Anton Wolfradt

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Anton Franz Wolfradt as Bishop of Vienna

Anton Franz Wolfradt SOCist / OSB , also Wolfrath (born July 9, 1582 in Cologne ; † April 1, 1639 in Vienna ) was a Cistercian , from 1613 a Benedictine , Abbot of Wilhering , then of Kremsmünster and Prince-Bishop of the Diocese of Vienna and President of the Court Chamber.

Life

Anton Wolfradt was the son of a tailor. First, in 1599, he began studying philosophy at the Collegium Germanicum in Rome . He entered the Cistercian Order in 1601 and made his solemn profession in the Heiligenkreuz Abbey in 1604 . He then studied theology in Rome , graduated with a doctorate in theology and was ordained a priest on October 21, 1607 .

In 1608 he taught at Rein Abbey near Graz and from 1609 was also pastor of Gratwein . On the recommendation of Cardinal Khlesl , he was appointed abbot of Wilhering Abbey in Austria on April 14, 1612 (confirmed on November 21, 1612) .

Since the monks of the Benedictine Abbey of Kremsmünster elected him their abbot, Pope Paul V permitted a conversion to the Benedictine order and Wolfradt took up the new office on December 15, 1613. He began to reform the monastery and also took care of the neighboring monasteries Schlierbach , Gleink bei Steyr and Spital am Pyhrn .

Because of his skills in administrative and financial matters, Emperor Ferdinand II appointed him to his council in 1620 and as President of the Court Chamber in October 1623 . Together with the imperial Münzwardein Vinzenz Muschinger , he was commissioned by Emperor Ferdinand to counteract the coin valuation that occurred during the tipper and wipper era . He was also used as a negotiator with the rebellious farmers in Austria above the Enns and with Wallenstein . In 1628 Wolfradt, together with Heinrich von Salburg-Falkenstein and Johann Spindler von Hofegg, provisionally wound up the regional governing body when it was triggered after eight years of pledging to Bavaria. Wolfradt retained the office of President of the Court Chamber, which was also very difficult due to the enormous debts of the emperor, until 1630.

In 1630 Cardinal Khlesl proposed him as coadjutor in Vienna. On February 15, 1631 the Emperor appointed him Bishop of Vienna; the papal confirmation came on May 26th. On August 2, the emperor made him imperial prince, and the following day he was ordained bishop. Neither Ferdinand II nor Ferdinand III. succeeded in their efforts to obtain the cardinal dignity for Wolfradt .

In 1633/34 he belonged together with Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg and Maximilian von und zu Trauttmansdorff to those appraisers who thought Wallenstein was a conspirator and advised Ferdinand II to arrest the general.

As a bishop, he tried to bring about a return of Protestants to the Catholic faith through religious instruction and sermons , and he rejected the use of force. To this end, he promoted the Jesuit order both in Vienna and in Bohemia .

His motto “If God doesn't want it, it's no use” became very popular, and a well-known Viennese song also uses this phrase.

He is buried in the Katharinenkapelle of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna . The self-composed saying on the epitaph reads: "In life I was abbot, bishop, prince - now I am dust, shadow, nothing." In 1894, Wolfrathplatz in Vienna- Hietzing was named after him.

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predecessor Office successor
Alexander II a Lacu Abbot of Kremsmünster Abbey
1613 - 1620 		Boniface Negele
Melchior Khlesl Bishop of Vienna
1631 - 1639 		Philipp Friedrich Count Breuner
personal data
SURNAME Wolfradt, Anton
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Wolfradt, Franz Anton
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Cistercian / Benedictine, Abbot of Wilhering and Kremsmünster, Prince-Bishop of the Diocese of Vienna, Governor of Upper Austria, President of the Court Chamber
DATE OF BIRTH July 9, 1582
PLACE OF BIRTH Cologne
DATE OF DEATH April 1, 1639
Place of death Vienna