|
Death of Rev. Dom Hermann Josef Schwab and Chapter Excursion |
What's New at Klosterneuburg
A Great Priest Passes into Glory
|
|
X Requiescat in Pace
Provost Bernhard Backowsky, Dean Benno Anderlitschka and the Chapter of Augustinian Canons of Stift Klosterneuburg announce the passing away of
Ad. Rev. Dom Hermann Josef Schwab
Solemn Profession on October 27, 1946. Ordained a Priest of Jesus Christ on April 13, 1947. Born in 1917 and educated by Jesuits, Dom Hermann's choice for the Augustinian canons of Klosterneuburg was intimately connected with his desire to minister as a priest in the model of the great Dom Pius Parsch. But his early years at Klosterneuburg were cut short by the terrible conflict of World War II, and it was only after the war that he was able to make his profession. He served on the Russian Front as a medical orderly and was in Stalingrad. Captured toward the end of the war, Hermann was one of the lucky few to survive Russian captivity and return to Austria. His health would never completely recuperate from the experiences of those years. Dom Hermann's priestly work encompassed two great fields: parish work and religious education. Countless former students remember the great "Professor Hermann" who worked so zealously to impart to them the truths of the Faith. Among other positions, he taught at the Klosterneuburg "Gymnasium", or higher secondary school. He was a strict but kind teacher and pastor. His great love was to be his work as pastor of the parish of St. Leopold-Klosterneuburg where he worked 1962-1996, at which point his steadily declining health finally forced Dom Hermann to retire to the Stift. In the community Dom Hermann was a pillar of observance and discipline, appearing at all the Offices and meals, except when he was truly unable because of his ailments. This was a great struggle for him, as his feet caused him terrible pain. In the last years he once again achieved popularity as the trusty and zealous celebrant of the 6:00 PM Mass in the abbey church every Sunday. His homilies and care in celebration were legendary. On May 23, 2005 Dom Hermann passed away at the age of 89, after 58 of priestly service. Please remember him in your prayers.
|
A Death Well Prepared
Dom Hermann's death was a magnificent testimony to the priest and Christian that he was. As witness to this is the story of his last visit from one of the American priests of the abbey.
Dom Hermann's last few years were marked by incessant visits to the hospital. Because of his problems with his feet, he was susceptible to falling, but no matter how often he fell, he always got back up, hence his nickname "Iron Hermann". Naturally it is customary for members of the community to stop in for routine visits, and the Friday before his death was no exception. One of our American priests stopped in and found Hermann alert and appreciative for the visit; "You come from heaven", he said. Clearly somewhat agitated, Hermann said he wasn't in any pain, but that he wanted to ask a great favor: he wanted to receive the Sacrament of the Sick. He said, "I want to receive everything, everything, everything the Church can offer me now. My time has run its course."
Unsure if this was the effect of pain killers but unwilling to take the chance, the priest of course agreed to bring him all the sacraments and to bestow the Apostolic Pardon which a priest may grant in danger of death, freeing him from all guilt of sin in this life and the next. Unprepared for this, the priest had to run back up to the abbey for the oils. Holy Communion was brought from the hospital chapel and Dom Hermann received all the sacraments he so ardently desired and which he himself had always so faithfully administered. He spoke frequently of the wonders God had done in his life and of his intense gratitude for his priesthood and for being allowed to have so exalted an office. His speech was filled with quotes from the Psalms which he had sung with his brethren in the choir for 68 years.
It was evident to the American priest that while Dom Hermann had taken pain medication, he was very clear in his mind, and he asked Hermann to please hear his confession as a last priestly act. Hermann was glad to oblige, so the stole went from the neck of the one priest to the neck of the other as Dom Hermann heard what was doubtless his last confession and was able to pour forth the grace of God's forgiveness on a brother priest.
By Saturday morning Dom Hermann was having difficulty communicating, by Sunday he had ceased communicating altogether and on Monday morning the American priest heard the bell of the abbey church ringing shortly before 11:00 AM. Hermann had passed into glory. He will be missed terribly by the community.
Chapter Excursion to Stift Rein in Styria
Every spring the chapter of Klosterneuburg takes a day out together. This year we traveled to Stift Rein, the oldest continuously inhabited Cistercian monastery in the world. There we had a tour and were received very graciously by the abbot and community.
|
Facade of the abbey church of Rein |
The Dean is not at all convinced by the width of the choirstalls |
 ...so he consults with Pius! |
 Dom Theobald... or a mormon on mission??? |
 The renaissance cloister of Rein |
 The abbot of Stift Rein gives a speech at lunch |
 Of course it wouldn't have been the same without Dom Josef Metzger of Stift Herzogenburg who always comes with us |
 Dom Daniel at a nearby pilgrimage church |
If you would like to be added to our email list and be notified when we update the website, please email us at:
