Martin Werlen

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Heraldic shield of Abbot Martin Werlen OSB

Martin Werlen OSB (* 28. March 1962 in Obergesteln in the canton of Valais as Stefan Werlen ) is a Swiss Benedictine and was 2001 to 2013 the 58th abbot of the monastery of Einsiedeln .

Life

Werlen attended primary schools in Obergesteln, Oberwald VS and Münster VS from 1969 to 1977 . After leaving school at the teacher training college in Sion 1982, he completed his studies in philosophy at the Theological College Chur and then in Rome in 1992 to study psychology with the licentiate insurance.

In 1984 he entered the Benedictine Abbey of Maria Einsiedeln , where he was given the religious name Martin. From 1984 to 1988 he studied theology in Einsiedeln and in the USA. On July 11, 1987, Werlen took his vows as a Benedictine . On October 31, 1987 he received the deacons - and on June 25, 1988 he was ordained a priest . In the following years he worked as novice master , brother instructor and ceremonial officer , as well as prefect of the boarding school of the monastery school, where he still teaches developmental psychology and religious psychology .

Sports accident

On January 13, 2012 Werlen hit his head against a wall while playing badminton and suffered a cerebral haemorrhage that affected his speech center . He was treated at the University Hospital Zurich and the Valens SG rehabilitation clinic , and he had to learn to read and write again. After two months and 160 therapy sessions, he returned to Einsiedeln Abbey. Since May 2012 Werlen has felt healed again.

Dept

The abbot of Einsiedeln is elected by the monastery community and then confirmed by the Pope . As a territorial abbot, he bears the insignia of a bishop and is a full member of the Swiss Bishops' Conference (SBK).

On 10 November 2001 Martin Werlen has been prepared by the Convention voted in Einsiedeln the 58th abbot, the official confirmation of Pope John Paul II. Took place eleven days later, on 16 December 2001 he was Bishop Amédée grave benediziert . Werlen's motto is: Ausculta et pervenies (Hear and you will arrive), the first and last words from the Rule of St. Benedict .

On January 19, 2013, he announced that he would give up the post of ruling abbot of Einsiedeln Abbey after twelve years. On October 4, 2013, Pope Francis accepted the resignation with gratitude for “his contagious example” and at the same time appointed him Apostolic Administrator of the abbey until the new abbot took office. Urban Federer was confirmed as such by the Pope.

Werlen is vice postulator in the process of beatification of Brother Meinrad Eugster .

Martin Werlen took over the Provost St. Gerold as the new provost on August 15, 2020 . He follows Father Columban Reichlin, who is returning to Einsiedeln Monastery. Due to the SARS CoV2 situation, there was a silent change of provost.

«Provocation» for the 2012/2013 Year of Faith

In his 40-page paper, Uncovering the embers beneath the ashes, published in November 2012 , Werlen sets out his suggestions (a ‹pro› ‹vocation›) for possible concrete steps, particularly in the Catholic Church , whose condition he calls «dramatic» means «to kindle a fire together that gives warmth».

Inspired by the sermon of Pope Benedict XVI. , the statements from the book written by Joseph Ratzinger in 1965 and the Jesus word "I came to throw fire on the earth" ( Lk 12.49  EU ) Werlen developed in part "pointed" proposals, "which will probably stir up dust", for possible innovations in the church. He advocates more competencies ( privileges ) for monasteries, less traditionalism in the church, more credibility without the claim to possession of the truth, admission of more dialogue , expansion of the circle of decision-makers , clear observance of human rights , openness to criticism, room for maneuver for courageous things Moving, new rules for the appointment of bishops , revision of celibacy regulations , admission of women to the priesthood , new regulation of the competences of the cardinals and a new advisory body for the Pope.

Others

Werlen was an active user of Twitter during his time as abbot . Over 9,300 users followed him under his @AbtMartin account, and he sent more than 5,700 short messages. His parables, written on train journeys, appeared as a book with the title #Bahngleichnis . Martin Werlen has been tweeting again since September 2014, this time under his @MoenchMartin account.

Works

  • Too late. A provocation for the church, hope for everyone. Herder, Freiburg i. Br. 2018, ISBN 978-3-451-37519-4
  • Today in view. Provocations for a church that goes with the people. Herder, Freiburg i. Br. 2014, ISBN 978-3-451-33752-9 .
  • Christmas all year round. Everyday experiences viewed from a Benedictine perspective . Orell Füssli, Zurich 2008, ISBN 978-3-280-06085-8 .
  • Conflict ability. Tensions are allowed. In: Rudolf Walter (Ed.): With a wide heart. Attitudes that are good for you. Freiburg i.Br. 2005. 133-136.
  • Are monasteries still up to date? In: Markus Kaiser (Ed.): Benedictine Abbey St. Gallenberg in Glattburg near Oberbüren. Culture and history. St. Gallen 2004. pp. 20-29.
  • In search of the real thing. As a guest in the silence of the monastery. Freiburg i. Br. 2003.
  • God's message was clear: Don't take yourself so seriously! In: Leo Fijen (Ed.): How do I become happy? Wisdom from the monastery. Freiburg i. Br. 2003. pp. 29-36.
  • Your always grateful brother, Meinrad Eugster. Einsiedeln 1998.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Martin Werlen on "ORDEN online"
  2. ↑ NZZ am Sonntag of May 27, 2012, p. 75: Martin Wehrlen: Without words.
  3. ↑ Media release from Einsiedeln Abbey: Abbot Martin Werlen will return to the ranks of the confreres at the end of 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2013 .
  4. ↑ Martin Werlen hands over management of Einsiedeln Abbey , Neue Zürcher Zeitung , 23 January 2013
  5. ↑ Pope accepts the resignation of Abbot Martin Werlen . Site of the monastery. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  6. ↑ Pope Francis confirms the election and appoints the 59th abbot of Einsiedeln: Father Urban Federer. Media release on the monastery website, December 10, 2013
  7. ↑ Einsiedeln Monastery (press release): New provost for Sankt Gerold. February 9, 2020
  8. ↑ Einsiedeln Abbey: Discovering the embers beneath the ashes together , accessed on January 16, 2013.
  9. ↑ Einsiedeln Monastery: “Dare to take concrete steps…” , accessed on January 16, 2013.
  10. ^ Sermon by Pope Benedict XVI. for the "year of faith"
  11. ^ Joseph Ratzinger: Results and Problems of the 3rd Council Period. Bachem, Cologne 1965, pp. 18f, 20, 61
  12. ^ The digital department. In: Zeit Online from August 18, 2011
  13. ↑ Martin Werlen ( Memento from November 6, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) on Twitter (archive version)
  14. ↑ The «twittering» abbot - Church and the phenomenon of social media. ( Memento of the original from January 26, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Video in: Sternstunde Religion on Swiss television from December 18, 2011 (27 minutes) @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.srf.ch
  15. ↑ Abbot Martin no longer tweets. In: Blick.ch from December 11, 2013
  16. ↑ Martin Werlen on Twitter
predecessor Office successor
Georg Holzherr OSB Abbot of Einsiedeln Monastery
2001–2013 		Urban Federer OSB
personal data
SURNAME Werlen, Martin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Werlen, Martin OSB; Werlen, Stefan (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss religious, abbot of Einsiedeln monastery
DATE OF BIRTH March 28, 1962
PLACE OF BIRTH Obergesteln , Canton of Valais