Conrad Tanner
Encyclopedia
Conrad Tanner was a Swiss Benedictine
Abbot of Einsiedeln.
. In 1787 he held the position of librarian at his abbey, and in 1789 he was made director of the college at Bellinzona.
During the French Revolution
Tanner fled to the Tyrol
, taking with him the miraculous statue, the head of St. Meinrad, and other valuables, and remained there until he could restore the treasures to the abbey. He was appointed pastor of St. Gerold in Vorarlberg
in 1802, where he remained for three years, until recalled to act as master of novices.
At the death of Abbot Beat in 1808 Tanner was elected abbot. He prudently accommodated himself to the political situation, and thus secured the existence of the monastery. He encouraged the pursuit of studies, renovated the buildings, and rebuilt the Holy Chapel which had been destroyed 1798 by the French. Although the village of Einsiedeln was no longer under his jurisdiction, he retained for it a solicitude which he showed in the years of famine (1816 and 1817).
It was the intention of Pope Pius VII
to create the new Diocese of Waldstätten out of the cantons Uri
, Schwyz, and Unterwalden
, to make Tanner bishop, and to constitute the monks of Einsiedeln as cathedral chapter. The matter was proposed in 1818, but was declined by the abbot and his capitulars.
his pedagogical works were published by his successor, Abbot Celestine Müller.
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
Abbot of Einsiedeln.
Life
He studied the classics and theology at Einsiedeln; made vows in the Order of St. Benedict on 8 September 1772, and was ordained in May, 1777. He was engaged as teacher at the gymnasium of Einsiedeln and later at BellinzonaBellinzona
Bellinzona is the administrative capital of the canton Ticino in Switzerland. The city is famous for its three castles that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000....
. In 1787 he held the position of librarian at his abbey, and in 1789 he was made director of the college at Bellinzona.
During the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
Tanner fled to the Tyrol
County of Tyrol
The County of Tyrol, Princely County from 1504, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire, from 1814 a province of the Austrian Empire and from 1867 a Cisleithanian crown land of Austria-Hungary...
, taking with him the miraculous statue, the head of St. Meinrad, and other valuables, and remained there until he could restore the treasures to the abbey. He was appointed pastor of St. Gerold in Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg is the westernmost federal-state of Austria. Although it is the second smallest in terms of area and population , it borders three countries: Germany , Switzerland and Liechtenstein...
in 1802, where he remained for three years, until recalled to act as master of novices.
At the death of Abbot Beat in 1808 Tanner was elected abbot. He prudently accommodated himself to the political situation, and thus secured the existence of the monastery. He encouraged the pursuit of studies, renovated the buildings, and rebuilt the Holy Chapel which had been destroyed 1798 by the French. Although the village of Einsiedeln was no longer under his jurisdiction, he retained for it a solicitude which he showed in the years of famine (1816 and 1817).
It was the intention of Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...
to create the new Diocese of Waldstätten out of the cantons Uri
Canton of Uri
Uri is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's territory covers the valley of the Reuss River between Lake Lucerne and the St. Gotthard Pass. German is the primary language spoken in Uri...
, Schwyz, and Unterwalden
Unterwalden
Unterwalden is the old name of a forest-canton of the Old Swiss Confederacy in central Switzerland, south of Lake Lucerne, consisting of two valleys or Talschaften, now organized as two half-cantons, an upper part, Obwalden, and a lower part, Nidwalden.Unterwalden was one of the three participants...
, to make Tanner bishop, and to constitute the monks of Einsiedeln as cathedral chapter. The matter was proposed in 1818, but was declined by the abbot and his capitulars.
Works
Tanner's writings are:- "Betrachtungen zur sittlichen Aufklärung im neunzehnten Jahrhundert" (5 vols., Augsburg, 1804–1808);
- "Bildung des Geistlichen durch Geistesübungen" (Augsburg, 1807), of which a fifth edition appeared at Einsiedeln in 1846;
his pedagogical works were published by his successor, Abbot Celestine Müller.