Johannes Horrichem

Norbert Horrichem OPraem (* 1598 in Erp as Johannes Horrichem ; † May 8, 1661 ) was the thirty-fifth abbot of the former Premonstratensian Abbey Steinfeld (today Salvatorians - Steinfeld Monastery ) in the Eifel .

Life

Johannes Horrichem was born in Erp (now part of Erftstadt ) near Cologne in 1598 as the son of a Halfen . Fathers from the Steinfeld Abbey worked as local priests in Erp at that time, and they evidently recognized his talent at an early stage and encouraged him so that he was able to study liberal arts at the University of Cologne . He completed the course, which served as a preliminary stage to theology studies, on February 20, 1617 with the title of baccalaureus artium .

On March 13, 1617 he entered the Steinfeld Premonstratensian Monastery. He took the name "Norbert", which the founder of the order, St. Norbert von Xanten , had also borne. After a two-year novitiate and further training at the religious seminary in Cologne as well as completing his studies in theology, he was ordained a priest on February 19, 1622 in Cologne . After various tasks in the study seminar in Cologne and in pastoral care, he was called back to Steinfeld as a lecturer in 1625 . In February 1630 he was unanimously elected abbot by his confreres in the first ballot, an office which he then held for 31 years until his death. He was ordained abbot on White Sunday 1630 in Cologne.

From then on, Horrichem devoted himself to expanding the Steinfeld Monastery and promoting the Cologne Order Seminary. In 1644 he took possession of Steinfeld's first daughter monastery, Dünnwald (now part of Cologne), and after the Thirty Years War ensured that it flourished again. Horrichem was entrusted by the Abbot General and other abbots of the Premonstratensian Order with numerous commissions outside the monastery, which led him to frequent trips far beyond his own province and increased his reputation and influence. He was finally appointed Vicar General of the Abbot General and the Westphalian Province of the Premonstratensian Order. In 1648 he was appointed a member of the papal delegation in the negotiations on the Peace of Westphalia , and in this role he accompanied the papal nuncio Fabio Chigi to the several months of negotiations in Munster . Chigi was elected Pope a few years later . A letter found after his death shows that he had offered Horrichem the cardinal dignity , which Horrichem had refused.

Johannes (Norbert) Horrichem died on May 8, 1661 as one of the most successful abbots in the history of Steinfeld Abbey. His bones rest in the church crypt of the Steinfeld basilica .

In Erp a street was named after Abbot Horrichem.

swell

• Norbert Backmund: Monasticon Praemonstratense, Tomi Primi Editio Secunda, Pars prima et Secunda . Berlin, New York 1983.
• Manfred Gehrke (edit.): Conventual index of the Premonstratensian Abbey Steinfeld from 1541 to 1795 . Kall 2001.