The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Willibaldritt: Old engagement books discovered - puzzles solved

2021-09-20T13:03:48.240Z


The traditional Willibaldritt goes back to an ancient vow made by the Jesenwanger in 1712 - that much has always been known. What exactly happened at that time can now be seen from two old books that have surprisingly reappeared: the so-called engagement books. After the chance find, some puzzles have now been solved.


The traditional Willibaldritt goes back to an ancient vow made by the Jesenwanger in 1712 - that much has always been known.

What exactly happened at that time can now be seen from two old books that have surprisingly reappeared: the so-called engagement books.

After the chance find, some puzzles have now been solved.

Jesenwang -

The background to the ride through the Church of St. Willibald, which is unique in Europe, has been clarified for a long time.

An animal disease hit the region more than 300 years ago.

In their need, the people turned to Saint Willibald and asked him for help.

And indeed, according to legend, the animals in and around Jesenwang were spared.

But the legend is now becoming reality, because two books testify to it: The pages are filled with pledges of people who tell of how their animals escaped the plague.

The engagement books were found by pure chance, as Martin Schmid, chairman of the St. Willibald Circle of Friends, reports.

“I've been looking for it for a long time,” he says.

But then they were found by someone else.

Annemarie Hillebrand had looked for documents about the church in Bergkirchen in the rectory.

The reason for Hillebrand, who lives in the Jesenwang district, was the renovation of the church.

While looking for the documents, she came across the two engagement books on the shelves of the parish office, which date from around 1712.

+

The Willibaldritt is known beyond the district boundaries.

(Archive photo)

© Weber

With her find, the woman from the mountain church turned to Elvira Zeh, the widow of the former district caretaker Alexander Zeh.

Schmid informed them and finally borrowed the books.

What is on the pages of the volumes is not so easy to understand.

Because the entries were written in the then common Kurrent script, which hardly anyone can read today.

One who is able to do this is the local historian Ernst Messmer from Grafrath.

Elvira Zeh had turned to him and he was able to decipher that it was a list of pilgrims who had promised Saint Willibald a service - for example money in the offering box or a prayer - in the event that he would attend the Disease of their horses helps.

As Elvira Zeh reports, Messmer was unable to translate the books completely due to lack of time.

But he transcribed one page into today's script (see box).

Circle of Friends Chairman Schmid would now like to have the books completely deciphered and is looking for an expert for it.

"Perhaps it could also be a student who wants to do his bachelor's thesis with it," he says.

But one thing is clear even without translation: The betrothal of the people of that time has endured through the centuries.

Because even today horse owners attach great importance to having their animals blessed at the annual Willibaldritt.

This became clear again this year when the ride around due to Corona could only take place on a small scale and without spectators.

Numerous letters have reached Schmid in which people told him how much they would like to have taken part in the tour.

On July 4th this was reserved for riders from the surrounding stables.

But Martin Schmid says: "If you missed it that day, you can contact us via our homepage." He will then organize an appointment.

“Nobody has to do without the blessing of Saint Willibald,” says Schmid.

Just as the engagement books show.

Transcription of a page: “1 Rosenkhranz zu pray dem heyl.

Williwalt, it's got better "

In 1712 people from all over the region made pilgrimages to Jesenwang to worship St. Willibald for help.

This is evident from the engagement books, as well as the fact that there was indeed improvement.

Here is the transcription of the text of one page by Ernst Messmer:


Georg Sedlmayr von Geltendorf betrothed his sick horse with 10 Kreuzer in stokh, 1 Rosenkhranz to pray to the heyl. Williwalt, it's gotten better. Georg Nidermayr von Günzlhoffen has 2 sick horses with 5 Kreuzer in stokh, and Rosenkhranz to the heyl. Williwalt has gotten better. Ursula Schwankhartin von Biburg is engaged to a sick horse with 1 Kreuzer in stokh and Rosenkhranz to the heyl. Williwalt has gotten better. Michael Walch von Aich engaged 2 sick horses with 3 Rosenkhränz and ended up with Mark in stokh to the heyl. Williwalt, it's gotten better. Editor's note: Translated into today's script from the fourth line, “betrothed” means vowed / solemnly promising a donation; The donation was made in the offering box, here "stokh". Or rosaries were prayed. "Williwalt" is Willibald.

You can read

more news

from Jesenwang with us.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-09-20

You may like

News/Politics 2024-01-31T04:59:55.211Z

Trends 24h

News/Politics 2024-03-27T16:45:54.081Z
News/Politics 2024-03-28T06:04:53.137Z

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.