Königsmünster Abbey

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Königsmünster Abbey with attached grammar school (left) and the "Oase" meeting center (front left)
Aerial view of Königsmünster Abbey

The Abbey Königsmünster in Meschede ( Nordrhein-Westfalen ) is a monastery of the Benedictine Congregation of St. Ottilien . In addition to the mission and pastoral care, the brothers run a number of craft or agricultural businesses and a grammar school.

history

founding

The abbey was founded in 1928 by monks from three Bavarian monasteries . The contract of March 2, 1928 between the city of Meschede and the Benedictine Congregation of St. Ottilien ( Mission Benedictines ) stipulated that the monks would take over the city rectorate school and receive material support from the city for the construction of the monastery. The congregation announced a competition for an overall development plan for the monastery, which the architect Franz Schneider won in 1930. Schneider also prevailed in the tender, so that he took over the execution of the entire system, which was symmetrically developed around a church facade. The monastery was given the name Königsmünster, meaning "Monastery (Latin monasterium, from German Münster) of the King (Christ)."

Within the region, the monks also followed the tradition of Kloster Grafschaft . The deer antlers were taken from the coat of arms of the old Benedictine abbey in Meschede. In addition, in recent years the monks have compiled a necrology for the Grafschafter monks to commemorate their deaths in prayer.

Priory

In 1932 the monastery became an independent priory with Father Linus Leberle (1880–1956) as the first prior. Between 1937 and 1956, Alban Buckel from Münsterschwarzach was the conventual prior . The monastery was closed from 1941 to 1945 by the National Socialist regime.

Virgil Wilhelm murder case

The 56-year-old brother Virgil Wilhelm was the first monk to return to Meschede in April 1945. In June he wanted to go to Kallenhardt on a borrowed bike , but he never got there. His remains were finally found a year later and identified by his cloister key and the remains of the laundry. He had been tortured and murdered on June 8, 1945 at the voting trunk near Meschede by unknown persons, possibly by “marauding foreign workers”, as it was called at the time, who were probably aiming at the bicycle. ("Marauding foreign workers" was a common name used by former National Socialists at the time for the more than 1000 forced laborers who were deported to Meschede for slave labor and held in three camps within the city and liberated by the American army on April 8, 1945.) After Virgil Wilhelm was initially buried in the southern cemetery in Meschede, in 1964 she was reburied in the monastery cemetery of Königsmünster Abbey. The Meschede-Nord shooting association erected a memorial stone in the form of an atonement cross .

abbey

The abbey

On October 18, 1956, the monastery was elevated to the rank of an abbey under canon law and Father Harduin Bießle was elected first abbot . The construction of the abbey church by the architect Hans Schilling fell during his term of office . The design language and symbolism for people of the 20th century were consciously chosen for the construction of the church. The church was consecrated on September 1, 1964, on the 25th anniversary of the German invasion of Poland, as the “Church of Peace in a World That Cannot Come to Peace” (annual report from 1958 ).

During the term of office of the second abbot, Stephan Schröer (1976-2001), numerous young men joined the community, so that the convention grew to over 80 members. This was probably due to the fact that the abbey had become very well known in the region through its work at school and that it attracted young people in particular through increased involvement in youth work (Oase youth hostel since 1981).

The year 2001 saw the inauguration of the “House of Silence”, the architecture of which by Peter Kulka attracted the attention of experts, the resignation of Abbot Stephan, the limitation of the abbot's term of office to 12 years by resolution of the community and the election of Father Dominicus Meier as third abbot.

In March 2010, in the course of the nationwide exposure of cases of abuse, abuse by a monk from Königsmünster Abbey became public in several cases.

Today about 60 monks work in schools (high school of the Benedictines), in youth work, in the “Haus der Stille” (house for contemplation and retreat ), in pastoral care and in various workshops. Some brothers are missionaries in South Korea , Tanzania and Cuba , three work in the Cella Sankt Benedikt in Hanover .

To support the monastery, the Freundeskreis Königsmünster e. V. founded, to which over 1,000 members belong throughout Germany.

Abbey church

Abbey church, westwork

The planning took place at the same time as the Second Vatican Council . Against the background of the optimism of the renewal movement, the brothers argued with the architect about the shape of their church. The design language and symbolism for people of the 20th century were chosen for church construction. The church was consecrated on September 1, 1964, on the 25th anniversary of the German invasion of Poland, as the “Church of Peace in a World That Cannot Come to Peace” (annual report from 1958). The building is characterized by the simplicity of the floor plan and the simplicity of the furnishings that is remarkable for a Catholic church. From the outside, the church made of red-brown clinker bricks looks like a large castle or a ship.

organ

Of the workshop in 1971, organ building Kreienbrink built organ (III + P / 38) was decommissioned after failure of the wind chest of the main plant and because of material wear in early September of 2008.

