Gottfried Reichmann

Gottfried Reichmann (sometimes also called Richmann or Reickmann ) (* before 1613; † 1643 ) was abbot of the Premonstratensian monastery in Wedinghausen near Arnsberg from 1613 to 1643 . During his term of office the renewed upswing of the community and the preparation for the foundation of the Laurentianum high school fall .

Signature of Gottfried Reichmann

Life

He came from Gangelt in the Duchy of Jülich . Reichmann entered the Knechtsteden monastery . He studied Catholic theology and graduated first as a licentiate . In Knechtsteden he was promoted to prior . Together with his abbot, he traveled to Wedinghausen in 1613 to elect a new abbot. There the reformers prevailed and elected Reichmann abbot. In 1621 he was appointed doctor of theology at the University of Cologne . The Archbishop of Cologne appointed him "Commissarius in spirituabilis" in the Westphalian part of the Archdiocese of Cologne. As such, he strove to raise morale and ecclesiastical discipline in the clergy in the region. As early as 1614 he was appointed Vicar General of the Circarie Westphalia by the Premonstratensian Order. As such, he has made numerous visitation trips to other monasteries.

In his function as abbot of Wedinghausen, he made great efforts to bring the Oelinghausen monastery back to the paternalism of Wedinghausen. This had largely eluded Wedinghausen's supervision , especially under the direction of Ottilia von Fürstenberg . The abbess finally succeeded in separating the institution from the Premonstratensian Association and transforming it into a women's monastery . Reichmann left the actual legal dispute to the Knechtsteden Abbey, which in turn had paternalism over Wedinghausen. After numerous trials, the Premonstratensians prevailed. Nevertheless, Reichmann felt compelled to enter the Oelinghausen monastery with some religious and to take it back into possession. As a result, it was repopulated with nuns from Rumbeck Abbey .

The Thirty Years' War and its effects also fell during his term of office . There were also several waves of plague . However, the activities of Reichsmann also led to a new heyday of the monastery, as the quite high number of novices shows. At the end of his life Reichmann tried hard to found the Laurentianum grammar school. However, he did not live to see it opened.

In the annals of the Premonstratensians, Reichmann is praised as a very capable man. He published a pamphlet dedicated to the Rumbeck sisters: “Consolation and textbook for the scrupulous and faint-hearted.” This appeared in two editions.

For Wedinghausen, Reichmann stands for the beginning of a recovery after a long period of stagnation. His importance for the Premonstratensian order was so great that he is still commemorated today on August 1st. However, as claimed by various Internet sites, he was not a martyr.

literature

• Johann Suibert Seibertz: Westphalian contributions to German history. Vol. 2. Darmstadt, 1823 p. 77
• Helmut Richtering: Wedinghausen Monastery. A historical outline. In: Clemens Brüggemann (arrangement): Wedinghausen Abbey, Propsteikirche St. Laurentius. Arnsberg, 1971 p. 54ff.
• Norbert Höing: The Laurentianum grammar school in Arnsberg. Part 1: Foundation of the school and its development up to the full establishment . Arnsberg, undated JS 10-13

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Praemonstratensi Illustri Noteworthy Norbertines ( Memento of the original of October 26, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.