Schönborn’s Most Appealing Pastor Goes to Court

Fr. Vordermayer (right) and his highly respectable, tattooed
legal representative Anti-Catholic Boulevard Mags.

Since when does the alimentary and socialist tax money paid mainstream media suddenly crow on behalf of a pastor? Whence comes this strange change of heart?



The currently proletarian produced mass media is as friendly to Catholics as at the time of introduction of the National Socialist Church Contribution (1939), from which to this day not the smallest letter has been changed.

Once the socialist broad sheet elite whines for a priest, then it can only deal with great difficulty with this pastor as a Catholic priest in the true sense.

Either this pastor is a very pope-hostile priest who is out to destroy the Church from within, or by a priest who conducts appropriate victims for the Victims Commission for Church homosexual - or both.

This pastor can be so deployed by the gay lobby or by the Socialist-Jacobin church battle front - or both.

Unlike the laughable entrance of a broadsheet on behalf of a pastor is absolutely inexplicable. Namely, if a Catholic priest is really bullied, then our socialist boulevard magazines are at the forefront of the Church-hater front.

Left Street Boulevard Journal Fighting for Accused Abuser

The richly endowed with taxpayer money, “Österreich" is reporting about the former pastor of Traiskirchen, Fabian Vordermayer, against whom serious abuse allegations were brought to the prosecutor for trial.

Is Everything Just “Bullying"?

The indictment by the prosecutor of Wiener Neustadt includes such details as: rape, sexual abuse of defenseless persons (plural), multiple assault, persistent stalking, multiple injury.

A populist parish council of the city of asylum industry, Traikirchen, acknowledged the allegations saying: "Homosexuality is a private matter."

One of several boys who are involved in this case, has lived in the guest house of the vicarage. The drug flunitrazepam (knockout drops) was found in the hair of another (or the same) boys .

Given our ideological justice minister, this is probably more than a sure acquittal. However, if he were to stand up for the truth (Jesus Christ), he would have had a very bad hand. But not in this case.

The priest pretender of Traiskirchen who stopped therapy is reported to have said in a sermon: "I give communion also divorced and remarried."

His Abbot subordinates himself with the rainbow stole minister in a tie, because he is supposed to have advised him to commit suicide.

Moral Theologian at the University in Heiligenkreuz!

The priest, exempted from service at the Benedictine Abbey of Melk and disregarding all instructions given by his wealthy Abbot, Pastor Fabian Vordermayer naturally also received a lectureship at the "Philosophical-Theological College Benedict XVI. Heiligenkreuz", to which also the ÖVP-gay lobbyist Univ.-Doz., Dr. theol. hab., Mag theol., Andreas Schnider has been brought into position. From the neo-Catholic Schnider one hears such things that go in the direction of a gay marriage sacrament.

Pastor Fabian Vordermayer naturally instructs priests in questions moral theology as an Institute member of the Institute for Moral Theology at the University of the Heiligen Kreuz.

Cardinal Schönborn's Lunchtime Therapy

The priest of Traiskirchen could finally solve all his problems by simply enjoying a delicious lunch with Cardinal Christoph Schönborn.

Link to kreuz.net…

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMGD

Archbishop Alois Kothgasser to Retire at 75

(Salzburg / Rome)Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop of Salzburg Alois Kothgasser. The Primas Germaniae had completed his 75th year in July 2012. On this occasion he offered his resignation according to the provisions of canon law. Pope Benedict XVI. did not accept it because he left typically left resident archbishops for two years in office. The new Pope has now accepted the request. Last year, Archbishop Kothgasser was urged to leave from office. The question of succession is of great importance for Austria. Salzburg is one of two Austrian church provinces. Archdiocese of Salzburg subjects the bishoprics of Innsbruck, Feldkirch, Gurk-Klagenfurt and Graz-Seckau. The age of the archbishop's seat also is also a significant feature in the appointment of the successor. Conversely, as in the younger dioceses, it is the Holy See, where three candidates are proposed submitted by the cathedral chapter. For this there are the twelve canons who choose the new archbishop, who - although not cardinals - may carry the purple Legatus natus. And he must then as Primas Germaniae wear his rank everywhere as opposed to the other "born legates", not just within his diocese. Refer to the replacement of the Archdiocese of Salzburg's report Who will be the new Archbishop of Salzburg? Austria and the "white" heresy. [In German, but forthcoming.] Link to Katholisches...

Edit: the rank of "born legate" belongs to some of the major sees like Prague and Salzburg, which confer the rank by virtue of the Diocese.

Thoughts of a Great Shepherd of the Church

With Catholic Joy

From the wealth of clear doctrinal answers, the steadfast Bishop Kurt Krenn, loyal to Rome, whom the church owes a lot to - this is an exemplary excerpt

Bishop Kurt Krenn: words
along the way,
thoughts of a shepherd of the Church,
St. Pölten St. Joseph Publishing,
ISBN 3-901853-04-9

The truth of Christ - Regardless of Majorities (p. 49)

In the religious field, democracy and truth are not necessarily connected with each other: one can err democratically and undemocratically, a majority still doesn't determine truth.

As Jesus once asked his disciples, who do they say He is, he got different answers: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or some other prophet.

It was reserved to Peter not to give answer for the polls but the true answer: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God (cf. Mt 16, 13-19). On Peter, Christ founded his Church and their faith.



Marriage and Family - to murderous abortion and homo-perversion (p. 130)

Once it was hoped to reduce cases of abortion by unauthorized contraception, yet it is already evident now long the deceptive is the illusion of such a hope.

Sexuality is a gift from the order of the Creator, irrevocably linked to the married couple, was offered to children and young people as a social and cultural accomodation, that has long led it since on its own path of the destruction of souls and can not be controlled by the free gifts of contraceptives.

From the contempt of the Creator, which is described in Romans as the reversal of the truth of God into a lie:

Wherefore, God gave them up to the desires of their heart, unto uncleanness: to dishonour their own bodies among themselves. Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause, God delivered them up to shameful affections. For their women have changed the natural use into that use which is against nature. And, in like manner, the men also, leaving the natural use of the women, have burned in their lusts, one towards another: men with men, working that which is filthy and receiving in themselves the recompense which was due to their error. And as they liked not to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them up to a reprobate sense, to do those things which are not convenient. Being filled with all iniquity, malice, fornication, avarice, wickedness: full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malignity: whisperers, Detractors, hateful to God, contumelious, proud, haughty, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Foolish, dissolute: without affection, without fidelity, without mercy. Who, having known the justice of God, did not understand that they who do such things, are worthy of death: and not only they that do them, but they also that consent to them that do them.(cf. Rom 1, 24-32).

