Pre-Vatican II American Passionist Scripture Scholars
by Rob Carbonneau, C.P., Ph.D.
Examination of The Catholic Biblical Quarterly reveals that numerous American Passionists were members of The Catholic Biblical Association [CBA]. Passionists needed training in Scripture to staff the seminaries in both the eastern province of St. Paul of the Cross and the western province of Holy Cross. Membership in the CBA provided the best means to remain updated with the new developments in Scripture study. The Passionist Scripture scholars were well-trained in their field. At the same time many exhibited strong pastoral tendencies.
Yet seeing their membership begs other observations. What role have Passionists played in other professional theological and non-theological organizations? What is the overall relationship between the academic and historic or future development of province ministries? What is the best way to write an intellectual history of the Passionists? Because the Passionists have not directly sponsored their own institution of higher education, is there any merit to an opinion that Passionists have an anti-intellectual tendency? Also how is Passionist formation and education different in the pre and post-Conciliar eras?
The list below calls to mind the rich tradition and activities of Passionist Scripture scholars. It is constructed based upon the active membership list published in The Catholic Biblical Quarterly before Vatican II (1962-1965). Of course others did receive Scripture training before and after them and are worthy of study. Still these men were the influential pioneers – Rob Carbonneau, C.P.
Barnabas Ahern, C.P., S.S.D., S.T.L.
Became a member of the CBA in 1942. Born 18 February 1915, Ahern was ordained 7 June 1941. Pursued graduate studies in theology and Scripture at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., 1941-1943. Studied Scripture in Rome and the L’Ecole Biblique Jerusalem. Received a Baccalaureate from the Biblical Commission in 1947. Ahern was the first person ever to attain a perfect score in that exam. In 1948 he received a Licentiate from the Biblical Commission. Received a Doctorate from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome in 1958. Taught Scripture in Holy Cross Province Passionist Theologate from 1943 to 1947 and 1948 to 1955.
Silvan Brennan, C.P.
Brennan was a Charter member of the CBA. Born 21 October 1908, Brennan was ordained 28 April 1934. Pursued graduate studies in theology and Scripture at the Angelicum in Rome from 1936 to 1937. Brennan taught Old Testament at the Passionist Monastery in Baltimore from 1935 to 1936.
Victor J. Donovan, C.P., A.B., S.T.L.
Became a member in 1941. Born 18 January 1908, Donovan was ordained 30 May 1936. Pursued graduate studies in theology at the Angelicum in Rome from 1938 to 1939. Studied Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute from 1939 to 1940 then at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. from 1940 to 1942. Donovan then went on to teach Old Testament at various monasteries of the St. Paul of the Cross eastern province beginning in 1942.
Camillus Kronlage, C.P.
Became a charter member. Born 15 October 1903 and ordained 22 December 1929. Studied Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute from 1931 to 1933. Taught Old Testament at St. Paul, Kansas from 1933 to 1935 and New Testament at Louisville from 1936 to 1949.
Richard Kugelman, C.P., S.T.L., S.S.L.
Kugelman was a Charter member of the CBA. Born 9 November 1908, Kugelman was ordained 28 April 1934. Pursued graduated studies in theology at the Angelicum in Rome from 1935 to 1936. Studied Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute from 1936 to 1938. Studied in Palestine in 1938. Taught New Testament Scripture in St. Paul of the Cross Province at St. Michael’s Monastery in Union City, New Jersey from 1938 to 1960.
Aelred Lacomara, C.P., S.T.L.
Became a member in 1958. Born 17 May 1929, Lacomara was ordained 3 May 1957. Pursued graduate studies in theology and Scripture at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. from 1958 to 1959.
Aidan Mahoney, C.P.
Became a member in 1945. Born in 1913 and ordained in 1938, Mahoney pursued graduate studies at The Catholic University of America where he obtained an S.T.L. in 1944. Mahoney taught Scripture in St. Paul of the Cross Province at St. Michael’s Monastery in Union City, New Jersey from 1946 to 1949 and in Jamaica, New York from 1949 to 1950.
Kevin Francis McCloskey, C.P., S.T.L., S.S.L.
Born 28 April 1919 and ordained 25 February 1948. Pursued graduate studies in theology at The Catholic University in Washington, D.C. from 1948 to 1950; in Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute from 1950 to 1952; Johns Hopkins University from 1953 to 1954; Harvard University from 1954 to 1955; Brandeis University from 1957 to 1959. Professor of Sacred Scripture, Hebrew and Greek at Passionist monasteries in St. Paul of the Cross Province.
Roger Mercurio, C.P., S.T.L., S.S.L.
Became member in 1947. Born 14 February 1918 and ordained 26 April 1944. Pursued graduate studies in theology and Scripture at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. from 1945 to 1947; Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute from 1948 to 1949. Taught Old Testament at Passionist House of Studies in Chicago, Illinois from 1947 to 1948 and New Testament in Louisville from 1949 to 1960.
Gerard Rooney, C.P.
Became a member in 1941. Born 5 October 1908 and ordained 28 April 1934. Pursued graduate studies in Christian antiquities and history at Fordham University from 1936 to 1937. Taught Scripture at various Passionist monasteries in St. Paul of the Cross Province from 1937 to 1947; Associate retreat director at St. Gabriel�s Monastery in Brighton, Massachusetts from 1950 to 1957; Associate Editor of The Sign Magazine from 1957 to 1962.
Carroll Stuhlmueller, C.P., S.T.L., S.S.L.
Became member in 1952. Born 2 April 1923 and ordained 3 June 1950. Pursued graduate studies in theology and Scripture at CUA from 1951 to 1952; Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute from 1952 to 1954. Taught Old Testament and Hebrew at the Passionist House of Studies in Chicago, Illinois from 1954 to 1958; at Viatorian Seminary in Evanston, Illinois from 1955 to 1958; at Passionist House of Studies in Louisville, Kentuckybeginning in 1958.
Thomas Sullivan, C.P.
Became member in 1938. Born 9 September 1903 and ordained 25 May 1929. Taught scripture at various Passionist monasteries in St. Paul of the Cross Province beginning in 1933.
Hilary Sweeney, C.P., S.T.L.
Became member in 1945. Born 1912 and ordained 1943. Pursued graduate studies in theology and Scripture at CUA from 1943 to 1946. Taught Scripture at various Passionist seminaries beginning in 1946.
Simon Yungfleisch, C.P.
was charter member of the Catholic Biblical Association. He taught in the Passionist Seminary at Union City and is best known for the relief map which he constructed of the Holy Land. Yungfleisch left the Passionists and moved to the southwestern United States.