GREETINGS FROM HEILIGENKREUZ
WILLKOMMEN, HEILIGE VATER!
WELCOME TO AUSTRIA, HOLY FATHER!
We are happy that you have distinguished our small country
as the only European country visited by you in 2007.
We await your words and your blessing, and welcome you
as the Successor of Peter and Vicar of Christ.
HEILIGENKREUZ READY
FOR POPE'S VISIT
Heligenkreuz shines with Papal radiance! The aerial view above was taken by the State Police
of Lower Austria, showing the Abbey grounds a month before Pope Benedict XVI's visit.
Providentially, Abbot Gregor had started to undertake in the past year important renovation
and construction projects before anyone even thought the Pope would visit here.
Once the Papal visit was confirmed several months ago, then further restorations were undertaken
on the facades, the church tower, repainting).
And today, any visitor coming through the Vienna Gate will appreciate all the beautiful results -
giving our Abbey a Papal splendor it will continue to have for a long time to come. Deo gratias.
Novices hold candles, only Papal 'souvenirs' from Heiligenkreuz;
below, guest points to corner window from where the Pope will bestow
his blessing on the crowd ourside the courtyard on Sept. 9.
Stift Heiligenkreuz (the Abbey of the Holy Cross) in the Vienna
Woods, only 15 km west of Vienna,
one of the most beautiful medieval monasteries of the world, and the second-oldest Cistercian Monastery.
It was founded in 1133 by St. Leopold III of the House of Babenberg. Leopold’s son, Otto, had been sent
to Paris to obtain an international education. In Paris, Otto came in contact with Cistercian monks
and soon decided to enter a Cistercian monastery. When Otto visited his father in Austria, he asked
him to build a similar monastery for Lower Austria. This was the reason why St. Leopold built
Heiligenkreuz; he also founded Klosterneuburg in the northwest of Vienna.
Today, the monastery has 70 members, 18 affiliated parishes and a theological Academy (founded
1802) with about 150 students. This academy was formally named this year in honor of Pope Benedict XVI.
Heiligenkreuz: Mystical heart
of the Vienna Woods
The Cistercian monastery “Our Lady of the Holy Cross” was founded in 1133 by the margrave of Austria
Leopold III, of the house of Babenberg. The request for this foundation had come from Leopold’s son,
Otto, who had himself recently become a monk of the Cistercian abbey of Morimond in France.
Leopold III died in 1136, and was buried in Klosterneuburg; in 1485 he was canonized as a saint.
His son Otto became bishop of Freising, and is considered to be one of the most important medieval
historians. Otto is venerated as Blessed, and his relics are kept in Heiligenkreuz.
At that time the Cistercians were a new and vigorous reform movement in Benedictine monasticism.
The name “Cistercian” comes from “Cîteaux,” the French name of the first Cistercian abbey, which
was founded in 1098 near Dijon, at a place which had the Latin name “Cistercium.”
The Chapter Hall is the burial place for many members of the house of Babenberg, the most ancient
ruling house of Austria. Among the Babenbergs buried here are no less than four rulers of Austria -
Margrave Leopold IV, Duke Leopold V, Duke Frederick I, and Duke Frederick II, “the quarrelsome” -
making it one of the most important burial places in Austria. Duke Frederick II lies in a raised
sarcophagus since he especially patronized the monastery; with his death in 1246 the house of
Babenberg came to an end.
In 1188 Duke Leopold V donated a large relic of the true cross to the monastery. The relic is still
venerated here today. It is the largest relic of the true cross north of the Alps.
The Cistercians venerate St. Benedict († 547) and St. Bernard († 1153) as their spiritual fathers.
Benedict is often depicted in a black monastic cowl, with a broken glass and a book; Bernard in a
white cowl with a cross, which he carries in his arms.
Heiligenkreuz is the oldest Cistercian monastery in the world that has continued without interruption
since its founding. The monks of Heiligenkreuz have been offering praise to God seven times a day
since 1133. They begin the so-called “divine office” at 5:15 A.M. The day ends at about 8:15 P.M.
with Compline. After Compline the monks observe the “silentium nocturnum” until the next day.
The Babenbergs supported Heiligenkreuz so generously that it was able to found several daughter
monasteries: Zwettl in Lower Austria (1138), Baumgartenberg in Upper-Austria (1142), Czikador in Hungary
(1142), Marienberg in present day Burgenland (1197), Lilienfeld in Lower-Austria (1202), Goldenkron in
Bohemia (1263), and Neuberg an der Mürz in Styria (1327).
Today the community of Heiligenkreuz is the most numerous in Austria. In 1988 it was once again
able to found a daughter monastery: Stiepel in Bochum, a city in the Ruhr Valley of Germany.
The lofty Romanesque/Gothic abbey church, built in the 12th and 13th centuries, shows in its austere
sublimity the ideal of Cistercian architecture: the building praises God as a doxology in stone,
unadorned by painting or other ornaments.
The three windows of the west façade symbolize the Blessed Trinity. A wonderful impression is given
during the Easter Season when the light of the setting sun falls through the three windows on
the monks, as they sing vespers.
