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December 10, 2020FATHER BONIFACE SPANKE: December 11 is the anniversary of the death of Fr. Boniface Spanke, whom the late Fr. Hugh Assenmacher referred to in his book (A Place Called Subiaco) as “the most controversial monk ever to live at Subiaco” and the Southern Guardian (later named the Arkansas Catholic) referred to as a "colorful figure." Anthony Spanke was born on May 12, 1873, in the village of Weringhausen, Germany. When he was eight years old, Anthony came to the United States with his parents, arriving on March 9, 1881, and settling in Hartman, Arkansas. Following his elementary education there, he came to Subiaco on November 16, 1887, to begin his secondary studies. He graduated in 1892, becoming the first alumnus of Subiaco College and the first “fruit” of our scholasticate program. Anthony Spanke professed his vows as a monk of our monastery on October 16, 1893, receiving the name Boniface. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Edward M. Fitzgerald at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Little Rock, on June 9, 1897. During his 49 years of monastic life he was known for having: 1-served in pastoral assignments in six parishes across Arkansas, Texas, and Missouri; 2-served as the designer and builder of two parish churches and one cemetery; 3-served as a young Rector of Subiaco College and later faculty member of Corpus Christi College; 4-served as manager of the Abbey farm building a dairy barn, procuring Holsteins to provide milk for the Abbey and Academy, and started a chicken ranch providing food for monks and students; 5-loved to ride a motorcycle (Harley Davidson); 6-served as the only Subiaco monk to hold a U.S. patent (on a portable grazing pen and chicken coop); 7-served as the only monk to undertake a ministry of the mobile “Gospel Wagon” aimed to counter anti-Catholic sermons and speeches made by non-Catholics in Arkansas (see the photo and excellent article by our archivist Fr. Jerome); and, 8-proposed in 1919 for the first time that a large lake be formed between first and second ridges. On December 10, 1942, Fr. Boniface would be working in the Academy science lab located on the 5th floor of the main building. At 10:00 pm that night he would slip and fall as he exited on the narrow steps leading down the staircase. Because of his high blood pressure, he could not recover from the shock and never regained consciousness. He died in our infirmary at 11:00 am on Friday, December 11, 1942. Father Boniface was 69 years old and in the 49th year of his monastic profession, the 45th of his priesthood, and was an extraordinarily amazing monk. He was deeply committed to the success of our Abbey and Academy. He was, as the Arkansas Guardian noted, a "tireless, powerful, original thinker." SUBIACO ABBEY AND ACADEMY… ONWARD TOGETHER!
