Johann Baptist Gegg

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Auxiliary Bishop Johann Baptist Gegg, relief from his epitaph.

Johann Baptist Gegg (born May 26, 1664 in Eichstätt ; † September 9, 1730 in Worms ) was from 1716 to 1730 under Prince-Bishop Franz Ludwig von Pfalz-Neuburg the auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Worms and titular bishop of Trapezopolis .

Life

origin

Johann Baptist Gegg was born as the son of the Eichstätter innkeeper "Zum Krebs", Johann Gegg and his second wife Walburga nee. Bittlmaier born. He had at least three siblings, namely the brother Johann Michael, later mayor of Eichstätt, and two sisters.

Career

Gegg graduated from the Jesuit school in his hometown and then attended the University of Dillingen , also under the direction of Jesuits . There he belonged to the Marian Congregation and devoted himself to theological and canonical studies. On June 12, 1688, the theologian was ordained a priest and on June 15 of the same year he received the graduation as a licentiate in theology and canon law.

The new priest found his first job in 1688 as a cooperator (assistant priest) in Monheim (Swabia) , in that part of the diocese of Eichstätt that belonged politically to the duchy of Palatinate-Neuburg . After fruitful and diligent work, Johann Baptist Gegg received a canonical from the Canon Monastery in Herrieden on August 3, 1690 . In this capacity he also acted as pastor in the town from November 10, 1694. His mother moved in with him, died there and was buried in the mountain church of St. Martin.

Prince-Bishop Johann Martin von Eyb appointed Pastor Gegg in 1700 as a clerical councilor in the Eichstätter diocesan curia, where he took over the office of official on March 20, 1701 and was promoted to general official in 1711.

Auxiliary Bishop in Worms

Auxiliary Bishop Johann Baptist Gegg, bishop's coat of arms

Franz Ludwig von Pfalz-Neuburg , Bishop of Worms, brought Johann Baptist Gegg on his own initiative as auxiliary bishop to his Rhenish diocese in 1714, since he was highly recommended to him "because of his piety and the adornment of his customs, his knowledge and his erudition." The largest part of the Eichstätt diocese belonged politically to the home duchy of Bishop Franz Ludwig, where the contact apparently originated. The University of Dillingen awarded its former graduate doctoral degrees in theology and in both rights (secular and spiritual) when it was appointed bishop.

In the succession of Johann Leopold von Gudenus († 1713) Gegg officiated as appointed auxiliary bishop, provicer and dean of the city's St. Pauls monastery. The papal confirmation and appointment as titular bishop of Trapezopolis was made by Clement XI. on March 30, 1716. Johann Baptist Gegg received the episcopal ordination on July 26, 1716 from the Speyer bishop Heinrich Hartard von Rollingen .

Bishop Franz Ludwig von Pfalz-Neuburg , who only possessed the subdiaconate ordination and bore the title of bishop, was a zealous and conscientious pastor who ruled his dioceses with great expertise. In this sense, he received sustained support from his self-elected auxiliary bishop Johann Baptist Gegg. Both revitalized church life in the Wormser Sprengel significantly. With the support of his bishop, Gegg promoted the popular missions and appeared more often as a participant or preacher. He visited the parishes and monasteries diligently, seeking close contact with the clergy of the diocese. Gegg did not find it beneath his dignity to appear personally at the rural dean's meetings and to advise and discuss with the priests. He placed particular emphasis on getting to know each other personally in the subsequent so-called “symposium”. Here the distinguished guest experienced the concerns, needs, desires and expectations of the clergy in a relaxed, sociable atmosphere. In addition to his administrative and pastoral work, Auxiliary Bishop Gegg had to perform all pontifical acts in the diocese, such as consecration of churches, altars and bells as well as priestly ordinations and confirmations, since his bishop had no spiritual authority to do so during the 15 years of his tenure. In total, Johann Baptist Gegg consecrated 239 priests in his pontificate and donated the sacrament of Confirmation to 47,894 people . In addition, he consecrated 24 fixed altars and 75 movable, 38 bells and 45 liturgical cult devices.

Bishop Gegg consecrated 28 churches in the Diocese of Worms or rededicated them after devastation, the most important of which are: Carmelite Church in Worms (1716); Kapuzinerkirche Grünstadt , parish church Roxheim , parish church St. Paul zu Worms (1717); Schallodenbach parish church , Martinskirche (Worms) , Mörsch parish church , Frankenthal Capuchin church (1718); Holy Spirit and Dominican Church (Bad Wimpfen) , Hofkapelle Schloss Schwetzingen , Holy Spirit Church and Castle Chapel in Heidelberg (1719); Laumersheim parish church and Holy Cross Chapel on Palmberg (1722); Carmelite and Franciscan Church in Heidelberg, Electoral House Chapel Mannheim Palace , Parish Church Hettenleidelheim , Parish Church Kübelberg , Parish Church Ramstein (1724); St. Andreas zu Worms (1725); Parish Church of St. Sebastian (Mannheim) (1726); Branch church Bobenheim am Rhein (1727); Parish church Horchheim (1728); Franciscan Church Sinsheim (1729); Liebfrauenkirche Worms (1730).

