Ludwig Beck (Abbot)

The coat of arms of Abbot Ludwig Beck

Ludwig Beck (real name Johannes Heinrich Beck ; * May 20, 1728 probably in Hammelburg ; † February 4, 1794 in Münsterschwarzach ) was abbot of the Benedictine monastery in Münsterschwarzach from 1773 to 1794 . Before that, he held professorships for canon law at the University of Fulda from 1760 to 1773 .

Münsterschwarzach before Beck

The Abbey Münsterschwarzach was before the inauguration of the Ludwig Beck one of the richer, Frankish abbeys. This was made possible by the good harvest years of the early 18th century. Structural renovations of the monastery buildings went hand in hand with the growing prosperity. From 1727 to 1743 the abbey church was rebuilt by Balthasar Neumann . At the same time, the lords of the monastery, the Würzburg prince-bishops, wanted to gain more influence over the abbey.

Under Beck's direct predecessor Dominicus Otto, the monastery 's own university continued to flourish. Her theology studies had already been recognized by the University of Würzburg in the 17th century and allowed many professed people to travel to Münsterschwarzach. Overall, however, monastic life was already threatened with extinction: the beginning of the Enlightenment saw the monasteries as places of the old, absolutist order suspect. The first plans for secularization for German abbeys and monasteries appeared at the beginning of the 18th century.

Life

Early years

Ludwig Beck was born on May 20, 1728 in a place that would later become the bishopric of Fulda , probably Hammelburg. His baptismal name was Johannes Heinrich Beck. His parents were respected local citizens: Father Johann Adam Beck was a princely gardener at the Fulda court, and at the same time he was supreme inspector at the court in Fulda. His mother was Barbara Elisabeth Beck, born Motz. The young Ludwig Beck began his school days at his parents' house in Hammelburg.

Only for higher studies did he move to Würzburg , where he was taught in the Dalberg house. After completing his training, he began to study logic in Würzburg. Two years later, while still a student, he entered Münsterschwarzach Abbey. He performed his novitiate under the novice master Felix Hahn. Ludwig Beck took his religious vows on October 10, 1747 .

Studies and professorship

At the same time he began studying theology at the monastery 's own college. In addition, he enjoyed training in legal issues and was trained as a historian . This was followed by further studies in Würzburg, Beck found accommodation in the Barthelme house and studied law again for two years and learned several languages. He then completed his ordination steps within the monastery: on September 10th he became a deacon , he was ordained priest on May 20th, 1752.

Due to his broad education, he was quickly given important offices inside and outside the monastery. As early as 1752 he received a curate , now he was in charge of the monastery village of Düllstadt . At the same time he became a lecturer and lecturer in the abbey school and held these positions for five years. In 1758 he was given the job of training professed and Beck filled the office of novice master for a year.

In 1759 Beck was appointed to the newly founded university in Fulda . Here he first matriculated on February 20, 1760 at the Adolf University of Fulda and received his doctorate in theology on August 25 of the same year . He then qualified as a "Professor Theologiae". He filled this office from 1760 to 1764. During his work at the university he received his doctorate again in January 1764, this time as a doctor of law , and from 1764 to 1773 took over the chair of canon law .

In addition to the offices in the city's university, Beck also took on representative tasks within the Fulda citizenship. He became secretary to the Prince of Fulda, took over the duties of a book censor and on July 21, 1760 received the title of Real Spiritual Councilor . Nothing is known about his return to the Münsterschwarzach Abbey, but after the death of Abbot Dominicus on July 10, 1773, Beck was not yet in Franconia , but continued to hold his chair.

Abbot in Münsterschwarzach

His abbot election took place on July 28, 1773 in absentia. In the second ballot he received 16 votes from a total of 30 voters and was appointed abbot with the narrowest possible majority. Beck was confirmed on October 28, 1773 after his arrival. His blessing he received a few days later, on October 31, 1773. Abbot Ludwig promoted the sciences in the university during his tenure, but failed at the debt of monastic farms.

The economic difficulties were his undoing in 1788: In that year the lords of the monastery, the prince-bishops of Würzburg, withdrew the abbot's economic management of his abbey and assigned this task to his future successor, Judas Thaddäus Sigerst . At this point in time, Abbot Ludwig was already ill and now received some thalers from his new administrator , which should be used for his recovery.

Ludwig Beck died on February 4, 1794 and was buried in the left transept of the monastery church.

coat of arms

Ludwig Beck's personal coat of arms is on the one hand on a seal from 1776. On the other hand, it was added to the so-called "Calendarium" as hatching. Description : A silver lily in gold. On the helmet between two buffalo horns a lily.

literature

• Kassius Hallinger: Chronology of the abbots of Münsterschwarzach a. M. (1390-1803). Münsterschwarzach Abbey (Ed.): Münsterschwarzach Abbey. Works from their history. Münsterschwarzach 1938.
• Rainer Kengel: The coat of arms of the abbots of Münsterschwarzach. In: Abtei Münsterschwarzach (Ed.): Abtei Münsterschwarzach. Works from their history. Münsterschwarzach 1938.
• Johannes Mahr: Münsterschwarzach. 1200 years of a Franconian abbey. Münsterschwarzach 2002.
• Eleutherius Stellwag: The end of the old Münsterschwarzach. Münsterschwarzach 1980.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Kassius Hallinger: The chronology of the abbots of Münsterschwarzach . P. 122.
2. ^ Johannes Mahr: Münsterschwarzach. 1200 years of a Franconian abbey . P. 57.
3. ↑ Kassius Hallinger: The chronology of the abbots of Münsterschwarzach. P. 123.
4. ^ Johannes Mahr: Münsterschwarzach. 1200 years of a Franconian abbey. P. 59.
5. ^ Eleutherius Stellwag: The end of the old Münsterschwarzach . P. 19.
6. ↑ Rainer Kengel: The coat of arms of the abbots of Münsterschwarzach. P. 152.

predecessor	Office	successor
Dominicus Otto	Abbot of Münsterschwarzach 1773–1794	Judas Thaddäus Sigerst