Charles
L. Knapp, O.S.A.1918-1980
May 12 is the anniversary of Charles L. Knapp.
Charles Lucien Knapp, son of Charles L. Knapp and Mary (Schmidt) Knapp, was born on August 24, 1918, in Shenandoah, Pa., and baptized on September 1, 1918, in the German Catholic parish of Holy Family, Shenandoah, where he received his parochial school education. After graduating from J.W. Cooper High School, where he performed in the dramatic club, wrote for the school paper, and participated in debating, he entered St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia, receiving part of his seminary training at St. Charles College, Catonsville, Md. On February 24, 1945, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Philadelphia Archdiocese.
Father Knapp served as assistant pastor of St. Helena Parish in Center Square, and in St. John the Baptist Parish in Pottsville. He also taught at Southeast Catholic (now Bishop Neumann) High School. He earned his MA from Villanova University, majoring in French with a minor in other Modern Languages, including Russian Literature, and Philosophy
Father Knapp began his novitiate on September 9, 1952, at age 33, and professed first vows on September 10, 1953. He was then assigned to the faculty of Malvern Preparatory School, Malvern, Pa., where he made his solemn profession on September 10, 1956.
Father Knapp was a member of the Augustinian community at Malvern Prep. for twenty seven years. He taught modern and classical language, religion and logic. For a time he served as assistant Headmaster, but his first love was teaching. During his Malvern days he published a book on Logic. In 1962, he was chosen to be a councilor and sacristan, and in 1975, he was appointed Prior of the community.
Father Charles Knapp proved to be a fine educator, a compassionate confessor, an insightful advisor and a true friend. The following selection from his poetry captures the depth of his wisdom.
“Go – ask not of the quiet and the well
But of the ones who agonize
What wholeness is; the fallen only
Can tell what it means to rise.
To know of friendship – ask the lonely;
Go ask the ones who broke and ran
What courage is; not those who stood;
For those who went beyond their strength
Alone can tell the message of
The heart’s capacities, the length
To which despair may go… or love.”
Father Knapp followed the careers of the graduates, who had nicknamed him “Knapper,” and had witnessed more than 300 of their weddings. His understanding of students was shared by the homilist at the Mass of Christian Burial, who said, “His sense of and respect for the values of the young led him an unceasing quest to understand their culture, to share their labors, to probe their frustrations, to employ their gifts – in order to direct them to a full appreciation of the majesty of God and the life-changing meanings of the words, “God loves me.”
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Thomas Church on the campus of Villanova University and interment was held at the Augustinian Plot at Calvary Cemetery, in West Conshohocken, Pa.
†