2024 Danube Pilgrimage: Austrian Monasteries and Cities

St. Florian Monastery

St. Florian Monastery is the oldest place of worship in this region. On May 4, 304 AD, Saint Florian died a martyr's death. The monastery was built over his tomb. The property is absolutely magnificent with its baroque architecture. 

Emporer Hall

The monastery was reconstructed between 1686 and 1708 in baroque style. The Basilica Minor is dedicated to St. Florian and St. Augustine. 

As beautiful as the "main church" is, the tour seemed to be centered around Anton Bruckner who was a composer. At the age of 13 after the death of his father, he was sent to St. Florian to become a choir boy. He was in awe of the organ housed in the Basilica and played it during Mass. The organ is now called the Bruckner Organ. His wish to be buried beneath the organ was fulfilled. Not only did we have the opportunity to visit his tomb, but we were treated to a short organ recital.

The Bruckner Organ. We were able to experience the organ through a recital. I've never heard such an organ. I could feel it all through my body...it was incredible.

Bruckner was buried directly under the organ.

Behind his tomb is this "wall" of skulls and bones of a reported 6000 early Christians who wished to be close to St. Florian

There was more to see on the grounds of this amazing monastery. The exhibit hall boasts an amazing ceiling with paintings that appear to be 3D.

As you walk from one side of the room to the other, the pegasus appears to be following you.

Then there was the library, which reminded me a bit of the library in Trinity College, Dublin. Except for the ceiling:

As we left, we caught a glimpse of the Marian Chapel.

Linz, Austria

Mass was held in the first Gothic Cathedral during the pilgrimage. Personally, I breathed a sigh of relief because I was able to better concentrate on the Mass and not be so distracted. The simplicity of the Gothic style with the beautiful stained glass better suits me. 

This Cathedral was interesting because the altar that we used for Mass was in the middle of the church. There was a high altar with side altars around it. 

The back of the high altar

Here's another example of how reading books/watching movies recommended before the Pilgrimage helped with the understanding of what we were seeing. A Hidden Life (available on various platforms such as Prime Video and Google Play) was recommended to watch to give background on Franz Jägerstätter. If I hadn't watched the movie, I wouldn't have had any idea who this incredible person was.

Next to a picture of his wife, there is a relic of Franz Jägerstätter. 

The memorial chapel of the Jägerstätters

Side altar with "St. Catherine's Gate"

The organ

The Stations of the Cross

I've said this before & I'll say it again...I would have loved to have had a tour of the Cathedral. While Linz is a beautiful city with a lot of history, I would have preferred to have had a tour of the Cathedral over a walking tour of the city. It's just my preference. 

I would have loved to have seen this church. High on a hill across the Danube, this Pilgrimage Church is dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary. I wasn't able to find out specifics on the wooden figure of Mary and its significance. 

One thing I'll say about Linz (or actually a couple of things) is that during WWII, it was a city divided into East and West. Also, instead of Stolpersteine, Austria memorializes those Austrian citizens who lost their lives during the Holocaust with what appears to be apartment buzzers. The idea is that you can buzz, but no one will answer.

Melk Abbey

My first look at Melk Abbey from my cabin window

The ceiling of the portico as we entered the courtyard

Melk Abbey has been in operation since 1089 with the Benedictines being housed here the entire time.

Sadly, no pictures were allowed in the church, but I managed to take a picture of a postcard showing the high altar.

The gardens are supposedly beautiful. Since I spent most of my time in the church looking at all of the amazing side altars, I didn't have time to enjoy them.

Dürnstein, Austria

This is a beautiful town in the wine region of Austria. The scenery was amazing; I had some time to be alone and reflect.

Dürstein Abbey with the ruins of a castle on the hill where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192...his punishment for insulting Leopold V

I saw this blue church and hoped that this was where we would celebrate Mass. It was, kind of. There was a wedding that was just about to begin when we arrived. We were allowed to go quickly inside and take a peek.

