Arthur Kreinheder
Encyclopedia
Father Arthur Carl Kreinheder, C.S.C. (October 1, 1905 - October 13, 1989) was an American Lutheran Benedictine
monk and founder of a Lutheran religious order, The Congregation of the Servants of Christ.
Kreinheder was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota
. His father, Oscar Carl Kreinheder (1877-1946), was a pastor of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
and the president of Valparaiso University
from 1930 to 1939.
After a successful career as a businessman, Arthur Carl Kreinheder went 1950 to study theology at Lund University
in Sweden, living in St. Laurence Foundation
. Already before he had been in touch with Taizé Community
in formation. Briefly, in 1955, he became a novice in the Taize Community.
Kreinheder was ordained to the priesthood in 1956 in Lund
by Bishop Anders Nygren
and Bishop Gustaf Aulen
"for ecumenical work in the United States among Lutherans."
"The Congregation of the Servants of Christ", a Lutheran Benedictine community, was established at St. Augustine's House in 1958 when some other men joined Father Arthur in observing the monastic life and offices of prayer. Through father Arthur there was right in the beginning a connection with Östanbäck Monastery
in Sweden after its foundation.
Father Arthur was involved in Christian ecumenism and he was the U.S. secretary of the League for Evangelical-Catholic Reunion
.
At the age of 84 Father Arthur Carl Kreinheder died (on Friday, October 13, 1989) in a Pontiac, Michigan, hospital. He had never recovered fully form a stroke suffered in the preceding July. He is buried in the cemetery at St. Augustine's House.
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monk and founder of a Lutheran religious order, The Congregation of the Servants of Christ.
Kreinheder was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
. His father, Oscar Carl Kreinheder (1877-1946), was a pastor of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 2.3 million members, it is both the eighth largest Protestant denomination and the second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S. after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod...
and the president of Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school...
from 1930 to 1939.
After a successful career as a businessman, Arthur Carl Kreinheder went 1950 to study theology at Lund University
Lund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
in Sweden, living in St. Laurence Foundation
St. Laurence Foundation
The St. Laurence Foundation is an independent student hostel in Sweden for students at Lund University. The fundation belonging to the Catholic movement of the Church of Sweden. It was founded in 1938. Daily office is prayed and Mass celebrated in St. Laurence Church connected to the hostel.When...
. Already before he had been in touch with Taizé Community
Taizé Community
The Taizé Community is an ecumenical monastic order in Taizé, Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy, France. It is composed of about 100 brothers who come from Protestant, Eastern Orthodox and Catholic traditions. The brothers come from about 30 countries across the world. The monastic order has a strong...
in formation. Briefly, in 1955, he became a novice in the Taize Community.
Kreinheder was ordained to the priesthood in 1956 in Lund
Lund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...
by Bishop Anders Nygren
Anders Nygren
Anders Theodor Samuel Nygren was a Swedish Lutheran theologian. He was professor of systematic theology at Lund University from 1924 and was elected Bishop of Lund in 1948...
and Bishop Gustaf Aulen
Gustaf Aulén
Gustaf Emanuel Hildebrand Aulén was the Bishop of Strängnäs in the Church of Sweden, a theologian, and the author of Christus Victor, a work which still exerts considerable influence on contemporary theological thinking on the Atonement.-Life:Aulén was born in 1879 in Ljungby parish, Kalmar...
"for ecumenical work in the United States among Lutherans."
"The Congregation of the Servants of Christ", a Lutheran Benedictine community, was established at St. Augustine's House in 1958 when some other men joined Father Arthur in observing the monastic life and offices of prayer. Through father Arthur there was right in the beginning a connection with Östanbäck Monastery
Östanbäck monastery
Östanbäck Monastery is a Lutheran Benedictine monastery for men in the Church of Sweden, located outside Sala in Sweden.-History:The background of the monastery lies in the Lutheran High Church Movement...
in Sweden after its foundation.
Father Arthur was involved in Christian ecumenism and he was the U.S. secretary of the League for Evangelical-Catholic Reunion
Bund für evangelisch-katholische Einheit
Bund für evangelisch - katholische Wiedervereinigung e.V. is a German Lutheran High Church organisation, founded in 1960.The League was established for continuation of the Sammlung movement of Hans Asmussen by some of its...
.
At the age of 84 Father Arthur Carl Kreinheder died (on Friday, October 13, 1989) in a Pontiac, Michigan, hospital. He had never recovered fully form a stroke suffered in the preceding July. He is buried in the cemetery at St. Augustine's House.
External links
- The Lonely Lutheran Monk. Time, Friday, Mar. 01, 1963
- Viewpoint of a Friend. A Brief History of Saint Augustine's House by George Weckman