Hartberg Capuchin Monastery

The Capuchin monastery at Hartberg is a monastery complex in the Austrian town of Hartberg, Styria, in the Capuchin province of Austria-South Tyrol. It is a remarkable example of the Baroque style of architecture and art, as well as a witness to the history of the region and the religious order.

The Foundation and Construction of the Monastery

The Capuchin monastery at Hartberg was founded in the mid-17th century, during the turbulent times of the Thirty Years’ War and the Counter-Reformation. On April 14, 1654, Matthias Singer, the provost of Vorau Abbey, laid the monastery’s foundation stone. He was a supporter of the Capuchin order, which was known for its simplicity, austerity, and missionary zeal.

The construction of the monastery and the church was not without challenges, but it was able to move on thanks to the generosity of several benefactors, notably Wolfgang Rudolf Graf von Saurau, Lord of Neuberg. He donated land, money, and materials for the project, and also helped to obtain the necessary permissions from the authorities. He was buried in the church in 1665, along with his wife and son.

Johann IV Markus von Altringen, prince bishop of the diocese of Seckau, consecrated the church on July 4, 1658, under the patronage of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The church was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the patron saint of the Capuchin order, and also to St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, a Capuchin martyr who was canonized in 1746.

The Expansion and Abandonment of the Monastery

In the following centuries, the Capuchin monastery at Hartberg became a center of spiritual and cultural life in the region. The monks engaged in pastoral care, preaching, teaching, and charity work. They also maintained a library, a pharmacy, and a garden. Because of the tremendous expansion in population and the resulting influx of tourists, the religious edifice had to be expanded. The church was enlarged in 1720, and the monastery was renovated in 1760.

However, the Capuchin monastery faced abandonment twice over the years: once under Emperor Joseph II’s Josephine reforms, and again in 1940, when the Capuchins were forced to leave Hartberg and the monastery complex was expropriated by the National Socialists. The church became a retirement home, and the edifice was used as a military storage. Many of the valuable paintings, sculptures, and books were lost or damaged during this period.

Following the conclusion of World War II, the Capuchins were able to return to Hartberg in 1945, thanks to the intervention of the American troops. Despite their return, the Capuchins were unable to use most of the property since it housed the district nursing home until 1955. The premises housed a component of the home economics school at St. Martin Castle near Graz from 1956 until 1967.

The Recent Developments and Future Prospects of the Monastery

After the Capuchins left due to a lack of young people, the Diocese of Graz-Seckau took over the monastery in September 2016. The diocese plans to use the monastery as a place of encounter, education, and spirituality for the local community and visitors. The construction of a St. Philipp Neri oratory has now been finished. The oratory is a chapel dedicated to St. Philipp Neri, the founder of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, a congregation of secular priests and lay people who live in community and promote the Christian faith through prayer, music, and charity.

The Capuchin monastery and church are also open for guided tours, which offer a glimpse into the history and art of the complex. The monastery and church were extensively renovated in the end of the 1970s, and the original Baroque features were restored. The church has a single nave and a barrel vault with lunettes. A half-hipped roof covers the simple front, and a ridge turret is built over the sanctuary. A stairwell going to the street has been built. The neo-baroque interior of the church was expanded in the early twentieth century with paintings by PG Burtscher. The paintings depict scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary, the Capuchin saints, and the benefactors of the monastery. The high altar, the side altars, and the pulpit are also adorned with rich carvings and sculptures.

Hartberg, Austria