The Church, as Christ Wanted Her - to Obedience (p. 196)

In the background, faithful obedience is the reality of the Holy Trinity: one God in three persons, one God in three equals the Deity.

Also in the mysterious Trinity, between peers obedience is nothing more than love for each other, the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is not the Father, the difference of the same is and stands still not in the way of the most perfect union of equals.

Anyone who thinks theologically, can immediately understand those relationships of obedience just in the Trinity, the most perfect reality of all realities, not the preserve of dependence but love in the differences and yet the most perfect of all communities.

The Church, as Christ Wanted Her - the "Right to the Eucharist" (p. 221)

The Church recognizes the "right to Eucharist" not as a collective right of the community, but as a personal invitation to the faithful, who are in turn personally bound to the celebration of the Sunday mass.

Right now is the moment of truth that the faithful take their Sunday obligation seriously and conscientiously attend the Eucharist every Sunday and holiday.

An outward fulfillment of the Sunday obligation is not sufficient. It must bear the celebration of the liturgy in faith and reverence.

Beyond all activities and external forms, events filled with the inner grace of the Eucharist raise the faithful: the true consummation of the work of our redemption.

Religion is Not a Private Matter - for unborn life (p. 249)

Our least brethren and sisters, the unborn children, these may concern both  Church and State, who seeks or justifies seemingly licit means to eliminate the unborn. Christ suffers in the fetus in which the absence of love means death.

We appeal to the conscience of all educated people, which remains today in many systems of injustice as the only protection for our most vulnerable children of men.

We must always remember the truth about man and return to the truth of God. In this question there is no escape and deception.

It is Christians with conscience and fear of God, who must raise their voices.

Do not remain silent and also act in forming this question in your political judgment that is consistent with the teaching of the Church.

© kreuz-net.info, EMail: redaktion@kreuz-net.info, Impressum
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMGD

Pastor Karl Tropper -- An Exemplary Missionary and Shepherd from Austria

Sancta Ecclesia

On 25 August Rev. Mag. Karl Tropper departs on a well-earned retirement from the parish church of St. Veit am Vogau Place, from where he has worked an extraordinary benediction for over 30 years. St. Veit am Vorgau is a village in Austria in the Diocese of Graz. He was previously silenced and suspended for telling the truth about fornication and sins which should not even be discussed among Christians. Long may he live.

A Worthy Priest's Personality

In this ceremony, I like so many others again realized what this priest with a versatile personality has already done for our country and the Catholic Church.

Curriculum

Karl Tropper was born on 23 October, 1937 in Glojach and yet experienced the war, far from its front.

After attending the school and diocesan seminary in the period from 1948 to 1956, he studied from 1956 to 1961 at the Universities of Graz, Tübingen and Bonn.

His first job took him from 1961 to 1963 as chaplain to the village of Bad Walter and then up to the year 1968 as chaplain to Eibiswald and for one year after at Stainz.

After completion of the AHS certificate, he taught religion at a Gymnasium in Deutsclandberg, was then provisor in St. Ulrich in Greith and assistant chaplain in Stainz.

From 1971 to 1978 he also taught religion courses as a spiritual director at the diocesan Gymnasium, on which he devoted himself to the comprehensive education of his pupils, according to the testimony of former students and this was partly promoted accordingly through the donations of books.

Missionary and CSI

From 1971 to 1989 he worked as a mission consultant of the diocese and in the years 1975 and 1978 head of the office of CSI (Christian Solidarity International) Austria, which he co-founded.

This led to international contacts with bishops, mission priests and other senior figures such as Christa Meves, the couple Inge and Max Thürkauf, Josip Terelya from Ukraine, the chess grandmaster Ludek Pachman (the beginning of the 80's, he had already predicted the end of the Soviet Union ), Hansjörg Stückl Berger (founder of CSI) Sabatina James, Tatiana Goritschewa etc. to which he was also invited to give a series of interesting lectures in Styria, drew numerous participants across our borders.

Something of the greatness of this humble priest was hinted at by Tatiana Goritschewa when ended her visit to St. Vitus with this note: "This man has saved countless lives through his activities!"

From 1978-1981 he was spiritual director and rector of education at Maria Trost and in 1980 also the parish Provisor of Graz-Kroisbach.

Parish of St. Veit am Vogau

From 1 September 1981 to 1989, he worked as a "pastor" in the parish of St. Veit am Vogau and Gabersdorf. During this time he was also for three years provisor in Strasbourg / Styria.

With the acquisition of the now independent Parish in the meantime, of St. Veit / Vogau on the 1st of September, 1989 he has continued for two years as pastor in Gabersdorf and again in 2002, shortly as Provisor of Gabersdorf and Strasbourg.

During this time, not only were costly renovations carried out, for example on the old sonorous organ, but Pastor Tropper also paid attention to the "interior renovation" of his parishioners. To this end, not only several parish missions, retreats, etc., were carried out, but also the famous and very readable parish bulletin of St. Veit was published, with comments on current world affairs, encouraging discussion and reflection. For his closest collaborators, he wrote another letter involving extensive extra-theological training.

In addition to building the public library and casino at St. Vitus at Vogau, he also tried, by voluminous knowledgeable correspondence, to actively counteract the disintegration of the faith in the parish church.

For the children, the basket was always full with attractive reading in church.

That our pastor Tropper has a great sense of humor and zest for life, he proved not only with the publication of appealing and sophisticated parish carnival fliers but also with the introduction of the parish festival in Strasbourg and St. Vitus.

Youth as a Special Concern

Pastor Tropper was the one who always encouraged young people to participate in World Youth Days and Roman trips. To inspire young people to live in accordance with God's commandments, he organized TEEN - Star courses and sea stays at a house in Donja Klada in Croatia, which he had renovated, where the participating youth were served by faithful families.

Of particular concern to him was that he had at heart the young, he finally also provided them with the publication of a separate parish youth bulletin.

To counteract the generally high divorce rate, he visited the Family Congress in Vienna with interested couples, and he built bridges to the Schoenstatt Movement, which were gladly accepted. Thus, two family celebrations and countless family gatherings in the parish hall he organized. The result was that a great multitude parishioners visited the family Academy and trained as presenters.

