To Our Lady of Sorrows and St. Ulrich (Maria Steinbach)

Pilgrimage Church of Maria Steinbach (To Our Lady of Sorrows)

The pilgrimage church Maria Steinbach is a pilgrimage church in Maria Steinbach , a district of the Legau market in the Unterallgäu district . Until the secularization, the pilgrimage church and village belonged to the spiritual territory of the former imperial abbey of the Premonstratensian in Rot an der Rot . Today's church was built in 1749 under the Red Abbot Benedikt Stadelhofer. In 1734 the previous church was elevated to a pilgrimage church. The pilgrimage church is an independent parish church in the Legau-Illerwinkel parish community of the Memmingen dean's office in the diocese of Augsburg .

Interior towards the altar

Interior towards the organ

Cross in front of the high choir

prehistory

Romanesque building

The first Steinbach church becomes documented in 1181, when knight Berthold von Laupheim, servant of Count von Kirchberg, exchanged goods with the Premonstratensian Abbey of Rot an der Rot, which had been founded 55 years earlier. A Steinbacher church is mentioned among his possessions, which with this exchange became the branch church of Rot. There are no other sources detailing this Romanesque church. It is assumed that - like the successor building - it was dedicated to St. Ulrich was consecrated and probably stood in the same place as the two later buildings.

Late Gothic building

Model of the late Gothic predecessor building in the nave fresco

Under Abbot Konrad Ehrmann (1501–1520), the foundation stone for a late Gothic new building was laid in 1510, which was completed in 1519 and designated by the Constance Auxiliary Bishop Melchior Fattlin (1518–48). The consecration document of September 14, 1519 shows that the Gothic church of St. Ulrich and Verena was consecrated and had two side altars outside the choir. The right side altar was built in honor of the Holy Trinity, Our Lady, the Holy Cross and St. James d. Ä., Christophorus, Margaretha and the confessor and martyr Antonius set up, the left in honor of St. Ulrich, Mauritius and his comrades, the fourteen emergency helpers, the hll. Apollonia, Dorothea and Barbara. Nothing is known about the design of the three altars.

The appearance of the building could be reconstructed using the exposed floor plan walls. It was a single-nave church with a three-bay nave (12.94 m clear length, 8.40 m clear width) and a retracted choir with a yoke and 3/8 end (6.95 m clear length, 6.48 m clear Width).

Origin of the pilgrimage

Miraculous image

An alleged miraculous image of the painful Mother of God triggered a large influx of believers, so that in 1749 a new building in the Rococo style was started. The church was consecrated in 1755, but it took ten years to complete the interior. The new church also made possible both the pilgrimage to the painful Mother of God and the original pilgrimage to the Holy Cross . The cross particle was donated to the community in 1723 by Hermann Vogler, the abbot of the Premonstratensian Abbey of Rot an der Rot . At some festivals ( Finding of the Cross on May 3, Exaltation of Mary on September 14th) is still with the cross particle in a reliquary that is passed, cross water blessed.

When the miraculous events surrounding Our Lady of Sorrows became known, representatives of the diocese heard the witnesses . These came from all walks of life and had to testify under oath that they had really seen the miraculous changes (eye movements, tears) of the statue. Everything was written down meticulously, because it was feared that residents of the Lutheran areas around Steinbach would accuse the pilgrims of idol worship. This is one of the reasons why the long-standing cruise pilgrimage has always been included in the theological concept of the interior of the church.

Late baroque new building

architecture

God the Father and Son of a Trinity depiction above the high altar

The church can be seen from afar and is particularly noticeable due to the richly structured west facade. Inside, the curved galleries, the balconies of which curve out into the room, are particularly important. The vault frescos of the aisles show miracles of the Steinbacher Maria. The plasterer Johann Georg Üblhör from Wessobrunn made the stucco, the two pulpits, the side altars and finally the high altar. After he died in 1763 before the high altar was completed, Franz Xaver Feuchtmayer the Younger took over this work and completed it. A remarkable detail is the two angels at the feet of Mary in the Marian altar, Defiance gels and Plärr-gels may be mentioned. A pilgrimage museum was set up in an outbuilding. Many votive tablets and letters of thanks from all centuries of the pilgrimage are displayed here. Below the church there is a baroque well house with the figure of St. Ulrich von Augsburg , who, according to legend, made this spring bubble.

Due to its construction on a hill that can be seen from afar, it sets a strong structural accent on the border between Upper Swabia and Allgäu , which runs along this chain of hills. A penance path with several small chapels leads to her from Lautrach and Legau. The pilgrims' goals are the particle of the cross and the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows on the left side altar.

