The Thomas Merton Archives at St. Bonaventure University
Biographies of St. Bonaventure People Who Were Especially
Important to Merton
Thomas
Plassmann, OFM (1879-1959)
"Plassmann" from "A
Biographical Register of the Franciscan Institute" in Franciscan
Studies 51 (1991) p.155-156
(used by permission of Franciscan Studies)
Fr. Thomas Plassmann, O.F.M., 1879-1959 (b.
March 19, d. February 13). Professed 1899; ordained 1906. Educated at
"To the Very Reverend Thomas
Plassmann, O.F.M." in Franciscan Studies 14 (1954) p.1-2 (used by permission of Franciscan Studies)
The work of the scholar-priest is always
dual: he teaches and he writes. It is perhaps regrettable that outside the
sphere of personal contact his fame as a rule must depend largely upon his
published works. The arduous and time-consuming duties of his priesthood very
often restrict the quantity of his scholarly output, whereas the influence of
his personality and erudition in the classroom and elsewhere may have a greater
and more lasting effect than any of his most learned writings.
Since 1910 Father Thomas Plassmann
has been a brilliant expounder of Sacred Scripture, dogmatic theology, and
other sacred sciences to endless hundreds of young men at Christ the King
Seminary. For over forty years (double the time usually allotted to any
professor) he has poured out for them the treasures of his vast and profound
learning - the fruit of his own years of study at the Catholic University of
America, the Apollinaris, Sapienza
(Rome), Louvain, and the Holy Land itself and he has
always done so with a casual charm and simplicity that bears lightly the
ponderous weight of his many academic degrees.
Besides the burden of teaching throughout
these forty-odd years, Father Thomas has also been laden with heavy administrative
responsibilities. He was president of Saint Bonaventure University (then
College) from 1920 to 1949; and during that period he also served as guardian, definitor, and provincial secretary, and was appointed visitator general to
Because Father Thomas has always been the
priest's priest rather than the scholar's priest, the list of his learned
writings is all too brief: The Signification of "Beraka",
The Study of the Root d-b-r, Baronius, Bartholomaeus Anglicus, besides
contributions to the various learned journals in Biblical studies, history,
theology, and related fields. But if his actual scholarly production has been
relatively small, his influence on Franciscan scholarship in
In these latter years of his full and
fruitful life, Father Thomas has directed his energies more and more toward the
education of priests. His more recent publications bear such titles as: The
Book Called Holy, The Priest's Way to God, From Sunday to Sunday; and his
latest work (now in press) is entitled The Upper Room - a collection of
retreat conferences for priests based on the lives of the Apostles.
On
From: "The Very Rev. Thomas Plassmann" in The Provincial Annals (
Long
Term at Bona's
"Father Tom," as he was known to
thousands of alumni, had been on the faculty of St. Bonaventure University for
over 45 years: first as a professor, then 29 years as its president; and
more recently, since 1952 as Rector of Christ the King Seminary, the seminary
he had dreamed of building from that day in 1930 when its predecessor
burned to the ground.
Fr. Thomas' achievements as an administrator
were outstanding. He came to a small college, of 300 students, in 1910, and saw
it raised to university status in 1950 with a top
enrollment of 2,200 students after World War II. Following the disastrous fire
in 1930, Fr. Thomas collected the funds and supervised construction of new
dormitories, chapel, classrooms and laboratories, dining hall, gymnasium,
stadium, library, and a parish church for the community of
Offices
in Order
Meanwhile, he held many responsible posts in
the Order of Friars Minor, as Supervisor of the Franciscans on the University
faculty; as Visitor General to Canada, Mexico and post-war Germany; as Prefect
of Studies of Holy Name Province, responsible for the founding of Siena
College, Albany, N.Y., and the affiliation to the University of St.
Joseph's Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y. He served two terms as Definitor,
and three years (1949-1952) as Provincial, of
The
Educator
Among educators, Fr. Thomas was widely
known. He was a founder of, and for 38 years, president of, the Franciscan
Educational Conference; president of the Seminary Department, National Catholic
Education Association; ex-president of the Association of Colleges and
Universities,
All this time Fr. Thomas kept close contact
with the classroom as a teacher. It was through his priestly word and example,
and vast erudition, that he left his imprint on all who had the good fortune to
have been his students. Among the subjects he taught at St. Bonaventure were:
Oriental Languages, Hermeneutics, Exegesis, Sacred Scripture, Dogmatic Theology
and Patrology. In addition at various times he directed the choir, the band and
the orchestra, moderated various scholastic societies as the James Dolan
Literary and Debating Society, the Duns Scotus
Theological Society, as well as the Third Order.
The
Writer
With all these activities Fr. Plassmann, a
poet at heart, also made a name for himself as author of spiritual books such
as The Priest's Way to God, The Seven Words of
Mary, From Sunday to Sunday, The Upper Room, The Radiant Crown of
Glory, as well as of almost countless articles in periodicals. He wrote
fifteen contributions on medieval personalities for the Catholic
Encyclopedia with extensive bibliographies. He read and spoke Hebrew, Syriac, Latin, Greek, Ethiopic, German, Spanish and
Italian, in addition to being well versed in a number of Biblical and oriental
languages and their dialects.