After a serious mountain accident in which several young people were seriously injured from his parish and died, he offered a most blessed "Night Prayer".

Importance of confession

Pastor Tropper has presented to us this healing sacrament by his goodness and mercy in the confessional, and was often asked by traveling or Foreign priests in our parish for this service, not only before Mass but especially in the confessional. I could even see it in beaming faces of children, as well as he knew how to explain to the people, to take as often as possible the sacrament of penance as a blessing and deliverance.

All barriers and obstacles he turned over to the example of his Lord of All, like suffering, lonesomeness and sickness. For them he was available day and night. His concern for the sick led him to introduce additional consecrations of the Sacred Heart on First Fridays. So he came into the homes of the sick and could contribute much in this way to physical and emotional recovery.

He gave impetus to organize visits to seniors and in the process then resulted in a partnership with the Murauer seniors.

Through the organ renovation in 2002, he came up with the idea not only to perpetuate the recipes of St. Veit in a ring binder, but noted also funny and thoughtful events in writing.

The seniors were especially very grateful for the monthly care at home or in the village chapels, which he regularly came to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice for the village population.

These village chapels and Christian landmarks in the villages of his parish, he also asked to renovate and made a good example in the case of the newly built cemetery cross and the impressively designed stations of the cross behind the church.

Influence Across Borders

He was also one of the few pastors who have helped in the Yugoslav crisis, of affected poor priests with medicines and money.

For newly built parsonage Shega Arad in Romania, rebuilt 20 years before, he was a key driver, as well as for more than 10 years for the care of the parish Kolibe in Bosnia.

Another highlight was the dedication of the bell: "Mary, Queen of Families" after his serious illness in 2007. He expressed the view that Christianity is not only meant for him, solidarity and critical position in regard to society, but also to show the world the signs of a kind and benevolent God as well.
That may have been the impetus for the publication of a book with the title: "Christ Carrying the Cross ... the Unreadable Book", which can be obtained from him now.

Pastor Tropper always put emphasis on, had prepared for the Liturgy with much attention and love.

Attractive and valuable Music and beauty in the cultus was not a luxury, but for him it is participation in the glory of God.

He certainly was a missionary in a certain way.

He who so struggled to grasp the gospel more deeply simply could not remain silent or pretend as if it would touch the souls entrusted to him, his parishioners, to not really think about it.

He has always let his new knowledge in this field to come to let us participate in this ineffable mystery of God in a dignified manner.

In his sermons and petitions he often brought from far to then plant the central message like a seed in our hearts. He has not dodged the big questions about our future and our way of life, but always related specifically to the situation back to the pressing issues and concerns of his community.

And the people have taken along with them and then discussed at the Gasthaus, at the church and at home - and yes you can say in this way, the living Word of God left no one in our parish in the cold.

He has also found himself in the way of the cross following Jesus Christ.

Pray for this great priest, that he may remain with us for a long time with his example and his vast knowledge of the faith.

Discussions with him at any time.

Post by Anna Fellner , St. Veit am Vogau Link to kreuz.net...

State Police Invade Offices of "gloria.tv" in Vienna: Priest Suspects on the Run!

Ed: here's one for Amnesty International.  Sounds like the police even roughed up the sister of one of the suspects while she was trying to keep them from steeling their computers and rifling through their offices.  I wonder how many would have that kind of courage?

The Austrian government definitely needs to be made ashamed of this.

According to "Kronen"  news, the national justice gave the green light for it.  A house search in Vienna escalated the situation.  Computers were confiscated and evidence secured.  It also involved "kreuz.net".

Vienna (kath.net) A number of days ago in Vienna, police executed a search warrant on the facilities of the internet website "gloria.tv".  This was reported on Saturday by the "Kronen" news.  According to the report, it was directed against two priests from Lower Austria and Vienna.  The charges are serious.  According to "Krone" it was related to an article with radical right as well as anti-Jewish and homophobic contents, which had been published on websites "kreuz.net" and "gloria.tv".


In Germany and also in Switzerland there have been investigations ongoing for some time.   Now the Austrian judiciary has given a green light.  The situation has been escalated by a house search in Vienna.  According to "Krone" the sister of the accused priest is being charged, for attempting to erase computers and obstructing the officials by taking the PCs with her.  An official is said to have been injured.


At present the national police are surveying the confiscated computer as well as the secured evidence.  The suspects were sought at churches, according to "Krone".  They are, in any case, still at large.

kath.net...

Edit: remembering when all of this happened to kreuz.net earlier this year.

An Example of the Priest Shortage in the Tyrolean Diocese of Innsbruck -- False Summary?

(Innsbruck) Next Sunday Bishop Manfred Scheuer of Innsbruck (in office since 2003) will ordain four deacons and priests. A joy for the church as a whole. Nevertheless, it is almost a zero-year for the Austrian diocese. Only one of the new priests ordained for the diocese and this is not from Tyrol, but from Ethiopia. The priesthood receives the Franciscan, John Unterberger from Upper Austria, the former Comboni missionary Korabza Kidane from Ethiopia, the Croatian-born Capuchin, Miro Matekic from Salzburg, and Carinthian Premonstratensian, Maximilian Stefan Thaler of Wilten near Innsbruck.

In 2012, Bishop Scheuer ordained five new priests, two of them for the Diocese of Innsbruck, the East Tyrolean Ferdinand Pittl and the Upper Silesian, Gabriel Thomalla from the Diocese of Opole who is completing his doctoral studies in Innsbruck. The other three new priests are the Tyrolean Premonstratensian, Adrian Gstrein of Wilten, the Tyrolean Jesuit Hans Brandl and the Indian, Julius Desouza, who was ordained for the Diocese of Basel.

2011, the Bishop scoured up only one new priest, the Tyrolean, Bernard Kopp, however, for this diocese.

2010, no ordination

2009, no ordination

2008,Bishop Manfred Scheuer consecrated two deacons and priests, including one for the diocese, the Tyrolean John Laichner. The second was a new priest of Tyrol, Premonstratensians, Jörg Schlechl for Wilten.

2007, Bishop Scheuer, two new priests, both Tyrolean and both for the Diocese of Innsbruck: Hans Jörg Pfurtscheller Sailer and Willi.

