In Memoriam: Abbot Martin Burne, OSB
Abbot Martin Burne, OSB, abbot emeritus of St. Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, New Jersey, and a former chairperson on Monastic Interreligious Dialogue, died at the age of 88 on July 25, 2003 after a short illness. Abbot Martin was one of the founding members of the North American MID, having begun a three-year term in January, 1978. At that time, Abbot Armand Veilleux, OCSO, had been chosen to be chairman of the board, but having been asked by his Trappist community to begin a new foundation in Africa he had to resign his chairmanship and Abbot Martin was elected to succeed him. Abbot Martin continued in this office for two years until Abbot Armand returned from Africa and resumed the leadership of the board.
A native of New Jersey, Martin Burne had entered the novitiate at St. Vincent Archabbey in his late teens and subsequently professed vows as a member of St. Mary’s Abbey in 1935. He was ordained a priest in 1940 and during World War II served as a chaplain with the Marine Corps in the South Pacific. After the war he taught German and music at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark and studied for a doctorate in music at New York University, receiving his degree in 1956. He was elected abbot of St. Mary’s Abbey in 1966 and served in this capacity until his election as president of the American-Cassinese Congregation five years later, a position he held until 1983.
His abbey’s obituary notice paid tribute to Abbot Martin “as a man of adamantine commitment to the monastic way of life. His deep reverence for others disclosed a life infused with prayer; his homilies and conferences issued from a mind and heart quickened by his daily early-morning meditation on Sacred Scripture. . . . He didn’t forget: a greeting on one’s feast day; inquiry about one’s sick relative; a compliment on a presentation to the Community; a written note on the successful completion of a task; a word of encouragement to all.” The present members of Monastic Interreligious Dialogue gratefully recall these and other fine qualities of one of their founding members.
A native of New Jersey, Martin Burne had entered the novitiate at St. Vincent Archabbey in his late teens and subsequently professed vows as a member of St. Mary’s Abbey in 1935. He was ordained a priest in 1940 and during World War II served as a chaplain with the Marine Corps in the South Pacific. After the war he taught German and music at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark and studied for a doctorate in music at New York University, receiving his degree in 1956. He was elected abbot of St. Mary’s Abbey in 1966 and served in this capacity until his election as president of the American-Cassinese Congregation five years later, a position he held until 1983.
His abbey’s obituary notice paid tribute to Abbot Martin “as a man of adamantine commitment to the monastic way of life. His deep reverence for others disclosed a life infused with prayer; his homilies and conferences issued from a mind and heart quickened by his daily early-morning meditation on Sacred Scripture. . . . He didn’t forget: a greeting on one’s feast day; inquiry about one’s sick relative; a compliment on a presentation to the Community; a written note on the successful completion of a task; a word of encouragement to all.” The present members of Monastic Interreligious Dialogue gratefully recall these and other fine qualities of one of their founding members.
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Fr. James Wiseman, OSB, is a monk of Saint Anselm’s Abbey in Washington, DC, and teaches theology at the Abbey School and at Catholic University. He served as Chair of the Board and President of MID, has been editor of the MID bulletin since 1998, and again serves as a member of the Board of Directors of MID.