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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 28, 1971)
IT v. r V. .,;. -.-.- . ..... KS . " j-m r PLACE: DEPOSIT: -s.-i Tl Former activist tries monastery (i'-i date: April 27.28. 29 time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. SAVE $4.50 Nebraska Book Store $8.00 11 x&t SPECIAL '2.C3 DIS5GUHT GOLDEN f rr wgnofwr indudtd obtoluWy fm imid ocfc Mi Uwti ring pvicfimd during Ring Ooyfc OFFB GOOO ONLY ON DATES SHOWN c LINCOLN'S NEW Today At 1:00. 2:40. 4:20 6:00, 7:40. 9:20 Late Show Fri. & Sat. 11P.M. raim - ft I v -iv jt ELKHORN-Last year Mark Theisen was involved in a frenzied life of activities as a University student. In his first year on the Lincoln campuses he was in Centennial College, joined a fraternity, was actively involved in the Vietnam Moratorium and capped the year off by trying to keep the May anti-war prstests constructive in his position as ASUN second vice-president. However, this year the 20-year old Theisen is living in a different world, although it is only 45 miles northeast of Lincoln. In July he left the University to enter Mount Michael Abbey, a Benedictine monastery near the town of 1,200. Why did Theisen leave his activist life at the University for the life of solitude of a monastery? "I'M TRYING TO get my thoughts together here to see what I want to get active about," he explained. "I'm not convinced 1 want to be a monk, but I wanted to see if I could enjoy this type of life. I'm enjoying it now, but I don't know what I'll do when I have to make a commitment." Currently the Norfolk native is a "novice" at the monastery and is undergoing a 12-month probationary period. During this trial period he does not take the Benedictine vows, such as celibacy, poverty and obedience, but is expected to follow the monastic life style. ) Although he was only at the University for a year, Theisen said it was a "great experience" since he was exposed to all types of people and involved in many activities. One of those activities was student government. In April he was elected ASUN second vice-president on the Tiwald ticket and then in May the anti-war protests hit the campus. He said the ASUN executives' main concern was to try to keep the protests peaceful. "We tried to make something constructive out of chaos," he added. After the student strike he was actively involved in the academic reform movement that arose from the idea of the New University. "RIGHT NOW. I'm just trying to discover myself." Theisen said of his choice to enter the monastery. And the monastery offers him a good opportunity to do so. Noting that he has few worries, this year Theisen said he could enjoy some of the simple things of life such as walking along the nearby Elkhorn River Admission $2.50 Please Bring Your I.D. Return Engagement .1 l N L0UMGE i &30 NIGHTLY 10th and 'O I or watching the sun set. "The atmosphere here is relaxed and there are no pressures," he remarked. "I have a lot of time to think and read which I didn't have last year. You also get a chance to get to know some very interesting people here." Theisen also doesn't have to worry about making money or paying bills. Mount Michael, run on a communal basis, provides for all the men's living and educational expenses. Although he has ambitions to become a priest, his religious beliefs are in a state of flux and are anything but dogmatic. He admitted that he rarely attended church last year while at the University. The monastery encourages the novices to follow their own conscience and when Theisen talks about religion he speaks about religions of the East as much as Catholicism. CALLING HIMSELF a humanist and pantheist, Theisen said, "I consider myself a Catholic, but a Catholic who believes in the ideals that Christ taught." Theisen is no stranger to Elkhorn since he attended four years of high school and one year of junior college here-all in Benedictine schools. This year at the monastery his school life is limited to three informal classes on monastic life. Theiscn's typical day also includes four prayer periods and various work chores around the monastery and the nearby high school which he attended. He said much of the work of the monastery is tied with running the high school, noting that he serves as the school's debate coach. Theiscn's life at Mount Michael is anything but cloistered as he frequently travels to Lincoln and Omaha. Noting how the church is changing, he said his four years of high school here were "more restrictive" than his life at the monastery this year. He plans to begin studies this fall at Creighton University, to study communication and education. "One thing you notice here is that there are 40 people here who arc having a good time doing their own thing," he said. "Even if I don't stay, this has really been a great experience." PAGE 2 THE DAILY NEBRASKAN WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1971