Bertrand Baumann – Wikipedia

Bertrand Baumann OCist (Born June 24, 1917 in Traunstein, Lower Austria as Walter Johann Baumann ; † February 17, 2006 in Zwettl) was an Austrian clergyman and the 66th Abbot of the Cistercian Abbey Zwettl.

Bertrand Baumann was born on June 24, 1917 as the son of the merchant Franz Baumann (born September 9, 1886 in Traunstein) and his wife Maria (born August 15, 1888 in Trofaiach; born Zeiler) in the Lower Austrian community of Traunstein and on June 30th 1917 in the name Walter Johann christened. ^[first] His parents married on July 11, 1911 in the parish church of Trofaiach. ^{[2] [3]} Even in childhood, he came as a singing boy to the Zwettl Abbey, just a few kilometers away from his birthplace. He completed his schooling in 1936 at the Schlierbach Abbey High School – only two years earlier, the first Matura took place here. Then he joined the Zwettl Cistercian Abbey on August 6, 1936, where he Bertrand (after Bertrand von Grandselve, one of the first Cistercians) received. After the novitiate, Baumann studied theology in the Philosophical-Theological Health Center of the Heiligenkreuz Abbey before, during the Second World War, he was moved into the Wehrmacht in 1940. As a returnee, Baumann then renewed his profession (August 7, 1947) and-now 30 years old-was ordained a priest on August 10, 1947. A year later he completed his studies at Innsbruck’s Canisianum. Subsequently, Baumann worked as a pastor and initially worked as a chaplain in Großschönau before moving to the Pfettl collegiate parish. He then took over the management of the retreat house and the building authority until in 1958 the administration of the Gobelsburg winery belonging to the Abbey was transferred to him. From 1967, Baumann also appeared as a pastor in Hohenwarth and Großriedenthal, and from 1977 also in Gobelsburg. In 1973, Baumann was included in the status of an original philistry by AV Austria Innsbruck, a Catholic, color -bearing, non -slaughtering student connection in the ÖCV. He was also an honorary member of the MKV connection K.ö.St.v. Lichtenfels Zwettl .

On February 4, 1980, Baumann was elected 66th Abbot of the Zwettl Abbey and succeeded Ferdinand Gießauf, who resigned on January 1, 1980. The Lower Austrian State Exhibition 1981 falls under Baumann, with the title The Kuenringer – that will be the state of Lower Austria Around 400,000 visitors attracted the Zwettl Abbey. Abt Bertrand himself initiated the International Organ Festival in the Abbey, which took place for the first time in 1984. ^[4] Under his work, various new and conversions in the monastery, as well as in the incorporated parishes, also happened. Baumann was honored with various awards from the church, the state of Lower Austria and the federal government throughout their life. Among other things, he received the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art 1st Class in 1974. ^[5] For Baumann’s 70th birthday, the Lower Austrian state historian Walter Pongratz wrote a commemorative publication with the title Abbot Bertrand Baumann 70 years old and 40 years of priest in the magazine The Waldviertel whose editor Pongratz was from 1960 to 1987.

After reaching the age limit of 75 years, Baumann resigned from his office as an abbot in 1992. The following year Paulus Winkelbauer succeeded Baumann as Abbot of Zwettl and remained in office until his own age -related resignation in 1996. In the year of his resignation, Baumann was awarded the great silver honor for services to the Republic of Austria. ^[6] After his time as an abbot, he continued to work as a pastor and had taken on tasks as such a temporary activity. Baumann himself viewed his work as a moderator in the parishes of St. Wolfgang and Hospital as a late high point of his life. Throughout his life – especially during his time as a abbot – he wrote various articles in Cooperatio – House newspaper for Stift Zwettl .

On February 17, 2006, Baumann died at the age of 88 and was buried in the monastery cemetery the following day, after being raised on February 24, 2006. ^[7]

1. ↑ Taufbuch Traunkirchen, tom. VIII, fol. 43 ( Facsimile )
2. ↑ Taufbuch Trofaiach, tom. VI, fol. 392 ( Facsimile )
3. ↑ Wedding book Trofaiach, Tom. V, fol. 316 ( Facsimile )
4. ↑ Brilliant start: 25 years of international organ festival Stift Zwettl , accessed on February 7, 2020
5. ↑ Chancellor’s response to request – p. 375 (PDF; 6.6 MB), accessed on February 7, 2020
6. ↑ Chancellor’s response to request – p. 910 (PDF; 6.6 MB), accessed on February 7, 2020
7. ↑ Abbot Bertrand Baumann died , accessed on February 7, 2020