Franz Reisinger (Salesian)

Franz Reisinger (born August 16, 1889 in Vienna , † January 23, 1973 in Ingolstadt ) was an Austrian Roman Catholic theologian from the order of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (Sales Oblates). He was the founder of the "Secular Institute of St. Francis de Sales". He also did pioneering work in Salesian research and was involved in the founding of the Catholic Youth Workers in Austria.

Scientific activity

Franz Reisinger joined the Oblates of St. Francis a. On November 1, 1906, he made his first profession . From 1906 to 1914 he studied in Rome , in 1909 he received his doctorate in philosophy , two years later he was awarded a Dr. theol. Reisinger initially worked as a professor for Old and New Testament theology as well as for dogmatics, fundamental theology, Hebrew and Biblical Greek in Albano and Rome. In 1927 he was transferred to Eichstätt , the German center of the Austro-South German province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. In 1931 Reisinger relocated the order's own Franz-Sales-Verlag and the editing of the order's magazine "Licht" to Eichstätt. At the same time he began translating the works of St. Francis de Sales . In 1937 Reisinger published the most famous work of the saint, “Philothea (Instructions for Pious Life)”, and two years later the “Spiritual Conversations” that Francis von Sales had with the Visitation Sisters . From the 1930s onwards, Franz Reisinger also increasingly campaigned for the scientific exchange on Salesian theology within his religious community. In the 1950s, this resulted in the Salesian Study Days, for which Sales Oblates from different provinces came together. Because of the great distances that the religious had to cover, but also because of the different languages ​​of the participants, this project turned out to be problematic, so it was decided to set up “Salesian Centers” in the individual religious provinces. But Franz Reisinger had another model in mind: a working group in which, beyond the Sales Oblates, those interested in Salesian theology could exchange ideas scientifically. In 1962 he founded the Working Group for Salesian Studies, which has been publishing the "Yearbook for Salesian Studies" since 1963.

Founder of the Secular Institute of St. Francis de Sales

In 1937 Franz Reisinger was appointed Provincial of the Austro-South German Order Province in Vienna . During this time he worked as a pastor in the parish of St. Anna, which was looked after by the Sales Oblates. In 1939 Reisinger founded a discussion group here with some women who were active in the apostolate, which wanted to give answers to the pressing questions of the war time by means of the teaching of St. Francis de Sales. Individual women from these groups want a more binding community, and Father Reisinger works with them to develop specific rules. The " Sales Sisters " only had two members when they were founded at the end of 1939, but in 1944 there were already 20. On April 19, 1947, the sisters received the episcopal approbation of the Archdiocese of Vienna and were named "Pious Community" (pia unio) approved. In 1964 the “Pious Community” was recognized as a secular institute . The previously rather private community thus acquired an official character. After the Second Vatican Council the autonomy of the institute was strengthened, so that the close relationship with the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales was loosened. Father Reisinger remained the institute's spiritual assistant until his death. The sisters of the secular institute commit themselves to a life according to the vows “poverty”, “celibacy”, “obedience”. They do not live in a community, but each pursues their special profession in their personal environment. On the other hand, Franz Reisinger attached great importance to community because he was firmly convinced that community in particular strengthens faith. His motto was: "... as little external bond as possible, as much internal bond as possible." In addition to the professed sisters, the secular institute also knows associated members who feel connected to the institute's ideas but do not commit themselves to the three vows.

Co-founder of the Catholic Youth Workers in Austria

After the Second World War, the Sales Oblates in the Viennese parish of Krim founded the Catholic Workers Youth in Austria, which is based on the ideas of the Christian Workers Youth (CAJ, founded by Joseph Cardijn ). In addition to Franz Reisinger, his brother Josef Zeininger , who had got to know the CAJ in Freiburg in Üechtland and now worked in Vienna to anchor it in Austria , played a leading role . Franz Reisinger was also enthusiastic about Cardijn's ideas and discovered in them parallels to the ideas of the founder of the sales oblate, Louis Brisson . In 1950 Franz Reisinger was appointed diocesan pastor of the Catholic female workers' youth (KAJM) by the Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Theodor Innitzer , and in 1951 he became the KAJM's central pastor for all of Austria.

Web links

• Literature by and about Franz Reisinger in the catalog of the German National Library
• Secular Institute of St. Francis de Sales
• Lexicon on Francis de Sales and Salesian spirituality
• Salesian Family Tree
• Audio recording with Franz Reisinger in the online archive of the Austrian Media Library