Magdenau Monastery
The Magdenau Monastery (Latin Abbatia BMV de Augia Virginum ) is a Cistercian abbey in the village of Wolfertswil, Degersheim municipality , Switzerland .
history
The Abbey Magdenau was founded in 1244 by Rudolf Ritter Giel of Glattburg founded and his wife Gertrud and the Cistercian Order incorporated . In 1278 the monastery church was consecrated. After a rapid boom in the course of the 13th century and a period of testing (fires, insect pests) in the 14th century, the monastic discipline declined around 1500. A critical period in the years 1528–1532 finally led to the dissolution of the convent and the confiscation of the goods.
But as early as 1532, under the direction of Abbess Afra Schenk, the monastery was repopulated by a new community. The 16th and 17th centuries brought the abbey a real heyday, which was also expressed in extensive new buildings and conversions. The monastery was occupied during the Toggenburg War. In 1754 the strict enclosure was introduced. In 1798 the monastery opened one of the oldest elementary schools in the canton of St. Gallen .
1948–1953, under the direction of Abbess Anna Markwalder, restoration work and the construction of a new monastery church took place. From 1965 onwards, community life was finally redesigned according to the specifications of the Second Vatican Council .
present
Today the abbey is home to a small community of sixteen sisters (as of February 2009) who lead a largely contemplative life. A monastery shop and the St. Josef guest house are operated as offers for visitors and guests, and there is also the possibility of discussion and spiritual accompaniment. The monastery belongs to the Mehrerau congregation .
Surroundings
In addition to the monastery, the hamlet of Magdenau also includes an inn, a farm, a sawmill and the former parish church of St. Verena. The Verena Chapel , whose foundation walls are partly from the 12th / 13th centuries. Dating back to the 19th century, like the Magdenau Monastery itself, it is on the list of cultural assets of national importance .
literature
- Bernhard Anderes and Hans Peter Mathis: The Cistercian convent Magdenau. (Swiss Art Guide, Volume 731, Series 74). Ed. Society for Swiss Art History GSK. Bern 2003, ISBN 3-85782-731-9 .
Web links
- Website of the Magdenau Monastery
- Wolfertswil
- List of Abbesses
- Entry to Monastery Magdenau on Order online
Individual evidence
- ↑ Archived copy ( Memento of the original from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF file; 144 kB) Website of the canton of St.Gallen, culture, archeology, excursion destinations
Coordinates: 47 ° 24 ′ 6 " N , 9 ° 10 ′ 14" E ; CH1903: 730736 / two hundred and fifty-one thousand five hundred thirty