Abbey
MonasteryOfteringen
Marienburg Abbey
The Marienburg Monastery is a Benedictine convent in the Ofteringen district of Wutöschingen in the Archdiocese of Freiburg, within the Waldshut district. A Franciscan convent of the same name, belonging to the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, exists in Abenberg, Bavaria.
The Marienburg Monastery in Ofteringen is the former ancestral seat of the Nobles of Ofteringen, which, after the family died out, came into the possession of Rheinau Abbey. It was founded as a convent in 1862 by four sisters: Josepha Meinrada Schneider, Scholastika Weiß, Benedikta Reck, and Walburga Stoll. Through the founding by these four sisters, the convent belongs to the Swiss Benedictine Federation.
The time was extremely unfavorable for the founding of a monastery, as on the one hand, the industrial revolution was in full swing, and on the other hand, spiritual values were losing more and more significance. Despite adverse circumstances and although hundreds of monasteries had already been dissolved by her 25th birthday, the main founder of the monastery, Sabina Schneider (Sister Josepha Meinrada), signed a lease agreement with the owners of the monastery in 1861. Until then, the monastery was known as the old castle of Ofteringen.
After the dissolution of Rheinau Abbey on March 3, 1862, all fields, meadows, and forests that once belonged to Rheinau Abbey and had then been sold to Messrs. Hallauer and Ofteringer were auctioned off in 1863. The convent paid 7500 guilders for the castle including the chapel and 7300 guilders for meadows and fields. Apart from the lack of funds, there were also difficulties in planning prayer hours and a choir. In 1867, the previous superior, Josepha Mäder, died, and Josepha Meinrada Schneider was unanimously elected as the new superior.
In 1870, the Große Schüer (today Klosterschüer) was purchased for 1500 guilders. In 1891, at the age of 60, Superior Josepha Meinrada Schneider died. She was buried in Degernau and transferred to the large cross in the monastery cemetery in 1949.
In 1933, OPHAS Vertriebsgesellschaft was founded, which still distributes natural remedies based on monastic recipes today. In addition to gardening and agriculture, there was also beekeeping. The economy is leased out today.
In 1953, the new bells were consecrated, and the buildings were renovated between 1989 and 1991.
Buildings+
Old Castle
Ofteringen Castle forms the core building of the monastery. Its construction period is not entirely certain. It was first mentioned in 1240. From the Knights of Ofteringen, it passed by inheritance, with all rights and possessions, to Rheinau Abbey. The castle chapel, which Junker Karl von Ofteringen once had built, had fallen into disrepair during the transition to Rheinau Abbey. Abbot Benedikt Ledergerber (Abbot from 1735 to 1744) had it demolished and, in its place, had the current chapel built in the early Baroque style by architect Johann Michael Beer von Bildstein. The stucco work was created by Hans Georg Leiner from Überlingen, and the paintings by the painter and gilder Judas Thaddäus Sichelbein, who was born in Wangen and belonged to the Sichelbein painter family from Memmingen. Since the founding of Marienburg Monastery, perpetual adoration has been celebrated here, with the sisters taking turns every two hours.
Große Schüer
The Große Schüer was built in 1713 by Abbot Gerold Zurlauben (Abbot of Rheinau Abbey from 1697–1735) as a tithe barn. Around 1870, it was purchased by the current monastery. In 1988, it was renovated and is now available for cultural events (Klosterschüer).
Monastery Today+
The beautifully situated monastery still exists today; it was not dissolved like many others. The steadily decreasing number of nuns is problematic. The sisters' paraments embroidery is well-known.
To secure the continued existence of the monastery, Polish Passionist nuns from Warsaw were brought to Ofteringen in 2009.
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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.
Location: 47.6786, 8.3754