The
Speaker
As a speaker Fr. Thomas was in constant demand.
He preached many annual Retreats and Days of Recollection for the clergy as
well as the laity; an untold number of special sermons before high-ranking
dignitaries of the Church, the Franciscan Order and the State; and innumerable
lectures on radio networks and the platform. As a Master of Ceremonies for
various banquets and civic gatherings he was without peer. It is not so widely
known that, as an authority on ecclesiastical art and symbolism, he was
frequently consulted by architects and ecclesiastical designers.
Fr. Thomas was ex--president of, and consultor to, the Catholic Biblical Association, and on the
editorial board for the Confraternity edition of the New Testament. With Fr.
Mathias Faust, then Delegate General to the
Life
Born Bernard Plassmann,
Degrees,
Honors
His studies in oriental languages and the
Bible were continued by graduate work in
In 1949 he celebrated his Golden
Jubilee of religious profession. In April, 1956, at his Golden Sacerdotal
Jubilee he was honored by the award of the Pro Ecclesia et
Pontifice Medal by the late Pope Pius XII, and
the presence of many high Catholic prelates. In June 1958, he was publicly
honored at a civic celebration, by being made the first Honorary Citizen of
Avenwedde, the place of his birth.
Fr. Thomas originated the annual award at
St. Bonaventure of the Catholic Action Medal to an outstanding layman. First
recipient was Alfred E. Smith; others have been John S. Burke of
In accordance with the exhortation of St.
Francis, Father Thomas relied on the beneficence of others. In a reverend
sense, he became known as "God's Pickpocket," because he begged from
alumni, friends, strangers and all denominations, to achieve the goal he had
visualized for St. Bonaventure University.
A
Memorial
On
"Picture of Benevolence"
With all his talents and achievements, Fr.
Thomas maintained his personality of Franciscan humility, simplicity and
kindliness. Ever busy, yet ever calm and approachable, he was never too
occupied to lend a sympathetic ear to anyone who came to him for help. By his
great mental acumen, based on a sound spiritual foundation, his natural poise,
coupled with fatherly friendliness, he spread the sweet spirit of St. Francis
wherever he went. "The picture of benevolence," Thomas Merton
described him in his Seven Storey Mountain.
"Highlights in the Life of Fr.
Thomas Plassmann" in The Provincial Annals (
1879 - Born
March 19 at Avenwedde in
1893 - Completed
elementary studies at Avenwedde, and began private studies at the Rektoratschule conducted by Fr. Lawrence Matthias Becker at
1894 - Finished
private studies. Left
1898 - Completed
studies at
1899 - Made
Simple Profession of Vows at
1901 - Began
philosophical studies at
1902 - Transferred
to Franciscan Monastery, Washington, D. C., for theological studies. Began matriculating at
1906 - Ordained
Priest at Washington, D. C., by Archbishop (and later Cardinal) Diomede
Falconio on June 9. Celebrated First High Mass at
1907 - Completed studies at
1909 - Received S.T.D. from Apollinaris,
1910 - Returned to U. S.
1913 - Published THE SIGNIFICATION OF BERAKA
(Doctoral Dissertation).
1919 - Franciscan
Educational Conference founded. Fr. Thomas was president from 1919 to 1947. Appointed Guardian of St. Bonaventure Monastery.
1920 - Appointed
Prefect of Studies for
1923 - President,
Seminary, Department, National Catholic Educational Assn.
1925 - Served
as Visitor General to Franciscan Provinces in
1926 - Published
BARONIUS in Church Historians.
1928 - Devereux
Hall completed. St. Bonaventure Railroad founded.
1930 - Fire
razed St. Bonaventure Monastery, Seminary, and Church (May 5). Addition made to
Devereux Hall to accommodate for fire losses.
1931 - Received Lecter
Generalis S.S. from
1932 - Named
member of College Council of the State of
1936 - Appointed
to Board from American Revision of the Douay Version
of the Holy Bible. Received LL.D. from
1937 - Began
first of two terms as Definitor of Holy Name
Province.
1938 - Friedsman
Memorial Library dedicated. THE PRIEST'S WAY TO GOD published.
1939 - Named Consultor,
Catholic, Biblical Association. Published SEVEN WORDS OF
1940 - Received LL.D. from
1941 - Catholic Biblical Association.
1943 - Appointed Vicar, St. Bonaventure
Monastery.
1945 - Received LL.D. from
1946 - Named Visitor General to
1949 - Published FROM SUNDAY TO SUNDAY.
1949 -
Elected to membership in Gallery of Living Catholic Authors. Elected
Minister Provincial of
1950 St.
Bonaventure College raised to University, standing.
Construction began on Franciscan Novitiate at Lafayette N. J.
1951 - Christ the King Seminary built.
1952 - Appointed Guardian of Christ the King
Monastery. Made Rector of Christ the King Seminary, which was
dedicated on November 11-12.
1953 - Named Lector Jubilatus
by Minister General of Order of Friars Minor. THE UPPER
1954 -
Celebrated 75tth birthday. Published THE RADIANT CROWN OF
GLORY. Appointed Visitor General to three Franciscan
Provinces in
1955 -
Delivered major addresses at Marian Congresses at
See also: Acta
Ordinis Fratrum Minorum 79 (1960) p.60-61.
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