What's New at Klosterneuburg

Christmas celebrations

Christmas is a lighthearted time at Klosterneuburg, though it is definitely hectic.  The brethren struggle manfully to fulfill both their responsibilities to their parishes as well as their responsibilities to their home and family at the Stift.  This means there is a lot of coming and going, and we rejoiced to have Maximilian and Josef back from Rome, and Rudolf from Innsbruck.  Both Bruno and Elias managed to break away from their responsibilities in Bergen to spend some time with us before Christmas.

A Special Guest

After Christmas we had a visit from the Archbishop Kothgasse of Salzburg, the Primas Germaniae, as he is known, or "Primate of Germany".  He came to speak at the annual celebration of St. Severin at our parish in Heiligenstadt.  His presence among us was both a privilege and a pleasure.  Despite his own schedule, he made time to attend all of the Offices in choir.

It is interesting to note that because of the historical importance of the Archdiocese of Salzburg, this archbishop has the privilege of wearing cardinal's red without actually being a cardinal.

To keep the dream alive...

• Doms Markus and Daniel travel to Washington and Alabama in January on the annual trip to keep interest alive and to speak with candidates and interested men.  We ask you to keep them in your prayers.  They will also hold a Mass for the Society of St. Leopold in Maryland while they are there.

• Dom Clemens will combine some business with pleasure as he travels to NY and FL in January to baptize his nephew.  He also hopes to make contacts to "spread the word" about the canonical life and Klosterneuburg in the Church in both places.

Hildebrand, Daniel, Theobald and Alipius gather for some Christmas cheer.	The brethren tucking into their supper at Christmas Eve -carp is traditional in Austria.	The Provost,  Leo, Konrad and Hildebrand enjoy the festivities.
The community busily tackles the carp	Dom Markus lights the side candles in the refectory, working hard to create the right Stimmung, or atmosphere	Dom Clemens lighting the Christmas tree in the refectory... or trying to, at least.
Why is Daniel pushing the ladder and Clemens into the flaming tree?	A wonderful tree and splendid atmosphere to celebrate with carols	The members of the community go around the room and give one another the Christmas Toast.

Below... Archbishop Kothgasser of Salzburg enjoys one of Dom Georg's in-depth tours of the abbey treasury.  Here they have been examining the Schleiermonstranz, or the "Veil Monstrance", one of the most famous and valuable of the monastery's treasures.  For centuries such artworks have been created to give glory to God by the workmen who made them and the people who donated them for use in the sacred liturgy of the Church.

A new article on the concept of a STIFT has been added. To read it, click here.

If you would like to be added to our email list and be notified when we update the website, please email us at:

info@AugustinianCanons.org.