Benedictine Father Miranne loved his parish Masses

Benedictine Father Paul Miranne, who served for 75 years in religious life and for 70 years as a priest, died March 30 at St. Joseph Abbey. He was 94 years old, the eldest member of his community and the longest-lived monk in the history of the monastery.

Born in New Orleans on July 5, 1922, Donald Miranne was the son of Alfred C. Miranne, Sr. and Irene Pasley Miranne. His mother lived to the age of 102. He was predeceased by his brother Alfred C. Miranne Jr., and his sisters Irene Miranne Stokes and Muriel Miranne Fitzwilliam.

Father Paul attended the high school and junior college of St. Joseph Seminary and graduated in 1941. He entered the Benedictine monastery that year and made vows as a monk on Aug. 20, 1942, receiving the name Paul. He was ordained a priest on June 7, 1947.

Father Paul was charged with the upkeep and maintenance of the abbey and seminary buildings from 1950-83. He taught mathematics, Latin, civics and chant in the high school division of St. Joseph Seminary from 1950-64. He was also vice rector of the seminary and one of its prefects of discipline.

He was a stern disciplinarian and taskmaster, and generations of seminarians and priests recalled his well-timed and effective rebukes.

He served as prior of the monastery from 1964-69. From 1983-98, he was manager and general handyman at Camp Abbey, the summer camp the monastery ran in conjunction with the Knights of Columbus for boys and girls.

He celebrated weekend Mass in various parishes in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, especially at St. Philip Neri in Metairie. In his later years, when he no longer could drive, St. Philip parishioners would sign up months in advance to pick him up on Saturday and bring him back to the monastery on Sunday afternoon.

Father Paul was a lover of simple things. He was the cheerful landlord to a flock of purple martins, whose house he carefully readied each year for their return from Brazil in February.

Throughout his life, when old friends met him and asked what he was occupied with at the monastery, his answer was, “Trying to be a good monk.”

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated April 6. Donations may be made to the St. Joseph Abbey and Seminary Flood Relief Fund.