The deceased in January Innsbruck's 92 year old, Bishop Reinhold Stecher already desired during his tenure from 1980 to 1997, to resolve the problem of the shortage of priests by the abolition of celibacy and the admission of married men. He volunteered this point of view after his retirement. Most recently in 2011 he expressed sympathy for the rebels' call for disobedience by the priest who was the former Vicar General of Vienna Helmut Schüller, in which women priests were demanded. Stecher weight in for ORF and Tiroler Tageszeitung on his 90th Interviewed birthday, saying there "would be no objection" against a woman consecration in a "purely biblical-dogmatic".

Perhaps Bishop Stecher was himself the reason for the shortage of priests.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi Image: Wikicommons Link to katholisches...

Culturally Sensitive Historical Falsification in Vienna: Siege of Vienna by the Turks Stricken From the History Books

Edit:  In view of the 560th anniversary of the fall of Constantinople to the Turk in 1453 yesterday, this story appears providentially.

History is vitally important, but the powers that be would prefer to forget certain episodes and mandate others, whose denial can lead to being murdered, losing one's livelihood, public disgrace and long prison sentences.  

Here's a trial balloon being sent up in Austria. It will be interesting to see how the people take it.

There were similar attempts in England to avoid teaching about the "Holocaust" so as not to offend Muslims, or rather, as it was later spun, teachers could opt out of teaching the subject, in order to avoid inciting "anti-Semitic" thinking among Muslim students.


[Vienna.] As to addressing the defensive battle of Vienna against the Ottoman attackers or the Turkish wars in the 16th and 17th century, young Austrians could soon shrug helplessly:

Out of consideration for immigrants of Turkish origin, it was suggested by the principle that her Viennese elementary school's teachers not to treat the subject in the classroom. For those who do not comply, the threat of the dismissal, said the Zeitung Krone. After all, the Turks might be offended if they are reminded of their defeats in school. For Austrian history, the Turkish wars, however, are of immense importance. Vienna stood alone [Poles? Bavarians and Germans too?] against a major Turkish siege twice - and beat the attacker back both times. Parents are outraged by the effrontery of the Viennese school principal, Krone Zeitung also speaks of the "falsification of history".

Link to katholisches...

The above translated article first appeared 4/13.

I think it's also vitally important to linke Ewald Städler's address to the Turkish Ambassador in the Austrian Parlement in this context.

Leftist Bishop Assigned to Diocese of 250,000 Catholics in Feldkirch

Fr. Elbs was the desired candidate of the media. As the anti-Catholic newspaper "Der Standard” saw it in the autumn of 2012, he should have become the Bishop of Graz-Seckau. But now it’s the bishop of Feldkirch.

Left birth certificate holder, hopes for a change of course in the diocese by Bishop Elbs [screen shot: Presseconferenz / vol]

Fear of “Conservative Bishop" Ends

This means that the "fear" for another conservative bishop is over, who had expressed in a letter to the nuncio from 2,300 holders of a Catholic baptismal certificates. They had made statements against Fr. Thomas Fields, a priest of the "Spiritual Family The Work", and against Fr. Anton Lasser, founder of the conservative radio station "Radio Horeb" and head of the seminary Leopoldinum in the monastery of Heiligenkreuz.

The left and anti-church camp hopes for the "golden boy" Bishop Elbs would cause the "Orthodox cells,  conjured by (Bishop) Fisher, [will] go again."

“At last, the Allgäu boasts an ultra-Catholic broadcasting station in the country, Lefebvre supporters celebrate their Latin Masses, SSPX brothers have their followers, and the discrete network of Opus Dei has not fled Lower Austria with Klaus Küng," thunders a pro-Semitic newspaper.

As we learn from the Episcopate

Fr. Elbs addresses in a press conference on 8 May 2013 in Vorarlberg his appointment as bishop of Feldkirch, a small diocese established in 1968 with almost 250,000 Catholics.

With an "Buona sera I can’t well say, so instead I say Grüss Gott", said Fr.Elbs at the press conference. Within, he was going "haywire".

It was "a little downer" for a Bregenzerwälder as one put it, that he was just in Montafon. After a church service with the Linz (Auxiliary) Bishop Ludwig, he learned "in a parking lot with beautiful flowering trees” that in a call from the Nunciature,  he was appointed bishop.

Whether or not all traffic regulations were met on the way back to Feldkirch, he did not know.

Gratitude of the new bishop

He feels great gratitude for the many people who are involved in the Diocese of Feldkirch. He thanks his parents and all the “close companion and companions", also  "Bishop Elmar (Fischer) as his predecessor Bishop".

Important to him personally were:

• "That the Church has essentially the order to make the kindness of God visible to the people and what moves people - the fears, the hopes, the joy - that are also places, situations where the Church has a place and I am pleased that the new Pope Francis here in a very spontaneous and good job reaching out to people is with them, accompanying them and strengthening them. That is the one, which is very important to me at this moment, to say so.
• And the second is the friendship with God or the friendship of Christ. I must make the experience personal in life and also know from many conversations with people in different life situations, that this friendship with God, this relationship with God carries them, gives them support, is hope, is a perspective, opened a horizon of hope, and that is something that I very much wish for our diocese that we can continue to go well on the way in this sense. "

“For me it’s become completely personally important to me, Blessed Carl Lampert (note: he was the highest-ranking cleric who was executed by the National Socialists; beatification on 13 November 2011) since the beatification - then I promised that I would pilgrimage every day to Göfis until the issue of the bishop is settled in Feldkirch  that I had to drive so often to Mont Fort, I had not considered." 

Career

Hw. Elbs was born in 1960 in Bregenz, he attended  Bregenz Bundesgymnasium, then he studied theology in Innsbruck with a thesis (1986) about: “Penance instruction and religious education: a critical analysis of current teaching materials and catechetical / religious education aspects for a responsible practice."

In 1982 Fr. Elbs concluded the study of psychology. He received a diploma in Logotherapy and Existential Analysis by Viktor Frankl.

He was ordained a priest by Bishop Bruno Wechner 16 May 1986, then a chaplain in Bregenz Mariahilf and religion teacher.

By Bishop Küng first as a chaplain in (1989), held the Diocesan Boarding School the Marianum (rector from 1990), and the Pastoral Office.

From 1993, he also worked as a psychotherapist.

In April 2003 Fr. Elbs was chaplain to His Holiness. Two years later, on July 4th 2005, Bishop Elmar Fischer appointed him Vicar General. Since 2008, Fr. Elbs carries the dignity of prelate.

Since 16 November 2011, he led the diocese after election by the College of Consultors of the Diocese of Feldkirch as diocesan administrator.