Today the Cistercians still support themselves through farming and forestry. Heiligenkreuz is
the “Vienna Woods Monastery” (Wienerwaldkloster), since the name “Silva Viennensis” (Vienna Woods -
Wienerwald) was first mentioned in one of the monastery’s charters dated 1332.
The abbey church was consecrated in 1187, in 1240 the monastery complex. In 1295 an impressive
high Gothic hall-sanctuary replaced the Romanesque apse of the abbey church. The windows of the Gothic
sanctuary have mostly been preserved to this day. Today Heiligenkreuz is one of the largest
monastic medieval buildings in the world.
In the Baroque period several additions of great artistic value were made to the monastery complex -
for example, the sacristy. In 1683 the abbey was damaged by the invading Turks; the library went up
in flames. In the context of repairing the damage, the medieval core of the monastery was extended
by several Baroque courtyards.
The most important Baroque artist to work for Heiligenkreuz was the Venetian sculptor Giovanni Giuliani.
He carved many of the sculptures that decorate the abbey today — among others the trinity pillar,
'the foot-washing scenes in the cloister, and the choir stalls.
After the death of his wife, Giuliani became an oblate of the monastery. Famous painters such
as Michael Rottmayr, Martino Altamonte, and Georg Andreas Washuber also worked for the abbey. Giuliani
and Altomonte are buried in the abbey church.
Between 1780 and 1790, under Emperor Joseph II, the son of Empress Maria Theresia, the abbey was
threatened with dissolution. The ideology of the Enlightenment had a negative effect on the monastic
spirit; the state interfered in matters of faith and church discipline.
As part of a countermovement a theological institute for the formation of young members
of the order was founded in 1802. The institute flourishes today as the “
Papal Philosophical-
Theological Institute Benedict XVI Heiligenkreuz,” with over 100 seminarians and young religious.
Under Joseph II the abbey was forced to take on the pastoral care of several parishes. Today the abbey
has care of 17 parishes between Lake Neusiedel and the Vienna Woods.
At the end of the 19th century the Baroque interior fittings of the abbey church was removed and
eplaced by a Neo-Gothic ensemble of altars, with a baldachino over the main altar.
From 1938 to 1945 the abbey’s existence was threatened. Most of the monastery’s possessions were
confiscated by the National Socialists, and many of the monks were imprisoned. After the Second
World War the reform abbot Karl Braunstorfer (he served 1945-1968) worked for a revival of the
monastic spirit. The liturgy was reformed along the lines laid out by the Second Vatican Council.
A new Latin edition of the monastic breviary was made especially for Heiligenkreuz, and Gregorian Chant
was again given pride of place. The dignified celebration of the Sacred Liturgy and the Gregorian
Chant continue to be at the heart of the monks’ life in Heiligenkreuz.
Today Heiligenkreuz is the largest Cistercian monastery in Europe. The Sacred Liturgy is celebrated
by the monks with reverence and a sense of mystery; there are numerous young men who follow
their vocation and enter Heiligenkreuz. In the tradition of Benedictine hospitality the monks
gladly welcome the numerous visitors who come seeking silence and an encounter with God.
1. Reception and Visitor Information
2. Aula: Meeting Point for guided tours
3. Romanesque western facade of the church (1187)
4. Column of The Holy Trinity (1729-1739)
5. Fountain of St. Joseph (1739)
6. Old Cloister Entrance (1730)
7. Cloister (1240)
8. Chapel of St. Anne (1710)
9. Chapterhouse (1240)
10. Funeral Chapel (1711)
11. Fountain House (1295)
12. Fraterie - Medieval Workroom (1240)
13. Sacristy (1667)
14. Apse in form of a hall (1295)
15. Nave (1187)
16. Living quarters of the monks (1642)
17. Chapel of St. Bernard (1295)
18. Festival Hall (1691)
19. Bell Tower (1674)
20. Sanctuary of the Relic of the Holy Cross (1982)
21. Gift Shop
The Courtyard: Here you will find two monuments by Giovanni Giuliani,
an artist deeply connected to Heiligenkreuz. The Holy Trinity Column stands
in the centre of the courtyard; St. Joseph's Fountain is on the far side.
Both were made at the beginning of the 18th Century. The Holy Trinity Column
shows the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (rising, in the middle of the column);
the smaller panels around St. Joseph's Fountain show scenes from the Bible.
Cloister: The cloister was constructed between 1220 and 1240: this was a time of stylistic transition from
Romanesque to Gothic. Therefore, you can find a combination of the two styles here in the cloister. Compare,
for instance, the arches which connect the small red marble columns. Originally, the cloister was built as a
connection between the church and the sacristy. The monks also use it for prayer and study. The tombstones
on the wall belong to embers of noble families who gave endowments to the abbey. The oldest ones are from
the 14th Century.
Statues: Two statues in the cloister are works by the famous Giovanni Giuliani.
One depicts Jesus washing the feet of St. Peter. The statue on the other side shows
Mary Magdalene anointing the feet of Jesus - made of linden wood, in 1705..
