Local Catholic Biographies: Indiana

RIGHT REV. FINTAN MUNDWILER, O. S. B., late abbot of St. Meinrad's Benedictine abbey, Spencer county, Ind., and whose name was carried beyond the walls of his holy institution far out into the world as that of a saintly and self-sacrificing superior, was born July 12, 1835, at Dietiken, a small town of Switzerland.  His parents, Jacob and Anna Marie (Seiler) Mundwiler, were zealous Catholics, and were desirous of having their son reared in an atmosphere of sanctity and learning.  For this purpose they intrusted him, at the age of fourteen years, to the care of the world-famed Benedictine abbey of Einsiedeln, and upon the completion of his classical course he entered the Novitiate of Einsiedeln, where, October 14, 1855, he made his solemn profession.  September 11, 1859, he was ordained priest by Bishop Arnota, and a year later Abbot Henry sent him, in company with Rev. Martin Maby, O. S. B. (the late bishop of St. Cloud), to the American missions.  He was at once appointed, after arrival, as prefect at St. Meinrad's college, but was later sent to Terre Haute, where he established the congregation of St. Benedict and built its first church.  Many of the older citizens of Terre Haute remember the beautiful traits of character evinced by the then young priest, and how his kindness and zeal secured the love and admiration of all classes.
     On the recall of Father Mundwiler to St. Meinrad, he was placed in charge of the missions in Spencer, Perry and Dubois counties, Ind., and later was appointed professor of dogmatic theology in the seminary.  In 1869, when the monastery was raised to the dignity of an abbey, by Pius IX, Father Mundwiler was appointed prior, master of novices, and professor of the seminary, and the duties of each position he performed with noteworthy skill.
     In February, 1880, Abbot Marty was consecrated bishop of the diocese of Sioux Falls, and two days later Prior Mundwiler was elected abbot of St. Meinrad.  His career during the eighteen years of his incumbency of this high office is marked with events that will make his name memorable in the annals of the diocese of Vincennes and in the histor of the Catholic church in America.  It was during his administration that the large stone college-building was erected, and the stone crypt in 1887.  He also effected the erection of the Helvetio-American congregation of Benedictines, and was chosen its first treasurer; the monastery at Speilerville, Ark. (now New Subjaco abbey); the priory of St. Joseph's in Louisiana, and the priory of St. Gall, in North Dakota.
     September 2, 1887, occurred the great fire which destroyed entirely the abbey of St. Meinrad, with its annexes; but with unwonted and wonderful energy, Rev. Abbot Mundwiler rebuilt the abbey within two years, and also began the construction of Jasper college for secular students--the chapel, library, novitiates' annexes, the spacious printing office and book bindery, shops, infirmary and bath-rooms--all being completed and ready for occupancy as early as 1896.
     The zeal of the reverend abbot for the Holy Church was also manifested in other ways.  He took active interest in the Benedictine college at Rome (St. Anselms), and materially aided that institution of learning.  To him, also, is attributed the blessing which St. Meinrad's enjoys in possessing the central direction of the flourishing American Priests' Eucharistic League.  But the greatest of all blessings enjoyed by St. Meinrad during the lifetime of Abbot Fintan Mundwiler was the example he set as a christian, religious priest, prelate and superior.  His devotion to the Blessed Eucharist was remarkable.  It is known that he knelt for hours before the blessed crucifix, and during the years of his illness, even when he could scarcely walk or kneel, he paid lengthy visits to the Holy Eucharist (or pyx).  Such was his devotion to Christ, that, when his fatal illness set in, he undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1893.  The final dissolution took place at 6 P. M., February 16, 1898, in the presence of Right Rev. Bishop Chatard, and the priests and brothers of the abbey.  The Right Rev. Bishop Rademacher, of Fort Wayne, celebrated the pontifical requiem over the mortal remains of the departed priest --but the immortal part had gone to that heavenly abode where requiems are never read nor sung.