Furnishing

The interior of the church is richly decorated with altars, frescoes and votive tablets.

Entrance area

Floor plan with fresco fields and an altarpiece

Ceiling fresco

• [eb] Healing miracle at the Betesda pond and image of grace with those seeking help

Niche figures

• [n1] Dungeon Savior
• [n2] Christ of the Mount of Olives

• 

  Dungeon savior

• 

  Mount of Olives Christ

Choir

Altars

• [I] Cross altar
  • [I ₁ ] Crucifix and Mary Magdalene
  • [I ₂ ] Our Lady of Sorrows
  • [I ₃ ] John the Evangelist
• [II] St. Anne's Altar
• [III] Joseph Altar
• [IV] high altar
  • [IV ₁ ] Norbert von Xanten
  • [IV ₂ ] Ulrich von Augsburg
  • [IV ₃ ] Assumption of Mary
  • [IV ₄ ] Trinity
  • [IV ₅ ] Assumption of Mary into heaven

Gallery frescoes

• [ef ₁ ] Artaxerxers offers the throne to Ester
• [ef ₂ ] pardon for the intercessory esters

Gallery frescoes

• [gf ₁ ] Finding the cross
• [gf ₂ ] Exaltation of the cross

Choir apex fresco

• [A] The cross as a sign of victory and reconciliation
  • [A ₁ ] Mary as a virgin with a tamed unicorn
  • [A ₂ ] Mary and Jesus as conquerors of evil
  • [A ₃ ] Violation of the miraculous image and crucifix by pilgrimage opponents
  • [A ₄ ] Mary as the protective shield of faith

• 

  Choir apex fresco

• 

  Mary and Jesus as conquerors of evil

• 

  Opponents of pilgrimage violate the miraculous image and crucifix

Ceiling paintings in the sacristy and confessional chamber

• [s] Ordination of St. Norbert
• [bk] Maria Magdalena as penitent

Putti on the cornices

Putti with symbols for the invocations of Mary from the Lauretanian litany

• [p ₁ ] "You mirror of justice"
• [p ₂ ] "You seat of wisdom"
• [p ₃ ] "You mysterious rose"
• [p ₄ ] "You morning star"
• [p ₅ ] "You tower of David"
• [p ₆ ] "You Golden House"
• [p ₇ ] "You queen of virgins"
• [p ₈ ] "You Queen of Martyrs"
• [p ₉ ] “You Queen of St. Rosary "
• [p ₁₀ ] "You Queen of All Saints"

• 

  Tower of David

• 

  You golden house

• 

  Queen of the Holy Rosary

• 

  Mary Queen of All Saints

Longhouse

Miracle or votive pictures

Fire at Martin Löchle

The church client had Franz Georg Hermann paint eight miracle pictures on the vaulted ceilings under the side galleries by Maria Steinbach, where the confessionals are also located . They describe typical events from the life of pilgrims and believers at that time . Six representations are taken from the book of miracles of 1738, the rest from the book of 1746. Three books of miracles were checked by the Episcopal Commission. Witnesses were heard during the investigation, some of whom were also sworn in. These books could only be printed with episcopal approval. Thus these wonderful occurrences are recognized by the Church. A biblical reference is often made in the theological concept of the images. The flood is depicted above the boy who falls into trouble . The fire on the Löchle family's farm is remembered as the raging fires of Sodom and Gomorrah . The subjects of the pictures deal with the most common accidents and occurrences. The detailed frescoes show that the painter was familiar with the rural life of the believers in the region.

Katharina Neuberin Goren [m ₁ ]

In 1734 the mother and her son Josef Bernhard went through the arrows . The boy falls into the water and is swept away by the waves. After a promise of pilgrimage, the child is washed ashore on the riverbank, found and brought back to life.

Johannes Häring Meschensee [m ₂ ]

Son Josef falls from the window onto the street in Meschensee near Neutrauchburg in 1731 . During the fall, the mother made a pilgrimage vow. When she is looking for her son on the street below, he comes running towards her in good health.

Martin Löchle Knaußen [m ₃ ]

The Löchle family's farm, which is in the church at the time, is on fire. Two day laborers who happened to come along were able to save cattle and horses. When the fire bell rings, the farmer's wife consecrates the pets of the Steinbach Mother of God, and so they too are saved. A miraculous image in a burning chest is spared from the flames.

Johannes Schaas Schweinhausen [m ₄ ]

Johannes Schaas wants to fell a tall fir tree in 1743. As so often, the summit is wedged with another fir tree. Schaas climbs up to clear them. The fir tree begins to sink at a height of eight fathoms. In his distress he promises a pilgrimage to Steinbach and is miraculously saved.

