The Leonhardi rides in Bad Tölz and Benediktbeuern at the weekend were canceled.
For the second time in a row, they fell victim to the corona pandemic.
But church services were celebrated - and some riders picked up the church blessing.
Bad Tölz / Benediktbeuern -
A couple of horses can be heard rolling during the service, a small formation of the town band brings sonorous festivities over the so-called "Leonhardiwiese" on the Tölzer Kalvarienberg.
St. Leonhard's special day on Saturday was different than usual, but still a special day of celebration for the participants.
"This year it is the second time that we cannot hold the pilgrimage," said parish priest Peter Demmelmair and spoke with his hopeful prognosis that a "normal" process might be possible again next year, from the soul of all visitors.
There had been no church service in the past year either
While there was no service on the "mountain above" - as it is commonly known in the vernacular - last year due to the corona, the honor due to Lehards Day was at least partially rendered this year.
Nonetheless, Demmelmair's appeal to the 400 or so people who were part of the party: "Take care, keep the distances that nothing comes from us that makes you sick."
13 riders and two carriages go up the Calvary
In addition to District Administrator Josef Niedermaier, Mayor Ingo Mehner and some town councilors, the party also included 13 riders, a pair and a four-in-hand, each with a carriage.
There were also some women among the riders - they had taken advantage of the extraordinary situation, because according to old custom, women are only allowed to be on the wagons, but not on horseback, at the official Tölzer Leonhardi ride.
The splendid late autumn weather with blue skies was ideal for the outdoor mass celebrations - a pavilion made of wood by the building yard served as the “altar room”.
The entry of the clergy was joined on behalf of all Leonhard drivers by a foot delegation with Rasso Babel from Sachsenkam, Michael Zerluth from Ort bei Kochel and Hans März from Oberbuchen, who carried the Leonhardi standard with them.
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The Goaßlschnalzer let it pop this year on the Tölzer Leonhardiwiese.
© Matthäus Krinner
Leonhard exemplified the concern for humans, animals, creation and nature in a far-reaching way
The political-human relationship between Germany and France had been tense for a long time - he recently heard this statement during a conversation during a stay in France, said Demmelmair. A woman there shook her head and said that with regard to the veneration of Leonhard, she couldn't understand why a Frenchman was so highly valued in Germany. But at that time around the year 500, when Leonhard as a hermit not far from Limoges campaigned for the poor, the sick, prisoners and also for animals, the country division had not yet existed. "It was all together a Franconian Empire and everyone was Catholic."
Leonhard had extensively exemplified the concern for people, animals, creation and nature, explained Demmelmair.
The pastor took the radio mast on the Calvary, which was not decorated with a lot of landscape and equipped with countless antennas for the purpose of connection with the outside world, as a visible and tangible symbol for those antennas that were supposed to connect people to God.
The fact that the latter are being capped more and more often is a development “that is now popping up with full force in our society.
People believe that everything would be nicer if one could live freely and independently. ”But behind this idea there is usually arrogance and overconfidence.
City pastor donates the blessing to the riders
There are many things for which we should be grateful anew every day: That we can now in the eighth decade live in peace with clean water and security, for encounters with good people who enrich our own lives, and for life with everyone in general its ups and downs.
Demmelmair stated that it was not possible to hold Leonharditag twice on the usual large scale. “The antenna to God is the core, not tourism.” The service ended with the memory of the deceased Leonhard drivers and a polyphonic “Great God, we praise you”. Ross and rider received the requested blessing and soon afterwards the Leonhardiwiese belonged to the Goaßlschnalzers, who had been practicing for a few weeks and now let it crack cleanly with two and then again with six men, as they usually do in Marktstrasse. In pagan times it was believed that such a loud spectacle could drive away evil spirits. Nobody believes that this Bavarian “sport” will intimidate the coronavirus. At lunchtimeWhen calm had returned, two more horsemen came to pray a father ours without public in front of the chapel and then to return home just as quietly.
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About 40 riders took part in a self-organized ride in Benediktbeuern.
© Pollmann
Longtime Leonhardi driver organizes ride in the monastery village
In Benediktbeuern, on the initiative of a long-time Leonhardi rider, around 40 riders started on the swimming pool street on Sunday morning and rode through the village to the cloister courtyard, reports Bernhard Waxenberger, who took part in the ride.
"It was nice that we came together this way."
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The riders rode from the swimming pool street to the cloister courtyard in Benediktbeuern.
© Pollmann
In his sermon, Pastor Heiner Heim reported that an organization from France, which is dedicated to the legacy of St. Leonhard, had contacted him with the request that the Benediktbeurer continue to work on behalf of Leonhard.
In addition to the visitors in the basilica, around 50 other people attended the mass in the monastery courtyard.
As a blessing, the riders finally passed the church portal three times.
“Everything went smoothly,” praised the mayor
“Everything went in order,” said Mayor Anton Ortlieb, praising the participants in the self-organized ride.
"My thanks also go to those involved and the spectators for their consideration for each other." (Rosi Bauer / Melina Staar)
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