Willibrord Benzler

Willibrord Benzler

Willibrord Benzler, OSB (16 October 1853 - 16 April 1921) was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Metz from 1901 to 1919.

Born as Karl Heinrich Johann Eugen Benzler in Niederhemer, Westphalia, the eldest son of Karl Benzler, an innkeeper, and his wife, Klementine (nee Kissing), he was baptized at SS Peter and Paul Church on 24 October 1853. After attending the elementary school in Niederhemer and the "höhere Bürgerschule" in Menden, he went on to study at the secondary school in Attendorn, and (from 1867-1871) at the gymnasium Paulinium in Münster, where he graduated.

After beginning to study architecture in Cologne, in December 1871 he changed to study philosophy and Catholic theology at the University of Innsbruck. In the autumn of 1872 he joined the Collegium Canisianum maintained by the Jesuits; however, his application to join the order was denied in 1874. Instead he joined the Benedictine abbey of Beuron and chose the name Willibrord. On 28 August 1877 he was ordained to the priesthood by Johann Baudri, auxiliary bishop of Cologne.

During the Kulturkampf the monks of Beuron were forced to leave the country. From 1875 to 1880 they stayed in Volders (Tyrol). In 1880 they were invited to revive the Emaus Abbey in Prague. From 1883 to 1887 he was prior of Seckau Abbey in Styria, which had been revived as a priory of Beuron. In 1887 the monks were able to return to their monastery in Beuron, where he became prior. In 1892 Maria Laach Abbey was refounded by the monks of Beuron, and Willibrord Benzler became its prior. On 15 October 1893 the priory was made an abbey, and he became the first abbot. On December 8 he was consecrated as abbot by Wilhelm von Reiser, Bishop of Rottenburg.

Even though Benzler had earlier been discussed as a possible bishop of Cologne or Fulda, his appointment as bishop of Metz on 21 September 1901 was somewhat surprising. He was ordained on 28 October 1901 by Michael Felix Korum, bishop of Trier.

After World War I the diocese of Metz became French again, and a German bishop was no longer acceptable; Benzler therefore resigned in January 1919. His resignation was officially accepted on 10 July; on 31 July he was appointed archbishop of the titular see of Attalia in Pamphylia. He returned to his abbey in Maria Laach and later to Beuron, but a serious heart disease forced him to move to the Cistercian abbey of Lichtenthal near Baden-Baden to receive medical help. In 1921 he died there, and was buried at his first abbey in Beuron.

Coat of arms

The bishopric coat of arms of Willibrord Benzler showed on the heraldic right side three silver fish on blue ground, while to the left it had a red cross of Lorraine with the word "PAX" (peace). The origin of the three hills to the bottom of the cross is unknown, they might have been a reference to his hometown in the hills of the Sauerland. Below the shield is the motto of Bishop Benzler, "In verbo tuo" (Following your word). ["Das Gedenkrelief an Willibrord Benzler in der Pfarrkirche St. Peter und Paul Hemer", Brochure by the St Peter and Paul Parish, Hemer.]

ources

*de icon [http://www.bautz.de/bbkl/b/benzler_w.shtml Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon article]

Publications

*cite book|author=Benzler, Willibrord|coauthors=Bihlmeyer, Pius (ed.)|title=Erinnerungen aus meinem Leben|language=German|publisher=Kunstverlag Beuron|url=http://de.wikisource.org/wiki/Erinnerungen_aus_meinem_Leben|year=1922

References

Persondata
NAME=Benzler, Willibrord
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Benzler, Karl
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Bishop of Metz
DATE OF BIRTH=16 October 1853
PLACE OF BIRTH=Niederhemer, Westphalia (now Germany)]
DATE OF DEATH=16 April 1921
PLACE OF DEATH=Lichtenthal Abbey, Baden-Baden, Germany


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Willibrord Benzler — Wappen von Bischof Willibrord Benzler Willibro …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Willibrord Benzler — Willibrod Benzler Biographie Naissance 16 octobre 1853 à Niederhemer, en Westphalie …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Benzler — ist der Name folgender Personen: Felix Benzler (1891 1977), nationalsozialistischer Diplomat Johann Lorenz Benzler (1747–1817), deutscher Bibliothekar und Schriftsteller Willibrord Benzler (1853–1921), deutscher Bischof und Abt …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Benzler — Benzler, Willibrord, Bischof von Metz, geb. 16. Okt. 1853 zu Niederhemer bei Iserlohn, verließ 1871 das Gymnasium zu Münster und erhielt seine theologische Bildung in Innsbruck und Beuron, wo er 1874 in den Benediktinerorden eintrat. 1883 ward er …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Benzler — Benzler, Willibrord, Bischof von Metz, geb. 16. Okt. 1853 in Niederhemer bei Iserlohn, Benediktiner, 1883 Prior von Seckau, 1887 von Beuron, 1893 Abt von Maria Laach, 1901 Bischof von Metz …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Karl Benzler — Willibrord Benzler Willibrord Benzler, évêque de Metz, 1901 1919 Willibrord Benzler (16 octobre 1853 16 avril 1921), est le 101ee évêque de Metz de 1901 à 1919 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Liste der Hemeraner Straßennamen — Die Liste der Hemeraner Straßennamen führt Bedeutungen und Umstände der Namensgebung der Straßen in Hemer auf. Aktuell gültige Straßenbezeichnungen sind in Fettschrift angegeben, nach Umbenennung oder Bauarbeiten nicht mehr oder noch nicht… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Liste der Biografien/Ben — Biografien: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Abtei Maria Laach — Westseite der Klosterkirche Maria Laach mit Paradies Umgebungskarte der östlic …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bischof von Metz — Die folgenden Personen waren Bischöfe und Fürstbischöfe des Bistums Metz: Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 3. bis 5. Jahrhundert 2 6. und 7. Jahrhundert 3 8. und 9. Jahrhundert 4 10. und 11. Jahrhundert …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”