Born Stanley Schaefer on July 25, 1908 in Covington, Kentucky, he grew up in Covington and Cincinnati, Ohio. At twenty years of age he decided to enter the Passionists as lay brother. After his novitiate in Louisville, Kentucky he professed his vows on June 8, 1932. He received the name Bernard.
His first assignment was to the Preparatory Seminary in Normandy, Missouri as an assistant cook. For the next thirty-one years he was a cook in various monasteries of Holy Cross Province. A favorite saying was “Nothing is too good for our monks!” He had a fine rapport with many deliverymen, salesmen, and “gentlemen of the road” who sought food on their journey. He had particular contact with Lutherans at Concordia Seminary in Missouri. In the fall of 1962 while supervising food preparation at Mother of Good Counsel Seminary in Warrenton, Missouri Brother Schaefer was hospitalized and underwent surgery for a malignant tumor. He died on November 1, 1962 and was particularly respected for his outgoing relationship with the non-Catholics in the immediate Warrenton area.