Benedict II. Mahlmeister

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Benedikt II Mahlmeister (real name Adam Josef Ludwig Thaddäus Mahlmeister ; born August 19, 1748 in Volkach ; † January 1, 1821 in Elgersheim , today Volkach) was the last abbot of the Benedictine monastery in Obertheres before secularization from 1797 to 1803 .

Life

Benedikt II Mahlmeister was born on August 19, 1748 as Adam Josef Ludwig Thaddäus Mahlmeister in the Lower Franconian town of Volkach. His father, Johann Christoph Mahlmeister, held the office of town clerk , his mother's name was Maria Wilhelmine. First Mahlmeister attended elementary school in Volkach before he switched to the so-called Latin school . It is unclear whether he stayed in the city for his secondary education.

After completing his training, he made his vows in Theres Monastery and was named after the founder of the order, Benedict. This happened on November 1, 1768. He then attended the University of Würzburg to study theology. After completing his studies, Mahlmeister was ordained a priest on September 19, 1772. Benedikt Mahlmeister celebrated Primiz on October 4th of the same year in the monastery church.

Now he rose rapidly within the monastery and held several offices. After the death of his predecessor Bernhard Breunig at the beginning of 1797, Mahlmeister was one of the favorites to succeed the abbot. On January 27, 1797, he was elected the thirty-ninth abbot of Theres Monastery by secret ballot. First, the abbot had the Andreas chapel in Dampfach expanded and decorated with works by Johann Peter Wagner , and in 1802 the church was consecrated.

In the course of the Peace of Lunéville , Kurpfalzbayern had to give up its left bank areas and was compensated with large territories of the dioceses of Eichstätt, Bamberg and Würzburg . This also included the power of Theres Abbey. In December 1802 the monastery was occupied by Bavarian soldiers and on December 12, 1802 it was closed. Abbot Benedict received a pension of 3500 guilders per year.

With the ample pension, the Emeritus Mahlmeister was able to acquire the former Ebrach monastery courtyard in Elgersheim. Here he spent his retirement. After his death on January 1, 1821, Mahlmeister bequeathed the farm to the city of Volkach, which was supposed to set up a Pründnerhof here. The former abbot was buried in the Volkach cemetery, and an honorary gravestone was erected for the deceased in the cemetery in Fahr . Both stones are lost. Volkach named the street Benedikt – Mahlmeister – Straße after the abbot.

coat of arms

The abbot's coat of arms is on a drawing in the work of Gabriel Vogt. Description : Three heraldic lilies placed one to two, the helmet has buffalo horns, a growing doll as a helmet ornament. The tinging of the coat of arms is not known.

literature

  • Guntram Freiherr von Gise: The abbots of the former Theres monastery (= home sheet of the state education authority Hassfurt No. 3/1968) . Hassfurt 1968.
  • Gabriel Vogt: Castle and Village. Monastery and castle. Theres am Main. A contribution to the history of the village and the former Benedictine abbey of St. Vitus zu Theres am Main . Münsterschwarzach 1979.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Gise, Guntram Freiherr von: The abbots of the former Theres monastery . P. 8.
  2. ^ Vogt, Gabriel: Castle and Village. Monastery and castle . P. 166.
  3. ^ Vogt, Gabriel: Castle and Village. Monastery and castle . P. 210.
personal data
SURNAME Mahlmeister, Benedict II.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Mahlmeister, Adam Josef Ludwig Thaddäus (baptismal name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German Benedictine abbot, founder
DATE OF BIRTH August 19, 1748
PLACE OF BIRTH Volkach
DATE OF DEATH January 1, 1821
Place of death Elgersheim