Dutch Benedictine Sculptor Trains Mount's Art Students

Brother Leo Disch is a Dutch Benedictine monk from Benedictusberg (Mount Benedict) Abbey in the Netherlands, who is currently visiting Mount Michael Benedictine Abbey. He was invited to come to Mount Michael Abbey and High School to assist in the art classes taught by Fr. Daniel Lenz, instructing the boys in the rudiments of stone cutting.

Bro Leo began cutting stone more than 30 years ago. He was tutored by Father Hans van der Laan, OSB, a famous architect who also developed a new letter type. Brother Leo has become a much sought-after sculptor, who has made amongst others, the grave tomb of the late cardinal Willebrands and will cut the seal for the new Dutch archbishop, Mgr. Eijk, upon his return to The Netherlands.

In addition to teaching the students at Mount Michael, Bro Leo has also designed a triptych of the Archangel Michael, flanked by Archangels Raphael and Gabriel. The triptych will be surrounded by a text, in Van der Laan's front, taken from Psalm 138: "In the presence of the angels I will bless you."

Using air hammers, hand chisels and sand paper of various grits, the triptych is being carved out of green marble taken from the legs of an old alter that was in the abbey chapel. As the apprentices of old, the students have been assisting the master by building work benches, recalculating centimeters into inches, and tapping the design into the plates. Once their practice on softer stone has increased their competence, they will begin to work on the triptych as well.

Bro Leo will return to the The Netherlands on October 6.

(For examples of his work, see www.benedictusberg.nl - click the British flag for english go to ora & labora then stonemason. ) - Slide Show