Evening star., 1941-10-17
Famous Abbey
Reported Closed
Writer Says Mario Looch
Has "Succumbed" After
EIGHT Centuries of Service

| civilization has been eXtinguished.
Like so many other magnificent Bene-
dictine monasteries in present-day Ger
many, the great Abbey Of Maria Laach
in the Rhineland also has succumbed at
last.
The abbey buildings stand on the
western shore of lake Chence 'Laach")
which is located between the old Roman
towns of Coblenz and Bonn on the left
bank of the Rhine. They are hidden
among fruitful orchards and fertile gar
dens and encircled by pleasant hills.
Henry II Won Hochstaden, count pala-
tine, founded the monastery in 1898
For 800 years, under the croser of 43
abbots, the monks lived there the Bene-
dictine life of common observance and
the worship of God During the 18th
and 18th centuries they built a church
| which, because of its five steeples and
| splendid dome and a most graceful
| atrium, is considered one of the most
| beautiful ecclesiastical buildings of Ger
many 1t is masterpiece of the Ro-
| maneSque style unspoiled by later addi-
tions and alterations and restored in a
very artistic way by the present Abbot
1ldephonse HerWegen, D. D., LII. D..
and his predecessor, Abbot Fidelis Won
Stotzingen, S. T. D. Under the inspiring
direction of these prelates some so choir
monks and 100 lay brothers have been
working during the past 40 years. They
have been zealously engaged not only as
theologians, philosophers, historians
scientists, artists, but also as farmers,
craftsmen engineers, etc. Many of them
had graduated as doctors at the German
universities of Bonn, Tubingen and Got
tingen or at the universities of Rome and
Louvain. A library of more than 10000
volumes offered them material for their
research work.
The monastery conducted a school OF
philosophy as we'll as an international
academy for the study of liturgy and
monastic history. In addition, approxi-
mately 25 boys were instructed annually
as apprentices in the different trades
to prepare them for work in the world
The lay brothers who taught these boys
acquired recognition by their charges
successful completion of examinations
conducted by the state authorities. In
deed, within the confines of their mona
stery these Benedictines realized what
may well be called Christian civilization
A great many Americans have had op-
portunity to study the life and activity
of this City of God" on the shores of
the beautiful lake in the Eifel Noun
tains.
OF the numerous scientific and popu-
lar books and collections which have
been published by the monks. the AN
nual Review of Liturgical Science" of
which l3 volumes have so far appeared,
Is appreciated universally
In the same way products OF the
school of art at Maria Laach. pictures
statues in marble and bronze chalices.
Ehrines covered with gems and ivory
and wonderful enamels can be admired
IN America as well as in Germany.
More than once the officers of the gov
ernment OF the Reich conferred prizes
and decorations upon the monks for their
agricultural works and social endeavors
The monks themselves, however, were
most modest regarding food, clothing and
similar things. Instead of accommodating
their goods, they preferred to distribute
them to the poor. Each Christmas 600
poor families received from the monks
boxes containing clothing, meat, bread.
cakes, vegetables, fruits and toys for the
children. During many years after the
first World War 300 loaves of bread were
given to the poor each week and $50
people received warm dinner each day
Innumerable packages of food were sent
to the starving people in the cities of the
Rhineland. The monks kept approx
mately so rooms for their guests, many
OF whom would spend three days or more
In the abbey. The hospitality of the
monastery was unlimited, extended to
every honest man, whether Catholic or
Protestant. German or foreigner.
Among the hundreds of thousands of
guests from every field Of human en-
deavor who have been received at Maria
Laach, have been some of the highest
dignitaries of church and state. Apart
from the clergy and the faithful of Ger
many itself, these have included the
Belgian Cardinal Mercier, the English
Cardinal Bourne, the Roman Cardinal
Verde, cardinals and bishops from Amer
lea and from all other parts of the world,
the late Kaiser Wilhelm II and his fam
lily, the late King Albert of the Belgians
and his Queen, the late Margarita, Queen
OF Italy and many princes of royal blood,
ambassadors and ministers of state
from Austria, Spain and China; the late
Gen. Allen and thousands of American
soldiers, professors of ecclesiastical and
state universities, artists actors, journal
lists and craftsmen from everywhere, all
these have enjoyed the spirit of Benedic-
tine hospitality 1t gave them an oppor-
tunity to experience broad minded Chris
tian charity, heavenly peace and sub
lime universal culture. They felt them
selves drawn nearer to Goo without
external compulsion. 1t is no wonder
that the present Pope and his three
predecessors bestowed their benevolence
upon the abbot and monks of Maria
Laach.
Nor is it surprising that there is no
longer a place for such an institution in
the Reich of the Nazis According to
their principles it had to disappear!
'Necessitas parit coronam" c'Distress be-
gets crown) is the heraldic motto of
the present abbot of Maria Laach, who
during the % years Of his abbatial gov
ernment, has witnessed the prosperity Of
his abbey and currently experiences It's
greatest distress. He and his monks may
be sure that while he now is bearing q
nrnu,,, ~ ~ orv,r IN, nvila froro 6ie haIouoJ