The successor instrument was again built by the Klais organ building workshop from Bonn on the gallery above the Marienkapelle from April 2016. The organ is on 58 registers on three manuals and pedal scheduled . The organ consecration took place in the pontifical office for the 52nd parish festival on September 1, 2016 by Archbishop Hans-Josef Becker of Paderborn .

I main work C – c 4
1. Grand Principal 16 ′
2. Bourdon 16 ′
3. Principal 8th'
4th Viol 8th'
5. Vox angelica 8th'
6th Transverse flute 8th'
7th Covered 8th'
8th. Dulciana 8th'
9. Octave 4 ′
10. flute 4 ′
11. Fifth 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
12. Super octave 2 ′
13. third 1 3 ⁄ 5  ′
14th Mixture IV
15th Trumpet 16 ′
16. Trumpet 8th'
II threshold positive C-c 4
17th Minor principal 8th'
18th Drone 8th'
19th Echogambe 8th'
20th Flute celeste 8th'
21st Dolce 8th'
22nd Octave 4 ′
23. Night horn 4 ′
24. Flautino 2 ′
25th Progressio II-IV
26th horn 16 ′
27. horn 8th'
28. Clarinet 8th'
29 horn 4 ′
Tremulant
III Swell C – c 4
30th Salicional 16 ′
31. Violin principal 8th'
32. Harmony flute 8th'
33. viola 8th'
34. Vox coelestis 8th'
35. Aeoline 8th'
36. violin 4 ′
37. Flute 4 ′
38. Nasat 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
39. Piccolo 2 ′
40. third 1 3 ⁄ 5  ′
41. Harmonia aetheria IV
42. bassoon 16 ′
43. Trumpets 8th'
44. oboe 8th'
Tremulant
Pedals C – f 1
45. Drone 32 ′
46. Principal bass 16 ′
47. Violon 16 ′
48. Sub bass 16 ′
49. Subtle bass 16 ′
50. Octavbass 8th'
51. cello 8th'
52. Covered bass 8th'
53. Super octave 4 ′
54. trombone 16 ′
55. horn 16 ′
56. tuba 8th'
57. horn 8th'
58. Tuba clairon 4 ′

Bells

The ringing consists of seven bronze bells with the striking notes h 0 , d 1 , e 1 , f sharp 1 , g 1 , a 1 , h 1 . The church bells were cast in 1964 by the bell foundry Petit & Gebr. Edelbrock (Gescher); the g 1 bell was added by the same bell foundry in 2002.

Monastery complex

Commercial enterprises

The abbey has different craft areas. This includes a forge, in which some brothers, employees, trainees and interns make various metal objects from steel and brass. In addition to crosses, tombs and railings, sculptures and fountains are also designed. While the forge is run by a brother, only secular workers are currently working in the monastery’s own carpentry shop. For a long time it was mainly used for personal use, but now also accepts external orders. Among other things, the carpenter's workshop produces furniture by hand.

More workshops are tailoring, in which the Habite the brothers are produced, one hand weaving, in particular liturgical vestments are woven and tailored and a hand-pottery, are manufactured in various ceramic objects.

In the past, the monastery also had an agricultural and gardening facility. The nursery produced almost exclusively vegetables and the like for the facility's own needs. The agricultural products were processed and marketed by an in-house butcher's shop. The products of the "turkey father" Reinald Rickert were valued by restaurants and private individuals well beyond the boundaries of the city of Meschede.

Monastery shops

The monastery business includes a book and art shop that has won several awards as the best monastery bookstore in Germany. In addition to literature and art, the monastery shop also sells other products from the abbey, especially from the food sector.

Other monastery shops are operated in neighboring Olsberg and in Rüthen- Meiste .

Abbey restaurant

The abbey restaurant is located directly on the monastery grounds, some of which also serves as a cafeteria for the students. Dishes made from their own products are offered here.

high school

The abbey above Meshedes

The grammar school was the original reason for the construction of the monastery in Meschede. It still plays an important role in the abbey. The school has around 680 students. In addition to a few monks, the college consists for the most part of salaried teachers. Noteworthy are u. a. the numerous school partnerships with other Benedictine schools. There is also a worldwide network with schools in the Benedictine tradition on the part of teachers and parents. The emphasis on the musical aspect through school theater, choir, orchestra and art exhibitions are a hallmark of the facility.

