His parents were György Kovács, a day laborer, and Rozália Birkás. He attended the III. Béla Cistercian High School (Baja), the 5th grade at the Szent Imre Cistercian High School (Budapest), and the 8th grade at the School of Theology (Győr). He entered the order on August 29, 1949. He took his first vows on June 22, 1950. From 1950 to 1951, he was a theology student in Székesfehérvár, and from 1951 to 1953, he served in the military. From 1953 to 1955, he performed manual labor in Sztálinváros (now Dunaújváros). In 1956, he worked as a materials procurer in Székesfehérvár, while secretly pursuing theological studies. He took his perpetual vows—in secret—on November 30, 1956. He left the country on December 3, 1956. From December 1956 through 1957, he was a theology student in Rome. On June 21, 1957, he was ordained a priest by Coadjutor Bishop Franz Žak of St. Pölten in the abbey church of Zwettl. He lived in the United States from 1959 onward.