it that is unsympathetic, especially for us modern critical people. If one said to him "P. Jubila, you can do this," then he could look at you pleadingly and say "P. Guardian, please leave me be." He said it humbly and honorably. At one opportunity he said "We were raised differently." It was his timidity. It could be that today aesthetic up-bringing is more likely to mitigate timidity. After all though, as P. Otto Hophan once said, we all suffer from some sort of restraint. No one is able entirely to be themselves. Humanly speaking, it was too bad. One could wish that our honored brother had more determination. He could then have reached a higher level.
In spite of this one could not say that the departed acknowledged the piety of the order only in outer observances. One received the impression that he was comforted when his conscience was clear. It would be even more wrong to say that he didn't have respect for authority. One could instead fasten the following proverb on the departed's coffin: "He was entirely faithful."
He held to the observances and rules almost as strictly as a novice throughout all seven decades. One is reminded of the words of the Revelation of the first love, that one is to maintain. Fideles usque ad mortem. Underneath the somewhat outer show of timidity was a great, sensitive conscience that one would like to honor by bowing down before him. The heart of the people also noticed this. The departed was highly regarded. Herr (Mr.) Dr. Bergmann once said in 1928 to me "Is it true that P. Benedikt will come to Kleve again? I'm happy. I honor him a great deal.
(208) The departed was not of a kind that one occasionally meets, one who under strong conviction and spiritual haughtiness might say: "You young people, you haven't experienced anything: You don't know what it means to be ordained and a Kapuziner." He surely suffered under changing circumstances but he didn't withdraw from fellowship. On the contrary--he enjoyed everything and everyone that he observed. How much he loved it when a young novice entered the monastery, barefoot and with a real Kapuziner beard, when he immediately came home after helping someone, when he went to choir prayers. Then he almost hopped for joy and his gestures expressed "How wonderful! That really pleases one. " With this we come to another point.
P. Benedikt was a praying man. The priests in the Tyrol have a reputation of being great men of prayer. Here too the departed was a student of his ancestors. He loved prayers, he loved the choir prayers, although here his timidity played a great trick on him. It was his fault that the choir prayers in the monasteries in which he dwelt were never omitted. He always knew how to arrange it so that he made it back home in time--even when he had to take the streetcar in Kleve from the train station to the Hotel Kock. Hot and sweaty he entered the choir. Yes, he was the watchman of choir prayers. If he was afraid the previous evening that his ministries might prevent his getting back in time for prayers, he called a guest to ask him if he wouldn't please pray with him. It happened sometimes that a guest who was to partake of mass later would say to the Guardian, "I'm already down here at 6 and praying with P. Benedikt." Every now and then this good priest would knock on the door of a fellow priest, who may just have arrived from work and was free. I believe that the fellow brothers willingly forgave this small habit whenever he thus had interrupted them. It was his timidity. But there is no one who didn't admire this intimate and loyal prayer life. Only in deep respect can one stand before this man of prayer. How often one saw him go up and down in the halls and pray the Psalms of the Marianum. I believe he always prayed this. Whenever he slept through, he still appeared on time. When he became ill and his hearing lessened, it was a real sorrow for him not to be able to participate of the choir prayers. He submitted himself patiently to this fate. Yet he participated in the "Partikularexam, Abendbetrachtung and the Perdonanz." At the end his daily work consisted only of prayers. The province lost in him a great man of prayer. And this enthusiasm for the choir prayer, which he esteemed as an integral part of the Kapuziner (209) life is what he wanted to respect and shield. He expected blessings for the house and his work in God's vineyard.
P. Benedikt was a good and diligent worker in God's vineyard. The day after the solemn process on the 15th of October 1891, Fr. Benedikt, Fr. Kilian and Fr. Felix received the Minores, and the Subdiakonatsweihe. The day after they received the Diakonatsweihe in which they were joined by Fr. Bonaventura and Fr. Maximilian. During these ceremonies all five also received the holy Priesterweihe. P. Benignus can still remember the "Primiz" of P. Benedikt. P. Iva, a Tyrolean, who lived in our province, gave the Primiz sermon. On this occasion P. Benedikt, who was 14 at the time, began to take steps to go to the Latin school and become a Kapuziner. The new priest was surely talented. One probably couldn't speak of any extraordinary, original talent. He had the makings of a good preacher. He was always well-prepared, loved a good form, didn't offend and also had a good disposition. His voice and temperament gave his words fire and power. Thus P. Benedikt developed into one of the best missionaries in the province. He had held approximately 400 folk missions, mostly before WWI. After WWI he occupied himself mostly as drill/exercise master. He led approximately 280 drill courses for priests and clergy. In most monasteries he led the recollections for the clergy and also the lectures for the sisters. In Kleve he lectured for seventeen years. In this he was not only inclined through diligence and good preparations, he was also a model for a priestly life style. His memory was quite above average. He recited several lectures from memory, even the drills. He was able to recite, without effort, long biblical passages out of the Old and New Testament, first in Latin, then in German, as it was the custom.