The original chapel was built in 1372. In 1410, Augustinian Canons came from Bohemia and established a monastery. The late 17th Century saw the monastery undergo reconstruction to become what it looks like today.

Side altar with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a cloth with the inscription: Most Holy Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.

We had the pleasure of listening to a Parforce Horn performance that was part of the wedding celebration:

Up to this point, I had a very hard time paying attention during Mass because...Baroque. The Mass we had in Dürstein was in a meeting hall. It was still ornamental, but not so much that I wasn't able to give my full attention.

Vienna, Austria

I consider the church where we celebrated Mass quite a treat and off the beaten path. St. Joseph at Kahlenberg is on the top of a mountain where a battle between the Austro-Hungarian Empire (led by the Poles) defeated the Ottomans. This was a very significant battle as it saved Europe from the Ottoman invasions. Mass was celebrated the morning of the battle, which very well could have something to do with the outcome. 

Copy of the Black Madonna of Czestachowa

On the High Altar is a copy of the Madonna from Kahlenberg, donated by Pope Innocent XI following the Battle of Kahlenberg 

Statue of John III Sobieski, King of Poland/Lithuania during the Battle of Kahlenberg

St. John Paul II visited this church and donated his vestment.

Memorial to the Poles who lost their lives in Austrian Concentration Camps during WWII

Supposedly, there is an incredible view of Vienna from this viewpoint.

Remembrance plaque to the Battle of Kahlenberg

Once in the city, we went on a fast-paced walking tour. The architecture was incredible. We were able to go into St. Stephen's Cathedral, but there was a closed gate preventing us from getting too close to the high altar since there was a Mass being celebrated.

St. Stephen's was first dedicated in 1147. After a fire, another building was constructed over the ruins and was consecrated in 1263.

The Cathedral escaped bombing during WWII, despite an order to destroy it. Soviet troops set fire to shops around it, causing the roof to catch fire and collapse. 

Mozart has ties to this Cathedral as an adjunct music director, having 2 of his children baptized here, as well as his funeral being held here. 

St. John Capastrano preached in this Cathedral.

The High Altar depicts the stoning of St. Stephen.

Valuable artwork, as well as the pulpit and Frederick III's tomb, escaped since a brick shell had been built around the areas.

The Maria Pötsch icon. Several miracles are connected with this icon: She was seen to weep a couple of times before being placed in St. Stephen's, and numerous miracles and answered prayers are attributed to the veneration of this icon. 

I would have loved to have known the little facts I relayed in this post while I was in the Cathedral. I also read that a piece of the tablecloth from The Last Supper is housed in this Cathedral. I could have spent all of my time here if I had known beforehand the treasures in this Cathedral.

We were gifted with a little bit of free time...time enough for this:

It was worth every second we had to stand in line! Sacher's is famous for its tortes, and it did not disappoint!

Another point of interest was the Augustiner Kirche, the official church of the Habsburg Dynasty. Again, if I hadn't read the book Blessed Charles of Austria, Vienna wouldn't have meant as much to me. I would have known nothing about the Habsburgs. 

Some of the marriages that took place in this church were Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI, Marie Louise & Bonaparte, Marie Theresa & Franz Stephen, and Emporer Franz Joseph & the most cherished of Austrians, Elisabeth (Sisi)

It didn't stand out like St. Stephen's; it seemed to be part of a complex of buildings. It was definitely hard to distinguish it from other buildings. Sadly, this church was just pointed out to us as we walked by; we didn't go in.

Still in the same complex, the Hofburgkapelle has a wooden statue of Mary on the main altar. Anton Bruckner played the organ here.

Last, but certainly not least, we visited Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburgs' Summer Palace. Not only were we treated to a tour, but we also had a private concert featuring Austrian composers.

The ballroom where we enjoyed a private concert.

This was an absolute dream come true for me. To be sitting in the same room where Marie Theresa held balls, listening to this beautiful music composed by Mozart. I closed my eyes and could imagine all of the ladies in their beautiful dresses dancing to waltzes. It was truly the perfect end to Vienna.