The consecration as bishop of Feldkirch is on 30 June 2013 was performed by Archbishop Alois Kothgasser, Cardinal Schönborn and the Nuncio Archbishop Zurbriggen. The left ORF is so pleased, that it has transmuted his consecration as bishop on Austrian television.

The new bishop

When the (from now on, old) Bishop Fischer described homosexuality as in reality as curable, Fr. Elbs soothed the media's aberrosexual lobby by relativizing the episcopal statement.

The new Bishop sees himself as a "team player", a renewal of the Church "must come from below," says the left's quote from him. He hopes for a stronger "dialogic interaction".

"Small communities to read the Bible together and become socially engaged" to help conceal the priest shortage. There are "base communities" of the Church to breathe additional life. Let us recall here a warning of St. Curé of Ars: "Leave a church 20 years without a priest, and they will pray to animals ..."

Bishop Elbs expressly presented the leftist Bishop Erwin Kräutler as a model.

Cardinal Schönborn said to the newly appointed "It is an encouraging signal that the first episcopal appointment in the German speaking world by Pope Francis is a man who will truly act in his country very credibly and well beyond the borders of the church also." - Apparently the previously appointed Bishops do not  seem "really very credible."

In 2011, Fr. Elbs spoke against sanctions against Schüller’s break-from-Rome pastor, he pled for "talks".

The  non-occupation of the papal apartments by Pope Francis has found in Hw. Elbs a copycat: In the Bishopric, a villa on the Hirschgraben, the newly appointed bishop would not occupy it since he had already decided he wanted to "live as simply as the average in Vorarlberg".

In an interview with the “Vorarlberg news" Fr. Elbs himself the  questions that have been resolved recently and validly in Rome, such as being evasive about  the impossibility of women priests. On the question whether the “moratorium on discussion" decreed by Pope John Paul II still applies, he answers evasively, probably with a different position than the teaching of the Church, it states: "The most important thing is - I maintain - the culture of free speech. The bottom line is that you have to discuss all the issues. "

Similarly, the expressions of celibacy with references to former Anglican or Orthodox, who had converted to Catholicism, married priests.

A bishop who expressed here as ambiguously as this,  just does not show his conformity with Rome.

Appointments in Graz and Salzburg

In the Diocese of Graz-Seckau, more precisely, the press secretary of the Diocese, Plank, has also clarified the issue of succession in the Archdiocese of Salzburg and below expected in the foreseeable future in Graz-Seckau.


Link to kreuz.net….

Vienna Elementary School Removes Crosses From Classrooms

For the firs ttime since the time of the National Socialists the cross of Christ is being banned from class rooms.

The cross as a sign of God is an eyesore to National Socialists, Communists, anti-clericals, 

Jacobins and Muslims. 

Totalitarian systems have always fought it [Image: koptisch.wordpress.com]

The Cross is Hung in All Classrooms

The Vienna school law rules that in obligatory schools, in which the majority of the students belong to the Christian communion, a cross may hang in all classes.

What is not ruled is, what will happen to the cross if this majority is no longer present, respectively if this is not in the entire school, or if it is still in the individual classes.

Finally, in Vienna the mother of a female student has successfully appealed for the suspension of the cross.  That was last seen during the time of the Nazis.

She feels  "religiously imposed upon".  Clearly she is unteachable and is still placed in grade school instruction.

The mother has been bullying the school for a long time, till it finally gave in.

The socialistically governed city of Vienna (at present through a coalition of Socialists and Leftist "greens") has already been noticeable through its abolition of St. Nicholas Feast in kindergartens.

Atheist Advance

The Jacobin Atheist-Association is pleased to say "religion is a private matter".  Here is another indication that further action will be undertaken.

The president of this Association is Heinz Oberhummer, whipmaster and organizer of the soon to be complaining anti-Church-"people's" desire: "As a humanist I am for service to the humanity, not for service to God."

Counterposition of Freedom

The FPÖ- Education Speaker in the National Assembly was clear in his statement:  "It is already astonishing, how an individual person with her minority opinion can boss around the majority. ... Normally such questions must be decided by the school council. That on the other hand a single person can force a silent majority, has nothing to do with civil courage, but with a failure of mature democracy.  It doesn't mean that it is only his will what is imposed, who screams the loudest."

Parallel Case in Lower Austria

The attacks on Catholicism are not new.

Already in 2009 a "self-described" lower Austrian atheist demanded the removal of a cross in a kindergarten.

He wanted that his daughter, "be raised to religious maturity without a religious denomination, but committed to be open to the world and pluralism,"  he waffled.

He would have his human rights violated through this.  Through Thanksgiving and the Feast of St. Nicholas, the atheistic upbringing of his daughter was made impossible, although the participation was not mandatory.

Therefore his daughter is really not "open to the world", but raised in anti-clericalism (and even preventing the acquisition of Catholicism by the other kindergartners).  Perhaps he probably wouldn't have a problem, that his daughter also learns about Christian holidays.

ÖVP for the Installation of Crosses

At that time the standing ÖVP State representative Johanna Mikl-Leitner (now Interior Minister) in a positive statement for the installation of crosses explained:  "It is a proposal which goes against the foundations of the West."

In March 2011 the Constitutional Court recognized the installation of crosses in a kindergarten as constitutional.

Initiative comes from publicly visible advertising?

If the Church haters are consistent, a referendum against advertising in public space may be expected in the near future - so that the children do not "patronized" but can be educated as "open to the world".

Link to kreuz.net...

Cardinal Schönborn Criticizes New Legislation to Attack Church’s “Privileges"

Chairman of the Bishops' Conference criticized controversy in the context of the referendum and refers to positive role of religions for public

Vienna (kath.net / KAP) , Cardinal Christoph Schönborn (photo) has spoken for a more objective discussion about the fundamental question of the role of religion in the public sphere. It was "a simple matter to argue against certain groups and to stir up envy," as is currently done to the Church, noted the Cardinal in his column in the daily newspaper “Heute" on Friday and criticized that "in the context of the 'Anti-Church-Privileges referendum' much was said that was frivolous."

In contrast, the Chair of the Bishops’ Conference maintains that in Austria "all religions before the law have equal rights and duties" and the Catholic Church does not enjoy "special privileges" over other religions. "The good cooperation between state and religion in Austria is exemplary throughout Europe," says Schoenborn.

