Dominik Peckenstorfer

Abbot Dominik Peckenstorfer's coat of arms on a lavabo in Maria Langegg

Dominik Peckenstorfer (born July 16, 1705 in Purgstall an der Erlauf , † September 23, 1786 in Lilienfeld ) was an Austrian clergyman, Cistercian and from 1747 to 1786 the 52nd abbot of the Lilienfeld monastery . He was the last abbot of the monastery before the abolition.

Before the election of the abbot

Johann Jakob Peckenstorfer was born on July 16, 1705 in Purgstall an der Erlauf. He entered Lilienfeld Abbey in 1726, where he was given the religious name Dominik and made profession on November 1, 1727. He then studied philosophy and theology in Vienna. He was ordained a priest on April 10, 1730.

He then held various offices in the monastery, including director of the sacristy from 1732 to 1737, novice master in 1738 and president of the Arch-Brotherhood of St. Josef 1732 to 1740. Immediately before his election, he was administrator at Annaberg (Lower Austria) from 1746 .

Abbot of the Lilienfeld Monastery

After Abbot Chrysostom Wieser (1716–1747) died, an abbot election was held in Lilienfeld Abbey. In this, on May 16, 1747, Father Dominik Peckenstorfer was elected abbot and appointed on May 21.

Building on the good economic management of his predecessor, Abbot Dominik was able to further expand the economic possibilities of the monastery. However, his attempt to mine silver at Annaberg failed, and gypsum mining was extremely profitable.

Abbot Dominik also began some structural work in the monastery and in the parishes. A new organ (by Ignaz Gatto) was built in the collegiate church and the interior of the Joseph Chapel was restored. Many parishes were rebuilt and therefore had to be provided with pastoral care facilities. These include Loiwein 1783, Unterdürnbach 1784 and Lehenrotte 1785.

The massive increase in pastoral care is due to the policy of Emperor Joseph II (1765–1790). He tried to remove the contemplative elements of the monasteries.

Important structural measures were also the renovation of Unterdürnbach Castle from 1747 to 1757, of Klostermarienberg from 1755 to 1765 and the new building of the house in Vienna from 1768 to 1773, where the abbot also held court in a very extravagant way.

This lively construction activity of the abbot, but also natural disasters, which led to great economic losses, were not without consequences and resulted in high financial burdens and an accumulation of debts for the monastery. Therefore Abbot Dominik was forced by the chapter in 1785 to hand over the management of the economy to two priests.

Thereupon the state had the conditions in the monastery carried out and after the completion of the report of this examination forced the abbot to abdicate. On May 20, 1785, Father Joseph Markl was elected ruling prior, although it was not until February 18, 1786 that he officially resigned. Thereafter, the Melker Prior P. Maximilian Stadler was appointed as Commendatar Abbot and the Lilienfeld Abbey was prepared for the repeal.

Abbot Dominik Peckenstorfer died on September 23, 1786 and was buried in an earth grave by Commendatarian Abbot Maximilian Stadler in the Lilienfeld cemetery.

literature

• MÜLLER, Eugen: Historical outline of the Lilienfeld monastery since 1700, Lilienfeld 1979
• MÜLLER, Eugen: Profession book of the Cistercian monastery Lilienfeld, St. Ottilien 1996.
• MUSSBACHER, Norbert: Das Stift Lilienfeld, In: Heimatkunde des Bezirk Lilienfeld, 1st volume, Vienna 1957.
• MUSSBACHER, Norbert: The Lilienfeld Abbey, Vienna 1976.