2023-09-24 13:56:29
“You know how to put your strong faith into action”
St. Pölten (OTS/NLK) – During a large pontifical mass in the collegiate church of the Augustinian Canons’ Monastery in Klosterneuburg, the new provost Anton Höslinger was blessed today, Sunday, by the Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. In addition to many believers from the monastery’s parishes and high-ranking representatives of the church, numerous guests of honor and celebrations also came to Klosterneuburg for this occasion, headed by State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, former State Governor. D. Erwin Pröll and National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka.
In her speech following the service, the governor spoke of a “special occasion on a special day in a special place in our country”: “Our national shrine, Klosterneuburg Abbey, is receiving a new provost today.”
In a time with many challenges, we need “people who are prepared to take responsibility and accept these challenges, who are prepared to initiate a turnaround, who provide support and orientation and who are good shepherds,” emphasized Mikl-Leitner. “I am convinced that you can be a good shepherd,” she said to the new provost: “for the monastery and the convent, for the region and the country, and for all the people who are looking for support and orientation.” She was convinced that Anton Höslinger was “a man who knows the word of God and who also lives it: “You know how to put your strong faith into practice.”
According to the state governor, Klosterneuburg Abbey has been an important center in this country for centuries: “In intellectual and spiritual terms, economically and touristically, and above all as a national shrine and tomb of our national patron, to whom we make a pilgrimage year after year on the national holiday.” This Significance also brings with it a lot of responsibility; Klosterneuburg Abbey and the state of Lower Austria are close partners here, she pointed out, referring to ongoing and planned renovation projects.
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn gave the blessing to the newly elected provost. The chosen person expresses to the bishop and the faithful his willingness to lead and lead the monastery. The bishop in turn spreads his hands over the chosen one and says the prayer of blessing, then the rule of the order and the insignia are presented: The newly ordained provost is given the rule of the order, the ring – as a sign of loyalty – the miter and the shepherd’s crook – as a sign of Pastoral ministry – handed over. Then the bishop, the chapter of the monastery and all the bishops, provosts, abbots and all priests present hug him.
Nowadays, many people are looking, said Cardinal Schönborn in his sermon during the pontifical mass: “Let us embrace what Pope Francis offers us, to be a synodal church.” Klosterneuburg Abbey has already had a leading one in the past role in the biblical and liturgical renewal of the Church, he recalled: “The Bible and liturgy are the sources of renewal.”
After the mass, Mayor Stefan Schmuckenschlager spoke of a “special day for us in Klosterneuburg” and said that “a new chapter would be opened in the history of the monastery and thus also in the history of the city”. The mayor was convinced that Höslinger was “a churchman from the people and with the people.”
The new abbot of the monastery based his words of thanks on the motto “The joy of God is our strength”. After words of thanks to the clergy, politicians, family, friends and employees of the monastery, he particularly addressed his fellow brothers: “If we are filled with the word of God, then we can explain God’s instructions to people – through our word and beyond much more through our lives.”
Anton Wolfgang Höslinger was born on January 5, 1970 in Klosterneuburg, joined the monastery in August 1989, was ordained a priest on April 13, 1998, was a ceremonial officer from 1992 to 2004 and a chaplain from 1998 to 2003 in the monastery parish of Klosterneuburg From 2003 to 2005 he worked as a pastor in the Donaufeld monastery parish. From 2005 to 2016 he worked as novice master and clergy director of the monastery, and from 2010 to 2016 as secretary to the abbot primate. In May 2016, Anton Höslinger was appointed assistant to the monastery treasurer and in December 2021 as interim treasurer. Since 2002 he has also been general secretary of the Austrian Augustinian Canons Congregation, chapter secretary since 2005 and as parish provisional in the Maria Hietzing parish since November 2021. On August 14, 2023, he was elected the 67th provost of Klosterneuburg Abbey.
Further information: www.stift-klosterneuburg.at.
Questions & Contact:
Office of the Lower Austrian State Government
State Office Directorate/Public Relations
Mag. Christian Salzmann
02742/9005-12172
presse@noel.gv.at
www.noe.gv.at/presse
1695595028
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