Biases and deficits in the debate are ascertainable from the perspective of the cardinal if the "huge wealth" of the Catholic Church is considered. Schönborn: "Then I would reply: Yes, the Church is 'filthy rich', rich in stone witnesses of the Christian culture of our country, which must be maintained. Did you know that the Church pays more in value added taxes for the renovation of its churches and monasteries, than they get in government subsidies?"

Overlooking numerous services of the Church to the community Cardinal Schönborn said, "It's true: the public sector financial support to Caritas, the Church's hospitals, the denominational schools but it pays here for services that would be much more costly for the tax payers, the state would have to provide these services themselves."

Link kath...

After Criticizing Islam and Sodom Courageous Austrian Pastor Fully Back on Duty

Edit: we’d noted earlier that a priest in the Austrian Diocese of Graz had been disciplined for doing his job. This interesting story comes in connection with another howling indecency by the Austrian Bishops in their approval for civil unions. Of course, there are at least three sources indicating that even the Pope himself may have approved of such a thing.

(Graz) The regular pastor, the Reverend Charles Tropper, who was dismissed for criticizing aberrosexuality and Islam from the Austrian Diocese Graz-Seckau (Styria) can now fully exercise again the priestly ministry in his parish of Veit am Vogau. At the end of August this year, however, he will be retired. This was announced this Thursday by Vicar General Henry Schnuderl. The pastor was, according to Schnuderl, guilty of making "terrible simplifications” and having an "uncultured style". Pastor Tropper had been secluded during the Holy Week and the Easter season under a sermon ban. Tropper was accentuated his position in a letter to the parish about Gomorrism and Islam. A homo-association made charges against the priest and had been ruled by the prosecution, after a preliminary inquiry, to be without substance. The Diocese, however, was called to intervene “in the necessity, of boundaries”. Link to katholisches...

The Exclusion -- The jus exclusivae

Franz Joseph I., Austrian Emperor by God’s Grace, hindered a pro-French Pope in 1903.  The tool for that is a right of veto.

Mariano Rampolla del Tindaro: With the Insignia
of honors and Grand Cross of the Bailli of the Maltese Order 

Tempora mutantur: at the conclave 110 years ago the Austrian Empire still had a weighty word, because a prompt right of veto followed.

Pope Leo XIII closed his eyes at last on the 20th of July on 1903.  Then the choice of a new Pope in the course of a conclave was the order of the day.  This began on the 31st of July.

64 Voting Cardinals

The 64 eligible cardinals were:  39 Italians, seven Frenchmen, five Spaniards, including even five from Austria-Hungary, three from Germany.  There was one each from Portugal, Belgium, England, the USA and Australia.  In Rome there were 62, because Cardinal Patrick Maran from Sydney couldn’t be there at the appointed time.  For Pietro Michelangenlo Celesia, Archbishop of Palermo,  it wasn’t possible to come for reasons of sickness.

The five Princes of the Church from the Double-Monarchy were Kolos Ferenc Vaszary (Gran Esztergom), Leo Freiherr Skrbensky (Prague), Jan Puzyna (Cracow), Johannes Katschathaler, as the Archbishop of Salzburg Primate of the Germans, and last Anton Grscha, Archbishop of Vienna.

Course of the Election

For a valid election a requirement of two thirds majority (of those present) accounting for 42.  On the 1st of Augustin at 10 o’clock in the morning was the first vote.  As expected, Cardinal Rampola reaped the most votes (24), in the second round he pulled 29 votes after that.

Now the opponents of Rampolla --  who were in the first line of Austria-Hungary -- sounded the alarm, because Rampolla was a red cape for the Double-Monarchy.  Under his aegis the Holy See would turn away from the Archcatholic House of Habsburg and to the French Republic, to which the latter was connected to Czarist Russia,  which was at that time oppressing Catholic Poland.

The ius exclusivae

It was time for Vienna to play its trump, the jus exclusivae, namely the right of certain Catholic Princes, to prevent a non-desirable Papal claimant.  The exclusion, by which the ius exclusive shortly became known by,  belonged  to, besides the Emperor of Austria, the King of Spain as well as the French government as the successor of the King of France and Navarre.

It is false to say as it is introduced  hither and yon (see Google) that Franz Joseph asserted his privilege  (which was fundamentally also due to the Magyars for their fight as athletes of Christ against the Turks) in his quality as King of Hungary.  Were this so, then the Monarch would have certainly, as the Prince Primate of Hungary, therefore the Archbishop of Estergom, as the one who delivered the veto.

Cardinal Rampolla can not be chosen

In this consideration Franz Josef I. had assigned Cardinal Puzyna a so-called secretum to carry to Rome , which contained the written veto to be cast against Rampolla. Puzyna cast the veto just before the third session (2nd August), which read:

“Called by the highest commission of this office, I consider it my honor, to convey to the Dean of the Holy College in an official way and let it be conveyed the following:  His Apostolic Majesty the Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary intend, to serve his ancient right and privilege, namely to assert a veto against the selection of His Eminence of the Cardinal Lords, Mariano Rampola del Tinder."

Guiseppe Sarto Becomes Pius X

With that Rampolla was out of the running, two days later, Guiseppe Sarto, the Patriarch of Venice, was elected as the new Supreme Head of the Church.  He took the name Pius X., Austro-Hungary had asserted itself.  Once more the old saying was valid: AEIOU -- Alles Erdreich is Oestereich untertan.

Indeed, Pius X. shortly released the Constitution Commissum Nobis on the 20th of January, 1904.  The content was a cold shower for Vienna, because from then on, any worldly power which asserts for consideration the jus exclusivae is threatened with excommunication latae sententiae.  With that the ancient privilege declared by Franz Joseph would be in the past.

This article referenced the following:

Erich Körner Lakatos:
Palais des Beaux Arts? Normannen in der Karibik?
Vierzig historische Nischen
Edition Octopust, 2012, 369 Seiten, 17,80 Euro
Münster: Verl.-Haus Monsenstein und Vannerda
978-3-86991-601-9

Link to kreuz.net….

Scandinavia: Growing Church and Ever More Seminarians

NB: innocent until otherwise proven. Flowers can indeed grow in inhosptable places and help can come unlooked from afar.

Vienna (kat.net/KAP)  The Catholic Church in Scandinavia grows, and even the numbers of home grown priests climbs:  as reported by a communique from Stift Heiligenkreuz on the Spring convocation of the Northern Bishop Conference it reads, there are already 60 young men from the region, who are seminarians from Scandinavia studying for the priesthood.  Many of them are converts from the Lutheran National Church.

