Fr. Brendan Moss, OSB

Monk-Senior, Faculty, IPP

Department: Pastoral Studies
Title: Adjunct Assistant Professor of Homiletics & Enrollment Director
Born: 1970
Professed: August 6, 1993

Education History

• 2007 - Certificate in Supervision from Saint Meinrad School of Theology;
• 2006 - Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute;
• 2001 - MDiv from Saint Meinrad School of Theology;
• 1995 - MA from Saint Meinrad School of Theology;
• 1992 - BA, magna cum laude, in English from Saint Meinrad College;

Biography

Fr. Brendan Moss, OSB, a monk of Saint Meinrad is originally from Brooklyn, NY. He came to Saint Meinrad for college and joined the monastery after graduation. He was solemnly professed in 1996 and ordained a priest in 2001. He holds a doctoral degree in the ministry of preaching from Aquinas Institute in Saint Louis, MO. His passion is preaching and teaching.

Fr. Brendan is also a presenter for Institute for Priests and Presbyterates Presenter. Topic of presentation: Homily Prep

Work in the Monastery

• Director of Enrollment, 2009-Present
• Director of New Donor Initiatives, Development Office, 2005-2009
• Director of Pastoral Formation, School of Theology, 2008-Present
• Adjunct Associate Professor of Homiletics, School of Theology, 2007-Present
• Pastor of the parishes of Saint Meinrad, Saint Boniface, and Saint Martin, 2002-2004
• Associate Pastor/Pastor, Mother of Good Counsel, 2000-2002
• Development Office, 1999-2000

Other Interests

I enjoy being with others, reading and movies.

Favorite Memory

It's hard to pick my "favorite" memory of monastic life as there are many good memories. Among my favorites are memories from funerals. Funerals for monks are special--not in that they are different from funerals for other folks--they are special in how they fit within the context of the monastic life. Monasteries keep regular schedules. We pray at the same times, we eat at the same times, we have specific work periods. Our life is regular. For most people when someone they love dies the ordinary activity of daily life are suspended. All their attention goes to their grief and the preparations for the funeral. At Saint Meinrad, funerals don't suspend our daily life. In fact, we keep living and weave our grieving, our preparation for the liturgies, and the liturgies themselves into the fabric of our day. The vigil service (we call the Office of the Dead) is prayed the evening before the funeral after all of the days activities are complete. The funeral is celebrated at the community's daily mass. 

For me, our choosing to honor the death of a monk by being faithful to our normal prayer and work is a strong statement in our Catholic belief that because of Christ's death our death means our life has changed not ended. Monastic funerals really focus on the resurrection. We die that we might live. In our dying Christ unites us to God. Our rituals at the end of a monk's life remind us that life in this world is all about the joyful anticipation of life with God in the next. It may seem like a strange "favorite memory" but it's mine. I love the way we lay the body of a monk to rest, while remembering their souls and celebrating their life with Christ.

What Attracted Me to Monastic Life

There were a few things that attracted me to monastic life at Saint Meinrad. I first came to know Saint Meinrad as a college student studying on the hill. During my four years at the former Saint Meinrad College, I came to know a number of monks who impressed me. They were "real people" who had good days and bad days but tried everyday to be faithful monks. The monks knew seeking God in all things was their most important work. I was impressed with the liturgy; its beauty and simplicity. I liked the grounds. Saint Meinrad is beautiful.