We wish you a Blessed Easter!

Agnus Dei

What is new at Klosterneuburg:

• Easter Vigil
  
  The celebration of the Easter Vigil belongs to the pastor of the Stift's parish.  Here we see the beginning of the Mass, outside, with the blessing of the fire.
   

• Good Friday -- The Silence of the Bells, the Sounds of Mourning
  
  Bells were rung for the last time at the Gloria during the Holy Thursday Mass.  In their place, until the bells return at the Easter Vigil, we use a klapper. 

Josef, Fr. Clemens and Jakob carry the klapper to the chapel

to replace the bell which calls the canons to prayer.

from the juniorate, across the bridge into the new Stift...

Jakob ties up the bell

...and then we go outside to hear the Angelus klappers at noon.

For over five minutes our sacristans, Andreas and Petrus,

Meanwhile we observed from below.

Then we had our turn inside.

• Holy Thursday
  
  The feast day of the Eucharist and Priesthood of Jesus Christ takes on a special character at Klosterneuburg since our celebration occurs in the context of both a priestly community and a parish Mass.  The combination of these two elements encapsulates well the vocation of the canon regular.
  
  The Mass was offered by the Abbot General, assisted by the pastor and curate of the Stift parish, several canons of the chapter (three of whom have served for 50 years or more as priests!) and the novice concelebrants with the participation of the juniors and faithful. 

  
  

  
  
  The solemnity and festivity of the Mass offered all a powerful and uplifting remembrance of Christ's last night.  The Abbot General, following the example of Christ Himself, washed the feet of twelve men. 

   

   

   

               

   

   

  This celebration, known as the Mandatum in Latin (meaning the "command"), was only recently incorporated into the Holy Thursday Mass.  For Centuries it belonged only to bishops and abbots, who on the morning of Holy Thursday in a separate liturgy would wash the feet of twelve poor men or brothers in their communities. 

   

   

                         

   

   

   

  It was the custom at Klosterneuburg to invite the men to lunch afterwards.  With the transference of the Mandatum to the evening, a gift of food has replaced the invitation to lunch.  The institution narrative was sung for the Eucharistic Prayer, which is customary in Austria, and the faithful were given Holy Communion, on this special occasion, by intinction. 

   

   

   

  

   

  Following the final blessing, the Abbot General, priests, juniors and servers processed to the confession chapel, where the Blessed Sacrament was reposed.

  
  
  
   

• Palm Sunday pictures (again)
   

   

  The blessing occurred outside in Kaiserhof of the Neu Stift in the crisp morning air .  Above the faithful assemble in expectation of the blessing. 

   

  

  The Abbot General presided at the blessing with the assistance of the pastor of the Stift parish and his parochial vicar. 

   

   

   

  

   

  Dom Rudolf, Dom Jakob, Dom Lukas and Dom Elias look on...
     

   

   

   

   

     
  Sprinkling with holy water...

   

   

   

   

  

   

  ...and blessing them with incense. 

  (The mayor of Klosterneuburg stands on the right.)

   

   

   

  
  
  The procession to the church through the Stift's plaza...

   

   

   

   

  

   

  ...with songs of praise for Our Lord.

  
  
                                 
   

  
  
   

What is new on the website:

• Clerics Page
  
  Once a man makes temporary vows in our community, he is called a cleric.  This page describes what goes on during those years. <click here>
   

• Novitiate Page
  
  Many wonder how we spend our days and what the life of a novice is like.  To answer these questions we present this introduction to the life of the novice. <click here>