Reading Corridor: Every evening at eight o'clock, the monks convene here to read a chapter from the Rule of
St. Benedict. Every year on Holy Thursday, a foot washing ceremony takes place here. As an imitation of Christ’s
humility, the abbot washes the feet of the 12 oldest men from parishes under Heiligenkreuz’s pastoral care.
The lower windows are all modern, but in the semi-circular windows over the reading-pulpit you can see original
glass from the 13th Century; these sections are light grey. The windows consist of glass and lead. The first
Cistercians did not use any colours in their stained glass, because they wanted the windows to represent
the simple life.
Chapterhouse: The election of the abbot and the investiture of novices take
place in this room. All the paintings are Baroque; those on the ceiling are by
Michael Rottmayer, those on the wall were made by a lay brother called Mathias
Gusner. He painted the members of the House of Babenberg who are buried here.
The Romanesque, sculptured tombstone in the middle of the room is the grave of
the last Babenberg Duke, Frederick the Quarrelsome; he died in 1246. The windows
were made in the 19th Century in Kramsach in Tyrol. The rosette window was
at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1889, where it won the first prize for
its colours and their composition.
Funeral Chapel: Originally, this room was the Parlatorium, the only room
in the monastery where the monks were allowed to speak. Later, the rule of
silence was limited to the night-time hours and therefore Giovanni Giuliani
transformed this room into a chapel for the dead. Deceased monks were – and
still are – kept here for a 24-hour vigil before being buried. The cross, made
of lead, is by Raphael Donner.
Fountain House: This room served as a washing room till the middle of the
16th Century. The fountain was made in Rome in 1556 and consists of five lead
basins. Because of the high mineral content of the water, the fountain has been
“decorated” by mineral deposits. Most of the windows are modern replacements,
but the one that portrays human figures originates from 1295. On the upper left
side you can see the abbeys of Heiligenkreuz (left), and Klosterneuburg (right).
Then, underneath the two abbeys, you have pictures of the man who founded
both monasteries, St. Leopold III (left), and his wife Agnes (right). Under
the couple you can see six of their children. The man in the white robe is
Blessed Otto of Freising, the son who was sent to Paris for college and
returned to Lower Austria with Cistercian monks.
Sacristy: The sacristy was constructed at the beginning of the 18th Century.
The paintings and the frescos on the ceiling, made by Grophoro Tenckalla and
Antonio Aliprandi, originated at the time of construction. The inlaid woodwork
in the cabinets was done by two lay brothers: Brother Lukas Barth and Brother
Casper Wiler. It took them 20 years to complete! In addition, they used 20
different kinds of wood: mainly maple, nut and linden wood.
Fraterie: Originally, this was the monks’ workroom, used for making
shoes and boots. The dark, grey spots on the walls and on the ceiling are
remnants from 13th-century paintings. They were discovered recently
during a restoration project. These paintings are, like the windows in the
cloister, very straightforward: the monks only used two colours (red
add white) and they painted single bricks in order to reflect their ideal
of simplicity.
Abbey Church: The Abbey Church was built in two different styles:
the Romanesque and the Gothic style. The Romanesque part was finished
in 1187. The three windows above the entrance are typical of Cistercian
abbeys: they symbolise the Holy Trinity. The Gothic part of the church was
finished in 1295. The high altar stands in the middle of this part, over it
a canopy and a painted wooden cross. The altar and the canopy are
Neogothic; they are about 100 years old. The cross was painted in 1980.
It is the copy of an Italian original from 1138, found in a church next to
La Spezia.
Organ and choir stalls: The organ is one of the biggest musical instruments in Austria and was built in 1804. It has 3700
pipes, 50 registers and 2 manuals. Franz Schubert and Anton Bruckner played it. Since Schubert composed a special piece
of music for the organ, it is still called the Schubertorgan. The choir stalls, which were created between 1708 and 1712, are
another work by Giuliani. They consist of nut wood (the dark parts) and linden wood (the reliefs and busts above). The reliefs
portray scenes from the life of Jesus Christ. The busts above represent saintly bishops, abbots and statesmen. From their
heavenly choir, they join their voices in praise together with the monks’ choir here below.
Heiligenkreuz:
A place of prayer and worship
This Cistercian Abbey was founded 1133 by Saint Leopold III as a house of prayer
to thank and praise God and to intercede for the sake of the whole world.
The spiritual and cultural life of this house has continued without any interruption
or destruction. The Cistercians here live in the rhythm of “ora et labora – pray and
work”. Welcome to this holy place!
Today, the monks sing the office in Gregorian Chant five times a day. Prayers begin
here at 5:15 a.m. and end at 8:00 p.m.
Information:
www.stift-heiligenkreuz.at
5.15 Vigils
6.00 Lauds
6.25 Conventual Mass (weekdays)
9.30 Solemn Mass with Gregorian chant (Sundays and Feast days)
12.oo Terz and Sext
12.55 None
18.00 Vespers
19.50 Compline with Salve Regina