Day 2: Melk, Benedictine Monastery

Day 2:

You’re probably wondering why you didn’t see a post for Day 1.  Well, there isn’t one because, technically, day 1 was the day we landed in Europe and came to the Kartause.  To fill you in on that experience, everything went very well.  For not flying before, I was able to stay very organized and had no problems with any of my flights.  Even though our planes were late taking off twice, we still got to our destinations on time, or early.  The only casualty was a lost toothbrush and its travel case; but thankfully I have a spare toothbrush.  The flights were all good.  I was glad I had no trouble with feeling sick.  The international flight was comfortable.  It was cloudy, so, sadly, there was not much to see in the beginning; but once we flew into the area where it was nighttime, things got very exciting.  I looked out the window and could see the city lights below, make out the coasts and riverbanks, sometimes see cars driving on the road.  Plus the stars were right there, too.  It was fascinating to me how, even from so high up in the air, they look just as far away.  The flight from Dusseldorf into Vienna was my favorite, though.  It was clear that morning, so I could see the land below with all its houses and farms and windmills.  It was so pretty!  Then we got up into the clouds and the skyline was amazing!  Towards the end of the flight, I also could see mountains. 

We arrived at the Kartause late that afternoon.  I definitely felt like a first-year student at Hogwarts walking in.  I’m still feeling that way because sometimes I feel like I have no idea how to get somewhere and I was worried that I might get lost finding my classes like Harry and Ron.  Haha!  Before Mass, I ran into some good friends and we shared our excitement.  Sunday Mass was beautiful.  It began with the blessing of the candles for the Feast of the Presentation.  Afterwards, we stepped out into the courtyard and it was snowing!  It was so cool to look up at the mountain towering behind the Kartause!

On February 3 (Monday), we traveled to Melk to visit the Benedictine Monastery on the Danube River.  We rose early and got on the buses.  [I'm finding it ironic that we travel from place to place on "Kerschner" buses.]  The monastery was originally a castle, built in 1089, but when the royal family, who lived there, was going to move to a different location, they wanted to leave it in good hands, so they gave it to the Benedictine Monks so they could pray for the family’s ancestors and for the intercession of the place’s patron saint, who is buried there.  The monastery has been occupied by the Benedictines for 900 years!  It has undergone a few renovations since then due to a fire and an effort to keep with the style of the times. 

The entrance.

An eagle atop the entrance archway - this one's for Mary.

I was in love with all these beautiful statues.

The monastery was a common place for people who were traveling to stop and stay. One of the emperor’s daughters, Maria-Teresa, visited there twice; and also Mozart (visited twice and played the organ there).  

The mural in front of the dome is representative of one of the four cardinal virtues.  I believe this one is justice.

The motto of the emperor whose family lived in the castle before it was given to the Benedictines.  

This hallway is architectural designed to look longer than it is.  It is shorter at one end than the other. "It only looks small because it's so far away! Watch! *smack* *muffled* I could be wrong." -Larry the Cucumber 

The architecture of the place was breathtaking!  We saw so many beautiful rooms, and so many unique artifacts in the museum part of the building.  Here are some chalices and vessels from the museum. 

We didn’t get to see the monasteries most prized artifacts, though we saw detailed imagery of them on a few TV monitors.  One is a jeweled cross that holds a relic from the Cross of Christ.  The other is a gorgeous jeweled monstrance, which also contains the jawbone of the monastery’s patron saint, St. Columan, who was martyred because the local people thought he was a spy; when several miracles were attributed to his relics, he was declared a saint and the patron of the monastery and the city of Melk.  He is buried in the chapel of the Church. 

The museum is also home to a Crucifix from 1200 A.D.  The Crucifix is unique in its mixture of styles.  In earlier centuries, the Christ on the Cross was portrayed as Christ the King, while later on He was portrayed more as the suffering Servant.  This Cross combines both. 

There were many more beautiful items in the museum.  The first picture is, if I'm remembering correctly, a miniature replica of an altar that was once in the monastery.  The images along the side are made from ivory and depict scenes from the life of Christ.  The centermost one is Palm Sunday, and on the right is the Last Supper. :) 

This is the abbot of the monastery under whom the Baroque renovation occurred.

The abbot's staff that is still used at Christmas and Easter, and there is another is used on the feast of the Assumption and the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

These paintings were a panel that surrounded the altar at one point so that when the altar was enclosed, these paintings could be seen. 

This is the ballroom!  Would you believe this ceiling is flat?? I looked at it so hard and could not tell!  There is another perspective trick.  The room is built to be enjoyed from one spot in the center of the room.  But when you look at it from the corner, you can see that some columns stick out further from the wall than others.  :) 

Once we stepped outside, I gasped at the view!  Here is the city of Melk and the Danube River, and look at those mountains!!! I still can't get over the mountains out here, they are so beautiful!

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See the statue?  That's the patron of the monastery, St. Columan.

Christ holding the Cross with warrior angels at His side.

 Sts. Peter and Paul, the patrons of my brother household. :)

After the amazing view, we got to go into the Library.  It felt like something out of Beauty and the Beast!  It wasn't as big of a room, but the style, and all the books, and the sheer beauty of the place was amazing!  The library contains books mainly on history, philosophy, geography, and theology, but there are more subjects.  Our tour guide told us how important it was to the Benedictines to read and to study, and even believes that the motto of the Benedictines should be not just "Ora et Labora," or "Pray and work," but "Pray, work, and read."  

This is the Library ceiling.  This one actually is rounded.  It is the triumph of Faith, the white figure in the middle.  

This staircase was amazing!

You can't really tell from the picture, but there is a mirror at the bottom to the staircase which makes it look like the staircase just keeps going!  

Once we got down the stairs, we went through the door and came into the Chapel, which took my breath away.  It's amazing! The ceiling has so many paintings all over it.  There are also several saints whose remains are kept here, some from the catacombs whose actual names are not known.  I got to help lead the music at Mass here. :)  It was also really neat because when I looked to my left and I saw an altar to St. Michael, who is one of the patron saints of my household!  This made me very excited.  

The ambo, where the readings and the sermon would traditionally have been given.

The altarpiece of the Chapel’s inscription reads: He who would wear a crown must work for it.  The crown shape of the altar makes this statement even more powerful, and it rests over the Tabernacle!  

And these are the remains of St. Columan.  

It was hard to walk away from this place.  I wanted to see more!  But, "...all stories, even the ones we love must eventually come to an end."  We had lunch in a restaurant in Melk, which was delicious.  There were many stories and laughs exchanged at our end of the table.  Blessings!  When we got back on the bus to go back to Gaming, I could still see the monastery in the distance.  :) 

Thank you, everyone, for your prayers! Be assured of my prayers for you.  Thank you for reading this, too! I'm excited to be able to share my experiences with you.  

To my family, classes (well, class) went very well today! I'm so excited to study here.  I've also had two trips down to Gaming in the last couple of days and will talk about that later this week.  The city is charming, and the Kartause is wonderful.  I love you all so very much! 

Have a beautiful day everyone!  God bless you!