Messkapelle Gößl

The Messkapelle Gößl is a modest church located in the cadastral district of Gößl in the municipality of Grundlsee in the Ausseerland region of Styria.Saint Raphael the Archangel is her patron.As a mass chapel, it is subject to the Grundlsee Roman Catholic parish.It is Styria’s sole church that is not held by the diocese.

The chapel in Gößl is privately held by 14 Gößl farmer families, not by the Catholic Church.The citizens of Gößl requested for the construction of their own church as early as 1792, because the journey to the church in Bad Aussee to attend Sunday mass, especially in the winter, was arduous, and the parish church in Grundlsee was not erected until approximately 1900.However, due to the enormous expenses for the few inhabitants, all competent authorities opposed the development.This is according to a report by Johann Josef Forstner, keeper of the kk lordship of Pflinsberg: “… that this cure in Gößl might seem unnecessary, useless, and very expensive for the highest aerarium…”His study also argues that if a church is absolutely essential, it is preferable to erect one in Gaiswinkel rather than Gößl, because it is simpler for everyone to go to Grundlseer.After nearly 40 years of debate, the Gößlers erected their church on their own property in 1819-1820, with a donation from Archduke Johann.The first Holy Mass was held in the little church on August 10, 1821.The building was expanded as early as 1833, and the timber structure was replaced with a brick structure.The sacristy and ridge turret were completed in 1903.

The Raphaelskirche was a branch church of the parish of Bad Aussee until 1952.It has been subservient to the parish of Grundlsee since its independence.

It is unclear how the original wooden chapel was outfitted.The main altar, a 1663 Renaissance altar, was transported here from the parish church in Bad Aussee.The altarpiece, on the other hand, is newer and is claimed to have been created by a Kainisch painter called Moser.It depicts the church patron, the archangel Raphael, with the child Tobias catching a big fish.On either side of the altar are two saint statues, one on the right a baroque image of Saint Roch and one on the left a carved Gothic figure, most likely of Saint Augustine.They were transported here with the altar from Bad Aussee.

During a burglary in 1969, a baroque statue of Saint Sebastian and two angel chandeliers were taken.Johann Steinegger of Gößl sculpted the new St. Sebastian statue, which was gifted by an anonymous individual.A painting depicting the adoration of shepherds dressed in classic Aussee attire is also included in the kit.Maria Mautner-Kalbeck, a sister of folklorist Konrad Mautner, painted it.Heidi Amon painted an icon called “Christ the Vine” after Leo Moskos.Hans Mayerl, a Grundlseer artist, created a tiny sculpture of Saint Barbara.

Above the altar is a magnificent ceiling fresco created in 1950 during a church restoration by the painter Hausknecht and reputedly also by the theologian Johannes Ude.It depicts the Holy Trinity, with God the Father in the center, Christ below, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, surrounded by the four evangelists.On the left is the Mother of God, and on the right is John the Baptist, who resembles Johannes Ude.

A cleared wooden gallery may be seen in the little chapel.The pews were purchased just a few years ago.A harmonium may be found in the chapel’s left rear corner.

A fresco of St. Christopher may be found on the church’s outside front.Karl Hauk, a friend of Ude’s, painted it, and Irmgard Schlömmer repaired it in 1984.There are memorial plaques commemorating the deceased of both world wars to the left and right of the entryway.A painted Madonna image with Jesus’ body hangs over the door.