Rev. Placidus Eckart, OSB, of Subiaco died Monday, Dec. 14, 2009 at 4:45p.m, in Subiaco Abbey, following a long illness, resulting from kidney disease. Rev. Eckart was 84 years, 9 months, and 11 days old. He was born March 3, 1925, in Subiaco, Arkansas. He was the 7th of 8 children born ot the late Joseph and Annie (Adams)Eckart. Rev. Eckart attended St. Benedict Elementary School in Subiaco; graduated from Subiaco Academy in 1943; attended Subiaco Abbey Seminary; and was ordained to the priesthood May 24, 1949, at Subiaco Abbey.
Rev. Eckart taught classes in religion, mathematics, English and social studies and served as pastorate at St. Anthony Church in Ratcliff, Arkansas; Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Barling, Arkansas; Sacred Heart Church in Charleston, Arkansas; Sacred Heart Church in Muenster, Texas from 1969-1978; and as chaplain at State Sanitorium and Catholic Mission in Booneville, Arkansas.
In 1995, Father Placidus requested a year's sabbatical in observance of his fiftieth anniversary as a monk in order to spend time in spiritual reflection and local ministry at St. John Center in Little Rock. People of all ages were drawn to Father Placidus because of his warmth, compassion, and depth of understanding of the human condition. He was very dedicated in ministering to the sick and dying and directed numerous healing ministries and retreats and was active in the Charismatic Movement. Father Placidus was often referred to as "the butterfly priest" because of the butterfly emblems he used in vestments and on clothing as a sign of the resurrection, most of them given to him by children and adults in his ministry. Father Placidus enjoyed golfing and fishing, and he always led blueberry picking expeditions at community retreat. The later years of Father Placidus' active ministry included a second pastorate at St. Boniface Church, Fort Smith from 1996 to 1998. He began serving also as the celebrant of the diocesan sponsored televised Mass for shut-ins. His final parochial assignment was in Scranton and Prairie View, Arkansas, from 1999 to 2002. In 2002, Father Placidus asked permission to exchange his pastoral duties for full-time ministry to the sick, and was appointed Chaplain of St. Edward Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith, an assignment he held until his retirement to the Abbey Health Center in 2007. During these years he organized some of his meditations for private publication and could hardly keep up with the demand. Father Placidus' transition from active ministry to retirement was difficult at first. He described candidly his experiences and difficulties in an article entitled "The Aging Process" in The Abbey Message, Spring 2009 edition. In his retirement he enjoyed visits from monks and friends, and especially the relatives who came regularly to play cards with him in the Health Center. He was diagnosed with kidney failure in January 2009, and given less than two months to live. However, he seemed to rebound at this news, experiencing a new peacefulness. He continued to live several months more, participating in community Masses and meals as he could, and growing steadily weaker toward the end.
Rev. Eckart was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters and four brothers..
Source: "Times Record Obituary." Fort Smith, Arkansas. 16 Dec. 2009.
A Christian "Wake" was held on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, at 7:00p.m. at the Abbey Church. Funeral Mass was held on Thursday, December 17, 2009.
Rev. Eckart taught classes in religion, mathematics, English and social studies and served as pastorate at St. Anthony Church in Ratcliff, Arkansas; Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Barling, Arkansas; Sacred Heart Church in Charleston, Arkansas; Sacred Heart Church in Muenster, Texas from 1969-1978; and as chaplain at State Sanitorium and Catholic Mission in Booneville, Arkansas.
In 1995, Father Placidus requested a year's sabbatical in observance of his fiftieth anniversary as a monk in order to spend time in spiritual reflection and local ministry at St. John Center in Little Rock. People of all ages were drawn to Father Placidus because of his warmth, compassion, and depth of understanding of the human condition. He was very dedicated in ministering to the sick and dying and directed numerous healing ministries and retreats and was active in the Charismatic Movement. Father Placidus was often referred to as "the butterfly priest" because of the butterfly emblems he used in vestments and on clothing as a sign of the resurrection, most of them given to him by children and adults in his ministry. Father Placidus enjoyed golfing and fishing, and he always led blueberry picking expeditions at community retreat. The later years of Father Placidus' active ministry included a second pastorate at St. Boniface Church, Fort Smith from 1996 to 1998. He began serving also as the celebrant of the diocesan sponsored televised Mass for shut-ins. His final parochial assignment was in Scranton and Prairie View, Arkansas, from 1999 to 2002. In 2002, Father Placidus asked permission to exchange his pastoral duties for full-time ministry to the sick, and was appointed Chaplain of St. Edward Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith, an assignment he held until his retirement to the Abbey Health Center in 2007. During these years he organized some of his meditations for private publication and could hardly keep up with the demand. Father Placidus' transition from active ministry to retirement was difficult at first. He described candidly his experiences and difficulties in an article entitled "The Aging Process" in The Abbey Message, Spring 2009 edition. In his retirement he enjoyed visits from monks and friends, and especially the relatives who came regularly to play cards with him in the Health Center. He was diagnosed with kidney failure in January 2009, and given less than two months to live. However, he seemed to rebound at this news, experiencing a new peacefulness. He continued to live several months more, participating in community Masses and meals as he could, and growing steadily weaker toward the end.
Rev. Eckart was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters and four brothers..
Source: "Times Record Obituary." Fort Smith, Arkansas. 16 Dec. 2009.
A Christian "Wake" was held on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, at 7:00p.m. at the Abbey Church. Funeral Mass was held on Thursday, December 17, 2009.
