Maurus Carnot
Maurus (Johannes) Carnot (born January 26, 1865 in Samnaun , † January 2, 1935 in Ilanz ) was a Swiss religious, poet and teacher.
Life
On January 27, the boy was baptized in the name of John. He took the name Maurus after becoming a father. His parents were the farmer Vinzenz and his wife Pauline.
Because of his poor health, little Johannes could not attend the community school regularly and was therefore privately taught by his uncle Heinrich. On the advice of Pastor Büchel from the neighboring village of Compatsch in Samnaun, Johannes joined the Maria Hilf college in Schwyz . After five years he left the faculty and studied philosophy and theology at the University of Innsbruck . He also wrote as a correspondent for the “Bündner Tagblatt”.
After completing his studies, Johannes entered the Disentis Monastery on November 4, 1885 , where he made his vows on June 23, 1888 . On July 8, 1888, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Franz Konstantin Rampa . Although he had resisted it for a long time, he finally bowed to the abbot's will and accepted the office of dean , which he would hold for more than 31 years.
Father Maurus Carnot became known at home and abroad primarily for his sermons, which he gave in German and Romansh . He was repeatedly invited to German-speaking Switzerland to preach there. One brother wrote about the preacher Carnot: His way of preaching is simple, warm, kind and original. Strict and terrifying truths are eagerly listened to with the pang of his spirit. He has the gift of comfort. His benevolent understanding and compassion brings mild sunshine to troubled souls.
In the monastery school in Disentis, Father Maurus taught his favorite subjects Latin and Greek as well as German and history. He founded and directed the German student academy, in which later parliamentarians, popular speakers and preachers were trained. In 1920 he also took over the management of a newly founded Romance academy.
In 1925, Father Maurus gave up the office of the deanery, devoted himself to his writings, the school and his work as a preacher. His health deteriorated. At the end of 1934 he was brought to the Ilanz Hospital for appendicitis and operated on by a former student. Father Maurus Carnot died on January 2, 1935 in Ilanz Hospital at the age of almost 70.
Carnot as a writer
Maurus Carnot wrote dramas, short stories and poems. His first dramas «Plazidus», «Armas e Larmas» and «Friedensengel» appeared before the turn of the century. In 1902 "Fiery Coals" was performed and it became his most famous work. It was played at the Vienna Hofburg and translated into English and Polish.
His last stage work was "The Passion", which adhered strictly to the Gospel; the premiere on March 5, 1933 lasted around four hours. For an open-air performance in Domat / Ems in 1979, the text was shortened and adapted to the present day. The play was last performed in Ems in 1989. The next performance of the Passion is planned for 2013.
Carnot's numerous historical stories and novellas all take place in the canton of Graubünden . First published were “Bündnerblut” and “Steinbock und Adler”, later “Graben und Gruben”, Rhaeto-Romanic “Monas e Minas” and in 1919 the well-known triology of novels “Where the Bündnertannen rustle”. On behalf of the conservative Graubünden politician Caspar Decurtins , Father Maurus wrote the German story "Sigisbert im Rätischen Tale", which retells the founding of the Disentis Monastery. The story replaced the previously prescribed textbook "Robinson", which Decurtins thought was "too shallow". In 1899 the Rhaeto-Romanic version “Sigisbert en Rezia” appeared.
In addition, Carnot's “Calendar Stories” appeared almost every year. The last prose work was the novella “The Story of Jörg Jenatsch” in 1930.
Carnot's lyrical works deal with local subjects such as his parents' house, the monastery, nature, animals, plants or historical figures. Some poems were published in magazines and newspapers. In 1914 a volume of poetry was published that was rated as the most important publication of the year in literary life in Switzerland. In 1920 the somewhat redesigned work appeared in a new edition.
Carnot and the Habsburgs
When the young Crown Prince Otto von Habsburg celebrated his first communion, Father Maurus wrote a poem and sent it to the imperial family in Vienna. When Emperor Karl had to go into exile in Switzerland in March 1919 , Father Maurus visited him. He wrote: " As a non-Austrian I was for a long and sad time the only one who was able to defend the emperor, who was persecuted and slandered by all evil spirits, with the sword of the pen in my little book 'Grün im Tirol' ." In 1922 Carnot's letters, "Hammer blows on the door and tower of Emperor Charles of Austria, went to the grave" were published. Until his death, Father Maurus remained deeply connected to the imperial family.
Foundation, endowment
On October 8, 1986, the "Pater Maurus Carnot Foundation" was founded in Chur. Its primary goal is to collect and preserve all books, manuscripts and documents by and about Father Maurus Carnot and to promote cultural and scientific activities about Samnaun.
Memorial stone in the main courtyard of Trun
Memorial plaque in the Disentis Monastery
literature
- Lucia Walther: Carnot, Maurus. In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland .
- Gion Deplazes: Maurus Carnot . In: Andreas Kotte (Ed.): Theater Lexikon der Schweiz - Lexicon da teater svizzer. Volume 1, Chronos, Zurich 2005, ISBN 3-0340-0715-9 , p. 345 f. (Romansh / German)
- Gion Deplazes: Maurus Carnot e ses giuvnals romontschs. Annalas SRR publishing house, 2004
- Josef Hartmann (Ed.): Father Maurus Carnot. Festschrift for his 70th birthday. Immensee 1935
- Arthur Jenal: Calvary. Life and work of Father Maurus Carnot . Schmid-Fehr publishing house, Goldach 1999
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Institute for German Studies, University of Innsbruck
- ^ Catalog Hathitrus
- ^ Father Maurus Foundation
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Carnot, Maurus |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Carnot, Maurus Johannes |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Swiss religious, poet and teacher |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 26, 1865 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Samnaun |
| DATE OF DEATH | January 2, 1935 |
| Place of death | Ilanz |