Malachias Schmeger

Malachias Schmeger OCist (* February 20, 1753 in Rodingersdorf, Sigmundsherberg municipality ; † February 16, 1826 in Lilienfeld ) was a Cistercian and from 1819 to 1825 the 57th  abbot of the Cistercian monastery of Lilienfeld .

Life

Schmeger entered Lilienfeld Monastery as a novice on November 20, 1774 , took vows on February 23, 1777 and was ordained priest in 1778 .

First he was a cooperator in the monastery, from 1780 in Unterretzbach , from 1782 in Lilienfeld and from 1784 back in Unterretzbach. After Emperor Joseph II had the monastery closed in 1789 due to large debts of the monastery and his successor Emperor Leopold II had it rebuilt a year later, Schmeger rejoined the monastery in 1790. However, he initially stayed in his pastoral position until he was entrusted with the post of monastery economist on October 4, 1793 . In 1795 he was appointed prior , woodruff and parish vicar in Lilienfeld. In 1797 he again took over the position of pastor in Unterretzbach and became vice dean in 1811 and dean in 1818.

On August 4, 1819 Schmeger was elected abbot and on August 10, 1819 he was appointed .

His election as abbot was not least due to his gratitude for the financial support he had given to rebuild the monastery building after the fire of 1810. He had raised 36,000 guilders for this through good wine management in Unterretzbach . His services for the reconstruction contrasted with the failed attempt to raise the discipline of the order and to reintroduce common choir prayer in the time of the post-Josephin state church. The most important task of the members of the monastery remained pastoral care.

Schmeger died after six years in office and was buried in the local cemetery in Lilienfeld.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Malachias Schmeger in the Cistercian Lexicon , accessed on August 24, 2016