Rev. Placidus Eckart, OSB, of Subiaco died Monday, Dec. 14, 2009 at 4:45p.m, in Subiaco Abbey, following a long illness, resulting from kidney disease. Rev. Eckart was 84 years, 9 months, and 11 days old. He was born March 3, 1925, in Subiaco, Arkansas. He was the 7th of 8 children born ot the late Joseph and Annie (Adams)Eckart. Rev. Eckart attended St. Benedict Elementary School in Subiaco; graduated from Subiaco Academy in 1943; attended Subiaco Abbey Seminary; and was ordained to the priesthood May 24, 1949, at Subiaco Abbey.
Rev. Eckart taught classes in religion, mathematics, English and social studies and served as pastorate at St. Anthony Church in Ratcliff, Arkansas; Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Barling, Arkansas; Sacred Heart Church in Charleston, Arkansas; Sacred Heart Church in Muenster, Texas from 1969-1978; and as chaplain at State Sanitorium and Catholic Mission in Booneville, Arkansas.
In 1995, Father Placidus requested a year's sabbatical in observance of his fiftieth anniversary as a monk in order to spend time in spiritual reflection and local ministry at St. John Center in Little Rock. People of all ages were drawn to Father Placidus because of his warmth, compassion, and depth of understanding of the human condition. He was very dedicated in ministering to the sick and dying and directed numerous healing ministries and retreats and was active in the Charismatic Movement. Father Placidus was often referred to as "the butterfly priest" because of the butterfly emblems he used in vestments and on clothing as a sign of the resurrection, most of them given to him by children and adults in his ministry. Father Placidus enjoyed golfing and fishing, and he always led blueberry picking expeditions at community retreat. The later years of Father Placidus' active ministry included a second pastorate at St. Boniface Church, Fort Smith from 1996 to 1998. He began serving also as the celebrant of the diocesan sponsored televised Mass for shut-ins. His final parochial assignment was in Scranton and Prairie View, Arkansas, from 1999 to 2002. In 2002, Father Placidus asked permission to exchange his pastoral duties for full-time ministry to the sick, and was appointed Chaplain of St. Edward Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith, an assignment he held until his retirement to the Abbey Health Center in 2007. During these years he organized some of his meditations for private publication and could hardly keep up with the demand. Father Placidus' transition from active ministry to retirement was difficult at first. He described candidly his experiences and difficulties in an article entitled "The Aging Process" in The Abbey Message, Spring 2009 edition. In his retirement he enjoyed visits from monks and friends, and especially the relatives who came regularly to play cards with him in the Health Center. He was diagnosed with kidney failure in January 2009, and given less than two months to live. However, he seemed to rebound at this news, experiencing a new peacefulness. He continued to live several months more, participating in community Masses and meals as he could, and growing steadily weaker toward the end.
Rev. Eckart was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters and four brothers..
Source: "Times Record Obituary." Fort Smith, Arkansas. 16 Dec. 2009.
A Christian "Wake" was held on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, at 7:00p.m. at the Abbey Church. Funeral Mass was held on Thursday, December 17, 2009.
Rev. Eckart taught classes in religion, mathematics, English and social studies and served as pastorate at St. Anthony Church in Ratcliff, Arkansas; Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Barling, Arkansas; Sacred Heart Church in Charleston, Arkansas; Sacred Heart Church in Muenster, Texas from 1969-1978; and as chaplain at State Sanitorium and Catholic Mission in Booneville, Arkansas.
In 1995, Father Placidus requested a year's sabbatical in observance of his fiftieth anniversary as a monk in order to spend time in spiritual reflection and local ministry at St. John Center in Little Rock. People of all ages were drawn to Father Placidus because of his warmth, compassion, and depth of understanding of the human condition. He was very dedicated in ministering to the sick and dying and directed numerous healing ministries and retreats and was active in the Charismatic Movement. Father Placidus was often referred to as "the butterfly priest" because of the butterfly emblems he used in vestments and on clothing as a sign of the resurrection, most of them given to him by children and adults in his ministry. Father Placidus enjoyed golfing and fishing, and he always led blueberry picking expeditions at community retreat. The later years of Father Placidus' active ministry included a second pastorate at St. Boniface Church, Fort Smith from 1996 to 1998. He began serving also as the celebrant of the diocesan sponsored televised Mass for shut-ins. His final parochial assignment was in Scranton and Prairie View, Arkansas, from 1999 to 2002. In 2002, Father Placidus asked permission to exchange his pastoral duties for full-time ministry to the sick, and was appointed Chaplain of St. Edward Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith, an assignment he held until his retirement to the Abbey Health Center in 2007. During these years he organized some of his meditations for private publication and could hardly keep up with the demand. Father Placidus' transition from active ministry to retirement was difficult at first. He described candidly his experiences and difficulties in an article entitled "The Aging Process" in The Abbey Message, Spring 2009 edition. In his retirement he enjoyed visits from monks and friends, and especially the relatives who came regularly to play cards with him in the Health Center. He was diagnosed with kidney failure in January 2009, and given less than two months to live. However, he seemed to rebound at this news, experiencing a new peacefulness. He continued to live several months more, participating in community Masses and meals as he could, and growing steadily weaker toward the end.
Rev. Eckart was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters and four brothers..
Source: "Times Record Obituary." Fort Smith, Arkansas. 16 Dec. 2009.
A Christian "Wake" was held on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, at 7:00p.m. at the Abbey Church. Funeral Mass was held on Thursday, December 17, 2009.
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