Capuchin Friary, Rapperswil

The Monastery Rapperswil is an active monastery of the Capuchin Order in Rapperswil in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It has existed since 1606. Nationally known is the monastery for its rose garden and Anthony grotto.

History

In the turmoil of the Reformation Rapperswil gained strategic importance: Zurich wanted to neutralize the Catholic bridgehead, where possible, the Catholic cantons tried to consolidate these outposts. Soon after the founding of the first Capuchin monastery in Altdorf negotiations were launched in an effort to settle the Capuchins in Rapperswil.

Foundation

Only reluctantly and came at the command of the pope over the Alps, close to the people Franciscans built first in Altdorf ( 1581), Stans (1582 ), Lucerne ( 1583 ), Schwyz (1585 ) small monasteries and were from St. Gallen Abbot in the service of Catholic renewal provided. The idea of ​​a Capuchin branch was presented in February 1596 by Schwyz, Uri and Unterwalden, the Provincial in Lucerne and the Order line in Rome, and received by the Capuchin Province and by the newly elected Superior General.

After long negotiations we had the Capuchins, the most worthless land in Endingen outside the walled city: a falling Nagelfluhbrocken towards the lake. More than a year was needed to prepare the ground by blasting. Rapperswil provided the building materials available and participated in the building at the west end of the castle hill, respectively, the Rapperswil peninsula.

Nuncio Giovanni della Torre reached, that the Council on September 2, 1602 the decision to build " for the increase and Äuffnung of the holy, Christian Roman Catholic faith" summarized and motivated private and church patrons to donate the necessary funds. The long list of "big and small donors will be opened by widow Verena Züger. Your land grant at Krützli and a further 1000 florins of other citizens put a great beginning, which neither the donation of one of the eight abbots or the Catholic cantons, nor the contributions of Schultheissen of Rapperswil or the French king should equal ... the papal nuncio, the abbots of Einsiedeln, St. Gallen, St. Blaise, Muri, Rheinau, Wettingen, Ragaz and the monastery Fischingen and political gentlemen who invested in a Catholic Rapperswil: the king of France, whose Sold alliance Rapperswil had joined in 1521, the screen locations of Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden and Glarus, Appenzell and the Pfyffer Schultheiss of Luzern. Other contributions were the resulting monastery also spontaneously. So took about an Alsatian pilgrim on the way to Einsiedeln wandered at the building site at a later time, the cost of water supply from the city fountain and donated it to 100 florins. ».

There subjected in the first year a four priests and three brothers with whom began the ending more than 400 years history of Rapperswil Capuchin community.

Despite massive threat of sanctions took the city of Zurich on 23 September 1607 Bishop of Chur Johannes V. Flugi of Aspermont - the keystone of the portal of the church bears the date 1606 - the consecration of the church and the altar of the Monastery Rapperswil before and also consecrated during the Reformation desecrated churches and chapels.

Chronology

In 1607 it was the duty of the Capuchins, Rapperswil to secure a bridgehead of the Catholic faith and in the surrounding districts to promote the Catholic life of the population and consolidate.

1640 link building between the monastery and church with three cells, a library, and the vestry was built.

1662 of the walkway was built by the Zurich in its present form after the siege of Rapperswil ( 1656).

1734 forced the numerous religious offspring a strong expansion of the monastery. On the south side of the courtyard typical closed due to a new tract. The north wing was widespread and prolonged, the west wing. The church was restored and enlarged the inner choir. From this period probably date the Stations of the Cross in the Church.

1923, the residential wings west and south were raised by one floor and thus adapted to the height of the north wing. Many parts have been restored at this opportunity and improved the housing situation. The church was remodeled neo-Baroque and cultivated the Anthony grotto.

1925 had to be placed in the church a new plaster ceiling, at the same time a new window was on the right side of the nave erupted.

1967 a new wing was built at an obtuse angle between mortuary chapel and the south wing, which forms a new courtyard with the entrance of the gate. Similarly, the living conditions were completely renovated and renewed the sanitary facilities. Due to the renovation of the church, this was adapted to the needs of the new Liturgy forms and created an atmosphere that facilitate the churchgoers personal prayer and meditation.

Since November 1992, the monastery for guests, women and men is opened, the wish to live with him with the monastic community at least a week. In addition, ( Assembly of Delegates of the Capuchins ) was the regional chapter of German Switzerland awarded the contract to the community to seek new forms of prayer and liturgy and to integrate a new way in the city and region.

In December 1998, two sisters from Menzingen came to Rapperswil and live and work since then in fellowship with.

In 2000 the pews were replaced by chairs. So it is more flexible in interior design for special liturgies, such as dance worship, Easter morning and group celebrations.

While Reformed and Catholics still fighting doggedly during the Reformation in the 16th century, in 2001 at least one third of the monastery guests were reformed and some non-denominational.

2002 two anniversaries were celebrated: 400 years Capuchins in Rapperswil and 10 years " to the monastery of coexistence "

Building

The dimensions of the first monastery were calculated modest and for only 12 brothers. The necessary for the construction of space had to be blasted out of the rock in hard work, so that the oldest parts of the monastery fit directly to the final hill. Extensions has been gradually carried out, and also created space for the cloister garden at the Kreuzliwiese on Endingerhorn, westward to Lake Zurich in projection.

On the monastery grounds is also the so-called Hermit House - named after the monastery of Einsiedeln as a former owner of the former " Krüzliwiese " - where until 1972 a small cloth fulling mill was operated. Through the gate when Endingerturm access from the historic city of Rapperswil done