In addition, high school students from their own and other 42 high schools as well as students are offered the opportunity to participate in the upper level academy of the Königsmünster Abbey. In weekend seminars and evening events, skills in personal, social and intellectual areas are to be expanded.

Space for guests

The abbey attaches great importance to external contact. It offers a wide range of opportunities for spiritual contemplation, but also for secular conferences and events. On the one hand there is the possibility for men to be guests in the closed area and to participate in the life and prayer times of the monks. In addition, the “Oasis” has been in its own building since 1981, a house of reflection and encounter, especially for young people. Every year six or seven people doing community service did their service in the “oasis”. They were supported by two exchange students from Hungary. In addition, the "House of Silence" has existed since 2001. Designed by the architect Peter Kulka , the building has met with a great response from architects. It offers twenty single rooms. It is aimed at individual guests, families and groups for whom different courses are offered all year round. In addition, various events take place throughout the year, e.g. B. a Christmas bazaar, summer evenings on different topics or hiking weeks.

Members of the community

In 1986 there were 72 monks in the community. These were between 20 and 80 years old. Of these, 35 had not yet taken the final binding vows. In 2007 there were 59 confreres in the community. 51 of them lived in the abbey and cella in Hanover . According to the origins of the congregation, three lived as missionaries in Tanzania , South Africa, and South Korea . Five brothers lived outside the monastery. Of the 51 living in the monastery, 16 were mainly occupied with internal tasks as abbot, in administration, etc. Four brothers were retired. Another four worked in the grammar school. Eight brothers worked in the various handicrafts, shops and farms of the abbey. Eleven monks were mainly active in pastoral care, youth work or as therapists. One brother was the procurator responsible for coordinating the missionary work. Another two were employed in the Cella St. Benedikt in Hanover. Five brothers were in training. The median age was 47 years.

Abbots

Other well-known members of the Convention

Awards

The house of silence

2004: The guest house ("House of Silence") built in 2001 by the Cologne architect Peter Kulka was awarded the North Rhine-Westphalian Architecture Prize, which is awarded every three years by the Association of German Architects .

literature

  • Ansgar Wortmann: The Abbey of Königsmünster. A short guided tour through the Mesched Benedictine monastery . In: Yearbook Hochsauerlandkreis 1999 p. 65ff.
  • Markus Payer: Like a swimming red swan . In: Yearbook Hochsauerlandkreis 1986 p. 39ff.

Web links

Commons : Königsmünster Abbey  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Concern for well-being. A portrait of “P. Linus ” . In: Greetings from the Abbey of Königsmünster , Volume 2017, Issue 3, pp. 27–29, here p. 29.
  2. ↑ End of the war The zero hour meschede.de
  3. ↑ International Tracing Service HQ: Catalog of Camps and Prisons in Germany and German-occupied Territories, Sept. 1st, 1939 - May 8th, 1945, Volume II, Arolsen, April 1950.
  4. ^ Meschede City Archives: End of the war. The Zero Hour. ( PDF )
  5. ^ Peter Bürger et al., Atonement Cross Meschede. The mass murders of slave laborers in the Sauerland during the final phase of World War II and the history of difficult commemoration , edition leutekirche sauerland 3, 2016, o. P.
  6. ↑ FAZ: Abuse - The long shadow of the second millennium
  7. ↑ Organ Abbey of Königsmünster. Organ database Nl, accessed on March 2, 2013 .
  8. ↑ Abbey organ. (PDF; 1.4 MB) Königsmünster Abbey, archived from the original on June 17, 2012 ; accessed on May 31, 2019 .
  9. ↑ Information about the bells with sound sample on YouTube
  10. ↑ Königsmünster Upper School Academy
  11. ↑ Living in the monastery. Accessed May 31, 2019 .
  12. ↑ Oasis. Accessed May 31, 2019 .
  13. ↑ House of Silence. Accessed May 31, 2019 .
  14. ↑ Payer, red swan, p. 39
  15. ^ History of the Abbey ( Memento from February 11, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  16. ^ Communication from the Abbey on the election and installation of Abbot Aloysius. Accessed May 31, 2019 .

Coordinates: 51 ° 21 ′ 14 "  N , 8 ° 16 ′ 45"  E