OCTOBER 31
On this day, 1986, Brother Felix Haug died in his sleep. He was our community’s senior in age and in profession. Brother Felix was born on August 18, 1903 in Turkheim, Bavaria. In his youth he learned the printer’s trade. While a candidate at Kloster Andechs, he decided to pursue his Benedictine vocation in the United States rather than in Germany. Brother Felix was one of several Brothers recruited from Germany by St. Meinrad Archabbey after World War One. Brother Felix professed temporary vows at St. Meinrad on December 3, 1924 and perpetual vows on the same date three years later.
      At St. Meinrad he worked as a cook, refectorian and poultry man. In 1933 he was assigned to Marmion Military Academy in Aurora, Illinois. He was in charge of maintenance there, and the following year he was assigned the same responsibility at St. Michael’s Indian Mission. He was also boys’ prefect and had charge of mailing the mission’s appeals.
      Brother Felix remained at St. Michael until the founding of Blue Cloud in 1950. Here at Blue Cloud Abbey he was the sacristan for a number of years, and he worked the addressing machine in the appeal office during all the years funds were being sought for the construction of our monastery. For thirty—five years he answered our telephone and carried our personal mail to and from the post office in Marvin. No monk ever mailed a letter without the addressee’s correct Zip Code on the envelope. Brother Felix would correct both the envelope and the sender. He insisted that things be done the right way. This often meant his way. He held strong opinions about almost everything. There were certain subjects which we avoided mentioning in his presence. He did not like the use of the vernacular in the liturgy. He abhorred guitars. Although he had a temper which could be easily aroused, he was quick to make amends, sometimes with tears.
      His ordinary disposition was gemutlich. He was friendly and jovial most of the time. A collector of all sorts of things, he was always willing to provide whatever anyone needed in a pinch. If he could not find it in one of the three rooms where he stored things, he apologized profusely. Brother Felix was also good at repairing things and liked being asked to do so.
      Although he went his own way most of the time, he never strayed away from us. He also loved his finches and spoke to them all day long. The oldest of them died on the same night he did.
      Brother Felix never lost his love for the land of his birth. He had planned on spending Christmas in the Vaterland but instead he was beckoned heavenwards.