Josef Ländle Oberbinnwang [m ₅ ]

In 1731 Josef Ländle from Oberbinnwanger rides near the high bank of the Iller . His blind roaring mare almost threw him off, which would mean a fatal fall. At the moment of danger, Ländle promises a pilgrimage to the painful Mother of God. In the picture you can see Maria above the Iller and an angel who instantly brings the horse to rest.

Franz Obersteg Illerrieden [m ₆ ]

In 1732 a desperate father from Illerrieden , whose child did not want to learn to walk, kneels with the three-year-old miserable and crippled son in front of the portrait of the Madonna and pleads, as the book of miracles tells us: “Dear Miss von Steinbach, help Hansel learn to walk ! ”The mother of Hänsele goes on a pilgrimage to Steinbach, and on the way home the child comes towards her on its own.

Katharina Röthin Grünkraut [m ₇ ]

The fresco shows the living room of a middle-class family in Grünkraut in the Allgäu in the year 1734. The child, carried by the maid and swaddled in diapers, has shown no sign of life for five hours. A doctor rushes over and recommends burning the child with wax light on the fingers, which also has no effect. A vow to the wondrous Steinbacher Madonna brings salvation.

MA Bruggerin Gollberg [m ₈ ]

The picture shows a capsized ship on Lake Constance . Among the castaways in the center of the picture is the Bruggeress von Gollberg. She swims on her back and raises her hands to the Steinbach Mother of Sorrows appearing up in the sky as her last hope. Her pilgrimage was actually supposed to go to Maria Einsiedeln, but a storm suddenly developed on Lake Constance and the ship with 57 people capsized. Because of the pilgrimage vow she makes in her desperate situation, she is miraculously saved. The time of the event is Lent 1734.

Gallery frescoes

• [e ₁ ] Simeon's prophecy and circumcision in the temple
• [e ₂ ] Flight into Egypt
• [e ₃ ] Search for the twelve year old Jesus
• [e ₄ ] Jesus said goodbye to his mother
• [e ₅ ] Crowning of thorns
• [e ₆ ] Flagellation
• [e ₇ ] Carrying the Cross
• [e ₈ ] Cross nailing
• [e ₉ ] Descent from the Cross
  • [e _9.1 ] Lantern, oil lamp, curved sword with ear
  • [e _9.2 ] Scourge, tail, column
  • [e _9.3 ] Crown of thorns, reeds, iron glove, dice
  • [e _9.4 ] Crucifixion instruments and inscription on the cross

• Emor frescoes
• 

  Circumcision of Christ

• 

  Escape to Egypt

• 

  Search for the twelve year old Jesus

• 

  Christ bids farewell to his mother

• 

  Crowning of thorns

• 

  Flagellation

• 

  Carrying the Cross

• 

  Cross nailing

Cartridges in the nave

• [k ₁ ] Verena von Zurzach
• [k ₂ ] Allegory of the Catholic Church
• [kv ₁ ] Ambrosius
• [kv ₂ ] Augustine
• [kv ₃ ] Hieronymus
• [kv ₄ ] Gregory the Great

• 

  Allegory of the Catholic Church

• 

  St. Gregory the Great

• 

  St. Ambrose of Milan

Nave fresco

• [B] Mary as a symbol for the beginning of the time of grace
  • [B _AT1 ] Burning Sodom and rescuing Lot
  • [B _AT2 ] Flood and Noah's Ark
  • [B _AT3 ] Destruction of Jericho and sparing of the house of Rahab
  • [B _AT4 ] _{Plague of} snakes in the desert and healing by the brazen serpent
  • [B _NT1 ] Jesus _{cast out} demons
  • [B _NT2 ] Peter and John heal a lame man
  • [B _NT3 ] _{Healing of the} blind through Jesus
  • [B _NT4 ] Paul _heals the fallen Eutychus

organ

Organ of the pilgrimage church

The organ of the pilgrimage church was built by Joseph Gabler in 1756 . The original pipes are only partially preserved, as the two-manual organ with 26 registers and 1111 pipes has been partially destroyed and reworked since 1928. The last renovation, during which the organ should be returned to its original condition, was carried out by the organ builder Gerhard Schmid , Kaufbeuren.

The organ front is built around the west window. On the front of the organ is the coat of arms of the abbot Ambros Guggenmoos from the Rot an der Rot monastery. Around the organ there are a number of putti making music .

• Putti making music
• 

  with trumpets

• 

  with oboe

• 

  with timpani

• 

  Singer

• 

  Singer

• 

  with trumpet and singer

• 

  with violin

Bells

The church has six bells, which were cast in 1952 by the Rudolf Perner bell foundry from Passau .