The great Kapuziner with his inspiring words and deep religiosity was very inclined towards a "anniversary/celebration" preacher. Pastor Jakobs told me once that Bishop Dingelstad from Münster was asked once in 1908 whom he wished as a anniversary/celebration preacher. "Pater Benedikt" he answered. P. Benedikt assisted work in towns and cities, preached several times on Sundays, and heard confessions for hours at a time, until he was 78 years old. After Kleve was evacuated he was the first to appear on 5 June 1945 in order to help the authorities. And that happened under the limited travel possibilities of the time. As a 76 year old he walked barefoot in sandals from Üdens to Kleve, about 20 kilometers, and reached his beloved Spyck monastery. (207) It is understandable that people honored him. They liked to listen to him, although some said in his latter years that they were unable to understand him. But what does that matter at such an age? I told him this once. He listened and made an effort and was successful. Most fellow brothers knew that the departed always personally thanked the church after his anniversaries. (celebrations) Then he conducted the Sunday sermons at 7 and 8 o'clock. At that time the worthy elder let his warm, enthusiastic and pious words flow. P. Benedikt preached well and often.
P. Benedikt was a loving brother. After all, we will show this side of him also. As was already said, he grew up in a different time than today's Kapuziner generation. He wanted to remain as he had been raised. In spite of that P. Benedikt was in no way a spoil sport. He had a distinguished, kindly manner, with which he treated his fellow brothers and others. Whenever he was "nervous" it was really his timidity, but he never treated his brothers harshly. Fundamentally he had a good heart. He had a happy nature. In the monasteries in Kleve, Sterkrade, Aachen and Bad Merprntheim he was a superior approximately from 1900 until after WWI. I did not know him at that time. Our current democratic time is inclined to wipe away barriers between superiors and underlings. I don't know if he was of that type. It is unthinkable that he became casual in matters of monastery discipline. It has been told me that one could cope well with him. As the successor of an earlier, very stern superior, one could say that he was even generous. He enjoyed playing Doppelkopp, probably because the entertainment did not degenerate in unloving remarks about others. I cannot remember that the departed criticized fellow brothers, superiors, priests and people. If it ever got to that point (in conversation), he would get up unobtrusively and gradually leave. After a while he wold return to the recreation room. If he ever told on a fellow brother it was always a harmless joke or a small experience. He could laugh at this heartily. He was also afraid to talk about others in his visits. He had written to a straying brother who had entered during his earlier years. At first he had little success. A few years ago though, he experienced the joy of seeing this brother repent and later die a blessed death.
At the close of February 1947, P. Benedikt got sick. We found him in the morning: the old man lay helpless before his bed. Dr. Heckner declared right away "Heart trouble--needs to be cared for." He allowed himself to be carried to a sick chamber and to be cared for. During the week (211) the patient got so sick that the doctor said in the evening, "Tonight he will die." We remained awake in anticipation of his death. When I woke him at 1 o'clock, as he wished, the patient rose from his pillow and said with a fairly powerful voice "Is it time?" P. Benedikt didn't die and even though he grew steadily more helpless during the following weeks and months, what the doctor predicted to the Guardian P. Emmeran actually happened. He had said "I believe P. Benedikt will recover." P. Reinhold, Br. Valentin and the Franciskan sisters cared for him sacrificially. The care giving was not without humor, to which they can attest. At his 60th anniversary in October 1947 he was able to give a speech to the church choir through the window of the refectory. He was able to celebrate again. He appeared at the colloquium again. He smoked a Zigarillo now and then. Finally he partook of the monastery life again. It was a joy for him to celebrate the first mass on Sundays at 6 o'clock. In this way he could help the superior, P. Julian.
The honored Senior celebrated some anniversaries that were seldom celebrated. The 4th of October 1947 was his diamond Order's anniversary, on the 16th October 1951 his diamond Priest's anniversary, on the 4th of October 1952 his iron Order's anniversary. He almost made it to the celebration of his 65th Priest's anniversary. But the Lord wanted to give his loyal disciple the crown of eternal life.
Illness, Death and Burial: In the last months and weeks his strength lessened. Br. Valentin, who lived opposite him, gladly cared for him. P. Benedikt left his cell only reluctantly. He didn't want to die in a hospital but rather in the monastery. P. Guardian Cäsarius writes the following about his last days: P. Benedikt read the Holy Mass daily up until June 18th. After that he needed to remain prone, because he had swelling (fluid) in his legs. He died the 10th of July in the morning around 3 a.m. without anyone noticing. Br. Valentin slept in the cell opposite and found him later. The day before his death, July 9th, was probably the hottest day of the year and this heat must have harmed him. It may have caused a heart weakness that his old age could not overcome. He was buried the 13th of July. It was a worthy celebration in the little Spyck chapel, at which many clergy took part. His relatives also appeared in order to honor their loving uncle. P. Benedikt was the first one to be buried in the new cemetery in Kleve. This is what he wished. He wanted to be buried in Kleve. Since only the men in Kleve accompanied the corpse to the cemetery, the following mourners were not overwhelming. After all that has been said and done we can only take farewell of our loving and honored Senior with respect. (212) He was a true religious person and a worthy Priest of God.
At this point we would like to thank Pastor Strehle of Binswangen and P. Benignus for their participation. Perhaps it will be for one or the other fellow brothers as it is for the undersigned. One is more inclined to pray to P. Benediktus than to pray for him.
P. Erhard

(Translated by Edith W. Mullins German Professor, OBU, Shawnee)

  Noted events in his life were:

• Joined Capuchin Monks: Holy Orders, 4 Oct 1887, Munster (Westfalen).

• Solemn Profession: Holy Orders, 4 Oct 1891, Mainz. Changed name to Benedict

• Ordaining: Holy Orders, 17 Oct 1891, Mainz. Served Catholic Churches in Krefeld, Munster, Frankfurt, Werne, Sterkrade, St. Gangolf, Aachen, Mergentheim, Kleve