Wolfgang Leuthner

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Wolfgang Leuthner OSB (born February 7, 1744 in Scharnstein , † February 23, 1812 in Kremsmünster ) was a Benedictine and abbot of the Kremsmünster Abbey .

Life

Leuthner was born in Scharnstein and studied at the Stiftsgymnasium Kremsmünster . He made his profession on November 11, 1762 . After being ordained a priest in 1768 and his primacy on May 1, 1768, he became a cooperator in Weißkirchen, and from 1772 to 1775 a grammar school teacher and academic professor of law. Then Leuthner was pastor in Kirchberg and at the same time prior from 1787 until 1793, then pastor in Thalheim. On July 23, 1800 he was elected abbot. The benediction took place on July 25, 1800 by Joseph Anton Gall . During his tenure he had to endure difficult times, so that he wanted to give up after several strokes, but was dissuaded by his confreres. He held the office until his death on February 23, 1812. His last words, according to the chronicle, were the declaration of the debt relief of an impoverished noble family.

Act

Abbot Wolfgang Leuthner was “a truly pious, kind-hearted man who showed himself to be a concerned, loving housefather to his family” (quote: P. Wolfgang Dannerbauer, 1877). His endeavor was to keep the religious house in the best condition and to promote science and economics. His services include u. a. the abolition of self-catering for the capitulars, which was introduced in 1787, and the opening of a theological home school . Furthermore, collegiate clerics were now allowed to take religious vows under him after the age of 21 if they had spent 3 years in the monastery, whereas since 1781 they could only take the novitiate and then the profession after completing their studies. During his tenure, 43 capitulars made profession and 41 died.

Changes in the Konvikt, grammar school and observatory

In 1804 the Konvikt was opened with 3 departments. The construction cost 10,000 guilders. The monastery theater built in 1666 was demolished, the monastery offices relocated and the grammar school was relocated to the place of the former academic apartment in the guest wing.

Since 1741 the study at the grammar school lasted 6 years, but was shortened to 5 years in 1777, whereby in 1805 an additional religion teacher was appointed to the 5 grammar school professors. Under Abbot Leuthner, a subject plan and a "grammatical class" were introduced in 1808. Furthermore, the grammar school library, which was already in existence in 1704, was reopened in 1810 and the student chapel was renovated. The existing scientific collections (especially the bird and mineral collection) were transferred to the observatory.

French invasions and financial ruin

During the French invasions by Napoleon I in 1800, 1805 and 1809, Abbot Wolfgang fled to Vienna and Pressburg every time with the most important documents and art objects . During this long and costly hard time, the monastery 's financial strength sank, so that in 1812 the Lords of Biberbach and Weier had to be sold in order to avoid financial ruin. Despite these hard times - so the chronicles report - Abbot Leuthner granted the citizens 8,000 guilders in estates.

Construction activity

Former Kremsmünster monastery house

In addition to the changes to the Konvikt building, the Kremsmünster monastery house in Linz's old town was rebuilt under Abbot Wolfgang Leuthner after it was destroyed by fire on August 15, 1800. The women's chapel was renovated in 1801 and received a high altar painting. In addition, the church towers were covered with copper again.

literature

Web links

predecessor Office successor
Erenbert III. Meyer Abbot of Kremsmünster
Monastery 1800–1812 		Anselm Mayrhofer
personal data
SURNAME Leuthner, Wolfgang
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian chaplain, abbot of the Benedictine monastery Kremsmünster
DATE OF BIRTH February 7, 1744
PLACE OF BIRTH Scharnstein
DATE OF DEATH February 23, 1812
Place of death Kremsmünster