Brother Basil Erb, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1841-1915)

He was born Conrad Erb in Werdner, Prussia on May 11, 1841. He pronounced his Passionist vows on June 6, 1867 and received the name Basil. He served as a gardener at several of the Passionist’s early foundations. In 1867 Brother Erb was assigned to Baltimore and also served as front door porter, cook and infirminarian until the regular Passionist observance of prayer began there in the community. Brother Erb was also sent to Scranton, Pennsylvania to help launch the new foundation there. In his later years he returned to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania monastery.