According to cautious estimates, there are at present in the seven Diocese of Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway and islands about 500,000 Catholics.  The number grows rapidly; the trend is counter to the rest of Europe.  The reasons for this are mobility, growing numbers of refugees, conversions as well as a large number of baptisms.

According to the communique the general convocation was held to approve the statutes for seminary rectors.  In the text, the Bishops also stressed their thanks to Benedict XVI. and blessings for the successor Francis.  The Northern Bishops Conference meets till Wednesday in the University of Heilegenkreuz.

Copyright 2013 Katholische Presseagentur, Wien, Österreich (www.kathpress.at) Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Image source...

Dissident Fr. Helmut Schüller Loses Title of Monsignor

Zivilpriester Helmut Schüller darf keine
Soutane mit violetter Paspelierung mehr tragen.
© Catholic Church (England and Wales), CC BY-NC-SA

Disobedience Initiative

Politics in the Conciliar Church:  doctoring with various honorary titles in stead of dealing with problems.

(kreuz.net) The leader of the Austrian "Ungehorsams-Initiative" and the Viennese Pastor Helmut Schuller has lost his papal honorary title "Monsignore".

This was something lamented by the Austrian media bosses who've been carrying water for him.

That his title will be removed from him will be imparted to him shortly.

Secular Priest Without Monsignor Soutaine?

The apostle of disobedience received the title for his activity for the alleged poor relief organization 'Caritas'.

The title "Chaplain to his Holiness" allowed the secular priest Schuller, to wear the soutane with the violette pipping.

The Reason? Three Guesses

Through the removal of the title, Fr. Schuller will not have his "fundamentals shaken".

An explicit reason for the removal has not been provided.

Now he will clarify the situation in the Vatican.

He Returns the Title Himself

The Holy See has only acquiesced to the desire of Fr. Schuler himself.

He explained himself in December 2010 about the title of Monsignor:

"I will send the decree back.  I will write therefore that I don't need the title any longer and: thanks for the appointment."

Link to kreuz.net....

Pedophiles in the Pfarrer Initiative

Fr. Schüller is a welcome guest
 at Ex-Reichssender Wien (ORF).
© Screenshot

Edit: but there's no urgency about it as far as the media are concerned.  They protect and cover up for their own.

It is a fact that practically all abuse-priests are born from the Old Liberal camp.  Actually, Fr. Helmut Schüller finds the right words.

(kreuz.net)  The 'Disobedience Initiative' of Fr. Helmut Schüller has been confronted with the accusation of child abuse.

This was reported by former Wien Reichsender (Fascist broadcaster), ORF (Austrian Broadcasting).

A Slanderer Slanders the other Slanderer

The allegation originates from the slanderous site "Betroffener kirchlicher Gewalt". [Victims of Church Violence]

It explains a "known perpetrator of abuse" is also a member of the 'Initiative'.

Almost every single abuse-priest comes from the Old Liberal camp.

A Known Sitiation

Among the anti-Church hangers on of Schüller can be found the former Benedictine Arch-abbot Bruno Becker of St. Peter in Salzburg.

Allegations against him have been known in the media since March 2010.

The second member is related to a Steyerian priest who is also accused of child sexual abuse.

An Enemy of the Church Protects Another Enemy of the Church

The leader of the disobedience group held forth in a statesmanlike manner: "We must ponder, how we behave in such circumstances."

However, he doesn't have any urgency -- but it's otherwise usually in such cases :  This may be dealt with in the next meeting of the board of the Pfarrer-Initiative.

The anti-Church Reichsender is defending as expected the enemy of the Church: "[Fr.] Helmut Schüller has taken the allegations of the site seriously"  -- will be the consolation.

Link to kreuz.net...

Renewal of the Church Through Gentrification and Adultery

Call to Disobedience

The Zeitgeist ones want a lobby for the adulterous.  On the contrary the adulterers don't have any interest in this lobby.

(kreuz.net, Linz)  Yesterday the dissident assocation "Pfarrer-Initiative' held their General Convocation.

This was reported by the anti-Church newspaper 'Der Standard' today.

Most Stayed at Home

At the General Convocation which took place on Sunday of all things,  so only a fifth of the five hundred charter members of the group showed up.

Those present decided to expand the board from eleven to eighteen members.

At a press conference they announced the Zeitgeist concerns yesterday evening, that they intend to hold in disobedience.

They denounced the idea that this is "out of fun and games" -- rather allegedly out of "love of people".

Vienna's Cardinal Pays for His Inactivity

The head of the wheechair reform, Fr. Helmut Schüller wants next to agitate the Parish Council.

They are rebelling against the planned destruction of Vienna's parish structure.

Fr. Schüller expects to organize a meeting for next spring for that reason.

Gentrify the Church

The anti-Church newspaper 'Die Presse' reports that the Disobedience Initiative will stop talking about the laity.

They have invented the term of "Kirchenburger" (Church Citizen).

Additionally the wheel chair reformers want to demand women's ordination in contradiction to the Gospel.

Talk up Adultery

They want to define adultery as a "second marriage".

The same immoral conception must also apply for a third or a fourth marriage and function for bigamy too.

In any case Fr. Schüller wants to "lobby" for adulterers.

The problem: adulterers don't have any interest in the Church.

Link to kreuz.net...

Cardinal Schönborn "I see the danger of a Schism"

© Thomas Beranek, Pressefoto
bischofskonferenz.at

Austria's Media Bosses Leak Priest Council Protocols

The Old Liberal Viennese Cardinal has turned against the "Ungehorsams-Initiative" in a cosmetic sense. For example: "Please cease travelling: I hope I don't have to put this request in the form of a command."

 (kreuz.net, Vienna) Today the Viennese daily "Kurier" published excerpts from the protocols of the meeting of Vienna's priest council of the 10th of May. There the founder of the 'Ungehorsams-Initiative" [Call to Disobedience] , Father Helmut Schuller, is also a member.

 The Viennese Cardinal Christoph von Shonborn announced at the meeting that he will not name any more deans who are members of the "Ungehorsams-Initiative": "I can not say, you are going to be a Dean and act at the same time in the Call to Disobedience."

  No serious consequences 

Additionally the Cardinal forbid the members of the Ungehorsams-Initiative, from travelling through the land and holding events advertising the Disobedience Initiative.

 For that reason, there couldn't be any missions.