1. The Christ bell is tuned in the b note and has a weight of 56 quintals.
2. The Marienglocke is tuned in the tone of the and has a weight of 34.40 centners.
3. The Joseph bell is tuned in the tone of it and has a weight of 23.20 centners.
4. The guardian angel bell is tuned in the tone G and has a weight of 13.40 centners.
5. The Ulrichs bell is tuned in the tone as and has a weight of 9.48 centners.
6. The bell of the poor soul is tuned in tone b ' and has a weight of 6.88 quintals.

Today's pilgrimage

Main pilgrimage day

The main day of pilgrimage is Whit Monday with a higher dignitary of the church. Another important day of pilgrimage since 1849 has been Michaelmas Saturday (last Saturday in September) with the Bavarian-Württemberg Warrior Association with 75 clubs and five music bands (Michaelmas pilgrimage). Originally the pilgrimage goes back to an initiative of the Royal French Lieutenant General Count Karl Daniel von Firmas-Peries zu Lautrach and the Royal Bavarian Staff Officer of the Landwehr Freiherr Ignaz von Westernach in Kronburg . For the first time in 1849, on the day of St. Michael the Archangel , the patron saint of soldiers (September 29), they invited the veterans of the local area and the wider area to a general veterans' anniversary. The keynote speaker in 2008 was the district president of Swabia, Karl Michael Scheufele from Augsburg .

Foot pilgrimages throughout the year

Pilgrimage signpost

Foot pilgrims

local community	Parish	meeting
Aichstetten	St. Michael and St. Vitus	Sunday in May
Altusried	St. Blaise	Late April / early May
Bad Groenenbach	St. Philip and Jacob	Pentecost Sunday
Baltringen	St. Nicholas	1st Saturday after All Saints Day
Benningen	St. Peter and Paul	Saturday in June
Berkheim	St. Willebold	4th Sunday in August
Illerwinkel	St. Magnus	For the feast of St. Ulrich (July 4th)
Kirchberg on the Iller	St. Martinus	1st Saturday in November (men's pilgrimage)
Kempten (Allgäu) ( Heiligkreuz )	St. Lorenz	Late April / early May
Boom	St. George	Saturday before Pentecost
Lautrach	St. Peter and Paul	The day before Ascension Day
Legau	St. Gordian and Epimach	Monday before Ascension Day
Memmingen	St. Joseph and Ascension	end of September
Ochsenhausen	St. George	the beginning of October
Red on the red	St. Verena	4th Saturday in August

See also

• List of churches and chapels in the administrative community Illerwinkel

literature

• Otto Beck: Catholic parish and pilgrimage church Maria Steinbach . (= Little Art Guide; No. 205). 7th, completely revised edition. Schnell + Steiner publishing house, Regensburg 1992
• Ingeborg Maria Buck: Catholic parish and pilgrimage church Maria Steinbach . Kunstverlag Josef Fink, Lindenberg 1998, ISBN 3-931820-63-7
• Hilde Miedel: The Gothic Church of Maria Steinbach - Report on the excavations in 1965 . In: Memminger Geschichtsblätter , annual issue 1966, pp. 19–28.
• P. Heinrich Mühlbauer SDS, Herrman Epplen, Gertrud Beck: Miracle frescos in Maria Steinbach . Published by the Parish and Pilgrimage Office, Maria Steinbach 2004 (brochure)
• Fabian Wolf: Maria Steinbach - Studies on the image program of a late baroque pilgrimage church . Master's thesis, Univ. Freiburg im Breisgau 2008 ( freidok.uni-freiburg.de ).

Web links

Commons : Wallfahrtskirche Maria Steinbach  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Parish and pilgrimage church Maria Steinbach

References and comments

1. ^ Document of Frederick I mentioned by Benedikt Stadelhofer: Historia imperialis et exemti Collegii Rothensis in Suevia . Augsburg 1787, vol. 1, p. 40; Printed in: Wirtembergisches Urkundenbuch . Volume II, No. 425. Stuttgart 1858, p. 212 f. ( Digitized version , online edition )
2. ^ Certificate of consecration in the parish archive of Maria Steinbach, printed in Fabian Wolf: Maria Steinbach , p. 101.
3. ↑ Mary, whose heart is pierced by a sword according to Lk 2,35  EU , thus a Mater Dolorosa
4. ↑ cf. Cross altar and dome painting
5. ↑ Oberschw. Barockstrasse Ostroute: Maria Steinbach. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on April 7, 2015 ; Retrieved March 1, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  

Coordinates: 47 ° 53 ′ 19.7 ″  N , 10 ° 8 ′ 15.3 ″  E