When Auxiliary Bishop Gegg consecrated the Capuchin Church in Grünstadt on June 6, 1717 , he then signed 2000 people; the next day, on the occasion of an altar consecration in nearby Neuleiningen , another 800 there. A website of the Diocese of Speyer records something similar for Hettenleidelheim . There, too, he consecrated the parish church on August 27, 1724 and then donated the corporate sacrament to 1,700 people. Johann Baptist Gegg supported the establishment of a “cruise pilgrimage” in Bad Wimpfen , where a cross relic was discovered during the renovation of the ancient church. Bishop Gegg traveled to the town belonging to the diocese of Worms for the celebration of the “finding of the cross” (May 3rd) in 1719, inaugurated the rebuilt church and opened the pilgrimage himself, which is still flourishing today.

Auxiliary Bishop Gegg often acted for the donation of sacraments or pontifical acts at the Palatinate court in Mannheim. On three consecutive days he stopped there on the 27th, 28th and 28th. May 29, 1720, in the presence of Elector Karl Philipp , his daughter Elisabeth Auguste and her husband Hereditary Prince Joseph Karl von Pfalz-Sulzbach the exequies for the deceased Emperor Eleonore Magdalene , a sister of the Elector. He also baptized the Elector's grandson Karl Philipp August , who died at the age of two, on November 25, 1725, in the Mannheim Palace .

Auxiliary Bishop Gegg donated episcopal consecration to Mainz auxiliary bishop Kaspar Adolf Schnernauer on June 11, 1728 in Mainz , at St. Gangolf, as the main consecrator. On February 24, 1721 he was co- consecrator of the Speyer bishop and cardinal Damian Hugo von Schönborn in Bruchsal . He fulfilled the same task on May 9, 1728 in Fulda as a co-consecrator when the new auxiliary bishop Amand von Buseck was ordained bishop . On October 16, 1718 Gegg consecrated his own nephew Johann Michael Pfleger as a priest in Worms.

Johann Baptist Gegg was one of the admirers of the Worms painter Johann Michael Rosner , whom he recommended to his brother, the mayor of Eichstätt, to paint the Jesuit church, now known as the " Guardian Angel Church ", with angel frescoes.

Death and memory

Grave monument of Auxiliary Bishop Johann Baptist Gegg, formerly Pauluskirche (Worms) , destroyed in 1945

Auxiliary Bishop Gegg died on September 9th, 1730 in Worms after a short illness, following his official duties until the last few days. On August 15 of that year he had confirmed in the cathedral and ordained a priest there on August 24. Full of anticipation of death, he wrote about 3 months beforehand to the dean of Herrieden : "It is time to think about a good farewell to this fragile world, old age and exhaustion from work send us into eternity, hopefully a blissful one."

As the dean of the Paulskirche Worms , Gegg received his final resting place there. During excavations in 1928, his grave was found in the choir of the church, which was walled with bricks. A skeleton with remains of priestly clothing was found, which was buried again in 1929 on the left behind the newly built high altar. The magnificent epitaph perished on February 21, 1945 when the church was destroyed due to excessive heat. It is photographically secured and contains a depiction of Johann Baptist Gegg, which shows a somewhat older clergyman, in a tight, upright posture, with a sharp, energetic face. He holds a closed book in his right hand and sticks his finger between the pages like a book pointer, as if he were about to lecture from it. This is supposed to be an allusion to his proficient work as a preacher and catechist. The epitaph emphasizes: piety in life and death, generosity towards the poor, prudent housekeeping and great achievements in word and example . At the bottom is the prelate's personal coat of arms, a miner's man with a hammer.

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Archive for Church History of the Middle Rhine, Annual Volume 1963, Page 103
  2. ^ Website diocese Speyer, on the history of the parish Hettenleidelheim, with mention of Johann Baptist Gegg. ( Memento from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
  3. ^ Website of the diocese of Mainz on the Bad Wimpfen cruise pilgrimage, with mention of Johann Baptist Gegg. ( Memento from September 24, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
  4. ^ Website of the Guardian Angel Church in Eichstätt with the famous cycle of angels frescoes that Johann Michael Rosner painted on the mediation of Auxiliary Bishop Gegg. ( Memento from September 27, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
personal data
SURNAME Gegg, Johann Baptist
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Auxiliary Bishop in Worms
DATE OF BIRTH May 26, 1664
PLACE OF BIRTH Eichstatt
DATE OF DEATH September 9, 1730
Place of death Worms