 He asked "for a pause in the "travelling apostolate" in the next months": "Please cease travelling: I hope I won't have to put this request in the form of a command."

Cardinal Schonborn is in a glass house


Cardinal Schonborn indicated that it was unusual that the Pope had preached about the Initiative on Holy Thursday.

"We aren't just in our local church, but are a glass house to the entire world."

The Austrian church will be "very closely watched" -- said the Schism-Prince of the Church.

"I see the danger of Schism"

Fr. Schuller doesn't believe that the Archdiocese of Vienna can find a solution for his hyped questions.

"We don't want to climb out of the boat, but we to stand at the helm and discuss the course".

Cardinal Schonborn had addressed this, that these disobedient ones are creating an alternate structure: "I see the danger of a schism".

Link to kreuz.net....

Tyrolean Priest Refuses Communion to Public Sinner

Edit:  you may have noticed the Doctor Peter's defense being used by the Monsignor who isn't defending his priest at all and is probably preparing disciplinary action against him.  It certainly looks like there's a cabal of clergy that is intent on destroying Catholic priests who do their jobs too well.  Anyway, wherever Old Liberal Bishops abound, it's open season on faithful priests.

© Christian Klingler, Wikimedia,CC

(kreuz.net, Imsterberg)  Pastor Stefan Müller refused Holy Communion to a public sinner who lives in a civil marriage.

This is at least what the anti-clerical newspaper 'Tiroler Tageszeitung' claims while foaming at the mouth.

The paper has never had a special concern for Holy Communion before.

Insterberg is a 753 population community about sixty kilometers from Innsbruck.

Those Who Are Able Are Shoved to the Side

The community is known for its above average Mass attendance.

Even young families participate in Divine Liturgies.

But this would be reason enough for the Innsbruck Diocesan nomenklatura  to have  put him on the chopping block.

It has already happened that Fr.Stefan Müller has been exiled to Imsterberg because of his Catholic convictions  and his pastoral success.

Anti-clerical News Coverage

The 'Tiroler Tageszeitung' has gotten involved to finish the clergyman.

For that reason the paper insulted the pastor because he celebrates the Old Mass.

Recently,  Cardinal Walter Brandmüller, who lives in Rome, celebrated the Pontifical High Mass in his parish.

The Background 

Last Sunday, the Pastor celebrated White Sunday.

Among the first communicants he found the illigitimate daughter of Karina Rudolf.

Miss Rudolf is living with a man she is not married to.

The Transparent Approach of the Priest

As a priest, Father Müller is obliged by Church law to defend Holy Communion from impenitent sinners.

This was reported by the "Tiroler Tageszeitung' that the Pastor had explained "that only those who are worthy should go to Communion".

Se knew herself why she may not go to Communion:  "I am only civilly married".

She had gambled away her own worthiness

Now Miss Rudolf sulks with self-pity.

She had her "human worth defamed" by the priest's treatment, she complained.

The "Tiroler Tageszeitung' spread rumours that the Pastor had even refused a second woman Communion.

Pastor Müller did not let himself be led by "Tiroler Tageszeitung'.

He did not give the Church-haters an interview.

The Diocese is on the side of the powerful

This decadent Diocese of Innsbruck stabbed the priest -- as is usual for Austria-- in the back.

The Bishop's Vicar,  Msgr Erich Sauerwein, tried to ignore the public sins of the impenitent concubine:

"The one giving Communion can not knonw the immediate condition in the conscience of the person concerned."

In any case, the Monsignor explained that "serious sin excludes you from the reception of Communion."

The Eucharist is "the highest good, which one should only receive with the deepest reverence".

The Self-Justification of the Impenitent Sinner

The mortal sinner has even said that he has no intention of fulfilling her Sunday duty in the future.

She is indifferent to being on the way to Hell.

Link to original...

A Pastor Celebrates Aesthetic Destruction

The first thing the faithful will see in the magnificent baroque church is not the altar painting, rather the doormat with two gaping holes.

(kreuz.net, Vienna) Since December 1999, Pastor Hermann Glettler has been destroying the parish church of St. Andre in Graz in southwest Austria.

The diocese of Graz-Sekau is currently being led to the wall by Bishop Egon Kapellari.

Fr. Glettlers church originates from the 17th century. It was built by the Dominicans and consecrated in 1635.

Wolves in Human Skin

The interior of the church looks as though kindergarten had run wild within it.

In front of the baroque high altar there is an example of a supper tale, which is made from mirror shards.

Next to it there is a wire stand with a glass plate. The thing is used as a podium.

On the church windows there are bright areas, which have distorted letters or -- more pointedly -- wolves in human clothes.

The white wall of the side chapel is smeared above with orange scribbling.

Aesthetically destroyed

Fr. Glettler was emboldened on his website with the idea, that he would consider to challenge "new artworks" .

They put the old state of the church in "a new light".

In any event the clergyman says that there's been an "aesthetic breakdown" with his art.

Profound Facade

In 2010 the facade was newly renovated.

In the course of its new formation, a Graz painter wrote various slogans on the exterior wall.

In various scripts, colors and sizes one can read profound things like "It greens so green", "tobacco", "nasty surprise", "Mozart", "sun flower", "sheep herd", "scale" , "park", "locksmith" or "lady slipper".

Altar Carpet with Two Holes

During this Lent, Pastor Glettler hung a self-cut lenten cloth over the high altar.

It is an old carpet in which Pastor Glettler has cut two holes.

It gives a clear view of the round window behind the high altar.

The chopped carpet should " challenge the expectation that an altar painting will be ordered" -- it says in an explanation.

Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austria-Hungary, washes the feet of the poor on Holy Thursday

In 1850, Franz Joseph participated for the first time as emperor in the second of the traditional Habsburg expressions of dynastic piety: the Holy Thursday foot-washing ceremony, part of the four-day court observance of Easter. The master of the staff and the court prelates chose twelve poor elderly men, transported them to the Hofburg, and positioned them in the ceremonial hall on a raised dais. There, before an invited audience observing the scene from tribunes, the emperor served the men a symbolic meal and archdukes cleared the dishes. As a priest read aloud in Latin the words of the New Testament (John 3:15), “And he began to wash the feet of the disciples,” Franz Joseph knelt and, without rising from his knees, washed the feet of the twelve old men in imitation of Christ. Finally, the emperor placed a bag of twenty silver coins around the necks of each before the men were led away and returned to their homes in imperial coaches.

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