Thomas Carlin (Abbot)

Thomas Carlin (* around 1496 ; † July 21, 1552 in Murrhardt ) was a Catholic priest , Benedictine and abbot of the St. Januarius monastery in Murrhardt.

Live and act

The first mention of Thomas Carlin as prior of the Murrhardt monastery took place on the occasion of the election of Martin Mörlin as abbot on January 3, 1528. After the reformation of the monastery and its abolition by the Württemberg monastery bailiff Jakob Hofsess on behalf of Duke Ulrich of Württemberg on January 22, 1536 stayed Carlin together with Mörlin and two other monks in the monastery and was the only surviving monk in Murrhardt when the abbot died.

The participation of Württemberg in the Schmalkaldic War on the part of the Protestant League led to the occupation of the duchy by the armies of Emperor Charles V ; Spanish occupation troops were billeted in Murrhardt in the summer of 1548 and the Murrhardt monastery convent was reinstated as part of the interim . Since the convent only consisted of Carlin himself, no proper abbot election could be carried out - therefore Duke Ulrich appointed Abbot of the Murrhardt Monastery in the summer of 1548, not without contractually obliging Carlin to recognize the rule of Württemberg and higher jurisdiction. This appointment of Carlin to the abbot, which is rather unusual according to canon law, was approved by the Bishop of Würzburg , Melchior Zobel von Giebelstadt for political reasons and Thomas Carlin finally on September 26, 1548 in the Benedictine Abbey of St. Stephan by Auxiliary Bishop Georg Flach to Abbot ordained.

In the following years, Abbot Carlin devoted himself in particular to rebuilding monastic life in Murrhardt and stabilizing the monastery's economic conditions. He took in novices and, with close ties to the Würzburg diocese, let the convent gradually grow again through the relocation of monks from other monasteries. The financial leeway of the monastery also improved noticeably under Carlin's skilful leadership - in 1551 important monastery buildings, including the dormitory , which had fallen victim to the flames when Murrhardt was occupied by the Spanish troops, could be rebuilt. On the basis of the appointment contract of 1548, the abbot of the Murrhardt monastery was awarded the rank of ducal council. Therefore, Thomas Carlin was appointed by Ulrich's son and successor, Duke Christoph, to the Württemberg state parliaments from 1550 to advise the Duke on important political issues.

As a result of the negotiations for the conclusion of the Passau Treaty between the Roman-German King Ferdinand I and the Protestant imperial princes in 1552, the legal position of the Murrhardt monastery deteriorated again significantly - among other things, the abbot was forbidden by Duke Christoph to accept further novices and the To educate young monks living in the monastery according to the Catholic Creed.

During this tense time for the monastery, Thomas Carlin died in Murrhardt on July 21, 1552 at the age of 56. His successor in the office of abbot was Otto Leonhard Hofsess .

Others

Unfortunately, the grave monument of Thomas Carlin has not survived, but the wording has been passed down through historical records:

Anno 1552. Scias Candide Lector hoc saxum Venerabilis et pij D (omini) Thomae hujus Monasterii abbatis corruptibile Corpus obtegere. Qui erga Deum et homines Christianissimum gessit animum. Etiam tam monastice religionis, quam aedificiorum restorer fuit. Vitam terminavit 21st July Vixit annos 56. Regnavit 4th Cuius anima requiescat in pace.

( In the year 1552. Know, honest reader, that this stone covers the perishable corpse of the venerable and pious Mr. Thomas, abbot of this monastery. It has shown a highly Christian attitude towards God and man. He was also a renewer of monastic life He ended his life on July 21st, he lived 56 years, reigned 4 years. Let his soul rest in peace. )

literature

• Gerhard Fritz: City and monastery Murrhardt in the late Middle Ages and in the Reformation period (= research from Württemberg-Franconia. Vol. 34). Thorbecke, Sigmaringen 1990, ISBN 3-7995-7634-7 , p. 348.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ [1]. DI 37, Rems-Murr-Kreis, No. 162 † (Gerhard Fritz), in: www.inschriften.net, urn: nbn: de: 0238-di037h011k0016206 .

predecessor	Office	successor
Martin Moerlin	Abbot of Murrhardt 1548–1552	Otto Leonhard Hofsess