Father Norbert Schappler, OSB, enters eternal rest

On Saturday, 1 March 2025, Father Norbert Schappler, OSB, beloved confrere and senior member of our community in age and profession, was called to into the everlasting beatitude of his heavenly homeland. In his long monastic life—79 years under a rule and an abbot—he had long since attained jubilees of profession and ordination; these were crowned with a passing both peaceful and blessed in the company of many brethren.

Maurice Leo Schappler was born on 23 July 1926 in Atchison, Kansas, the third of four children of Martin and Justina (née Ruhlman) Schappler. He was baptized at St. Benedict’s Church in Atchison, staffed by the Benedictines of the nearby St. Benedict’s Abbey, and was eventually to receive sacraments of first communion and confirmation there as well while attending the parochial school. Having come to know about Conception Abbey on the other side of the Missouri River, where his uncle, Stephen Schappler, had become monk, priest, and finally abbot, young Maurice decided to enroll at the high school at Conception, from which he graduated in 1944. After a year of college at Conception Seminary, he entered the monastic novitiate in 1945 and professed first vows on 11 July 1946. Upon completion of theological studies at Conception, he was ordained to the priesthood on 29 May 1952.

Father Norbert began his monastic work as an instructor in the High School Seminary at Conception in 1952. He spent the summer of 1953 at the mission to Native Americans at Fort Yates, North Dakota. He began studies in Library Science at Rosary College, River Forest, Illinois, that summer, and completed a master’s degree in that field in 1954. This occasioned his appointment as Head Librarian of the Conception Seminary Library, an assignment he held for the next twenty-eight years. During that period he also served as Prefect in the seminary college (1954–56), and was an instructor in the college (1954–61). He was also the Art Editor of Altar & Home—a monthly publication born of the Liturgical Movement, helping Catholics bring the graces of the liturgical life of the church into their own domestic spheres—from 1954 to 1963. He acted as Assistant Spiritual Director in the seminary (1956–57), Assistant Brother Master (1962–67), and Spiritual Director of Conception’s Latin Summer School (1962–65). He was appointed Custos of the Abbey Basilica (1964–80), Spiritual Director for the seminary college (1964–67), and a regular confessor for the sisters at Clyde Convent (1969–77 and 1995–2002). He served on numerous committees dealing with issues of community finance, liturgy and social awareness.

When his long term as Librarian was brought to a close, Father Norbert’s principal assignments were relocated to Conception Abbey’s Printery House. He was Assistant Manager there (1982–84), as well as Manager of Art & Project Development (1984–99). He took up the assignment of Associate Art Director, a post he held from 1999 to 2001.

On 10 June 2002, Father Norbert was seriously injured when an armed assailant entered Conception Abbey with an automatic rifle and proceeded to fire at those he encountered. Though Father Norbert survived the assault, he suffered considerable nerve damage to his left leg below the hip, and was obliged to wear a specially designed shoe to stabilize his posture while walking. Father Norbert did not lament or complain about his injury, nor about this utterly unforeseeable event that had changed his life forever.  He simply and humbly accepted in faith that his survival was evidence that God still had work for him to do—not necessarily work that would shake the world, but simply the more likely continuation of his own working out of his own salvation in the company of his brother monks.

And so his monastic life and work continued.  He served as chaplain to the monastic infirmary (1995–2004), Archivist of the Printery House (2001–19), and monastery refectorian (2001–02). His pastoral work during these years included serving as Regular Confessor to the Franciscan Sisters in Savannah, Missouri (2004–19), as monthly confessor for seminarians at Conception Seminary College (2007–08), as Regular Confessor to the sisters at Our Lady of Rickenbach, Clyde Missouri (2008–19), and a brief stint as Abbey Porter (2010–12).

In 2019, Father Norbert realized that he had reached the limits of physical service to the community. During his years of formation, one of the priests consulted had described him as “quiet, steady and persevering.” Those habits of behavior had served him well over the years, and they became the foundation of his continuing spiritual service as he entered the abbey’s Apostolate of Prayer.  In 2022 he found that his physical stability had deteriorated sufficiently that he was obliged to move to our St. Stephen’s Infirmary where more constant oversight could be exercised for his physical well-being. In recent weeks his health, long weakened, began to decline. At the advice of his healthcare providers, a decision was made to place him under hospice care while continuing his last days in the abbey infirmary. Hearing a final summons from his Lord and Savior, he surrendered the burdens of this life to enter directly into the blessed care of his heavenly homeland on the first day of March 2025.

Father Norbert is survived by sister-in-law Mrs. Jane (John) Schappler, by many nieces and nephews, by numerous cousins, and by his monastic confreres.

Vespers of the Faithful Departed will be prayed at 7:15 p.m. on Monday, 3 March 2025, and Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 4 March 2025. We commend our beloved confrere to your prayerful remembrance. May he rest in the peace of Christ!

Abbot Benedict and Community

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