These are eventful times - today as they were 150 years ago.
Auxiliary Bishop Wolfgang Bischof looked back on this at the festive service for the consecration of the Partenkirchen parish church, Maria Himmelfahrt.
It burned down in the fire disaster of 1865 and was rebuilt six years later.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen -
Yesterday, Auxiliary Bishop Wolfgang Bischof felt that the anniversary of the consecration of the Assumption of Mary was not the only reason for joy.
In the 150 years in which the Parish Church in Partenkirchen has now stood on Ludwigstrasse, he sees rather “a testimony of the people's faith”.
This was also proven by the enormous popularity of the festive service in the corona-compliant, fully occupied church.
Those who had not found admission followed the mass through the open doors.
“We live in turbulent times” - Bishop said this sentence several times in his sermon.
What he experienced yesterday in Partenkirchen, however, made him confident.
"People will continue to find their way into this beautiful place of worship."
The people of Partenkirchen were also faced with major changes in 1871
When this was rebuilt after the devastating market fire, in which on December 5, 1865, 67 houses next to the church, town hall and poor house went up in flames, people also experienced times of upheaval.
The county of Werdenfels had long been part of the Kingdom of Bavaria.
"A big change, just like the reorganization of the churches at that time," emphasized Bishop.
In addition, the First Vatican Council came in 1870, through which the then Pope Pius IX.
lost his worldly power in Rome.
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During the pageant to the tent, numerous representatives of associations walk through Partenkirchen with their flags.
© Thomas Sehr
A result that did not please everyone, which is evident in the Parish Church in Partenkirchen. The Gothic high altar is adorned with a patronage depiction by the Murnau history painter Johann Michael Wittmer. This painting, created in Rome in the spirit and style of the Nazarenes, bundles the color palette found in the room shell in clear, luminous power. You can see Mary, who is taken into heaven, accompanied by two angels, while the apostles stand around her empty marble sarcophagus. The special thing about this picture: "Here the angels wear the colors of Italy," explained Bishop. Dean Andreas Lackermeier had drawn his attention to this, and he brought him closer to the neo-Gothic church on a private tour. "In the style epoch it was more common that an artist left a statement in a picture",explained Lackermeier. In the case of the Assumption of Mary, “a clear statement for Rome”. Bishop also sees it as "a hidden revolt and a clear sign of change".
Church choir frames the service with Mozart's sparrow mass
People are currently facing one again. “What is the significance of the Church and Faith?” Asked the Auxiliary Bishop. In times when the Catholic Church is in a deep crisis of trust and disappointment, this is certainly a justified objection. The Gospel according to Mark, which deacon Wolfgang Lautner recited in the church service, which was ceremoniously framed by the church choir with Mozart's sparrow mass, gave him hope, however. The apostles tried to isolate Jesus from the people, certainly with good intentions. "Let the children come to me, don't stop them," he said. “For people like them own the kingdom of God. Amen, I tell you: whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.“It must remain tangible and tangible”. Only in this way can new confidence grow that God and his Son stand by the side of the believers. Exactly "that is what we need in these eventful times".
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Enjoy the sociability: after the service, many people enjoy lunch in the marquee.
© Thomas Sehr
In the tent in the underground car park on Badgasse, the auxiliary bishop also noticed people's need to finally be able to celebrate again after the coronavirus-related privations. Carefree and sometimes without a mask. The response to the festival weekend was correspondingly great, to Lackermeier's delight. "We received a lot of encouragement for the entire program," said the pastor. During the service he already emphasized the great cooperation of all committees and associations that contributed to the success of these three festive days with an exhibition, a large program for families and children, church tours, the lighting of the Wankkreuz and special activities in and around the church. Words that were rewarded with applause from the parish. "A lot of people have been working towards this for so long," emphasized the dean. To celebrate"That this building was put into service by God 150 years ago". For the auxiliary bishop these are "the living stones from which the Lord builds his temple".
Yesterday, for the third time this year, he experienced how strong and sustainable these are in Partenkirchen.
After the Antonifest in the pilgrimage church of St. Anton and the 300th anniversary of the consecration of the St. Anna Church in Wamberg, this time he appeared "over time" in the Assumption of Mary.
Bishop has meanwhile internalized the traffic jam in front of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
“But these are purely incidental matters.
It is crucial that we gather around God who unites us. "
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Young artists in action: girls and boys are redesigning the privacy screen of the emergency exit at the parish hall.
© Thomas Sehr
