Great grief for Altabt Gregor Henckel-Donnersmarck: a loss for Heiligenkreuz

Great grief for Altabt Gregor Henckel-Donnersmarck: a loss for Heiligenkreuz

Stift Heiligenkreuz, Österreich - On April 20, 2025, Altabt Gregor Henckel-Donnersmarck died at the age of 82. His death occurred in the Heiligenkreuz Abbey, where he died as a result of a cancer that had been burdening him for a long time. In his last hours he received the holy sacraments while the monks spoke around him. Henckel-Donnersmarck was born on January 16, 1943 in Wroclaw as Ulrich Maria Karl Graf Henckel von Donnersmarck and grew up in Bavaria and later in Carinthia due to the escape of his family.

Before he entered the Heiligenkreuz Abbey in 1977, he had a career in the private sector, including as managing director of Schenker Spain S.A.E. in Barcelona. He accepted his order name "Gregor" after entering the order. Five years later, he was consecrated to the priest. He had an important role as a prior in the pen and as an assistant of the General Abbey in Rome and as the national director of the papal mission works in Austria.

influential term

In 1999, Gregor Henckel-Donnersmarck was elected 67th Abbot of the Heiligenkreuz Abbey. Several significant events took place under his leadership. This is how Pope Benedict XVI visited. The monastery in 2007, and the Heiligenkreuz University of Applied Sciences received the survey for a university of the law. In addition, the community published the internationally successful Gregorianik CD "Chant-Music for Paradise" during its term.

2011 he resigned from his abbot office because of his age, but remained active and connected the monastery community with his charismatic personality. On the evening of Easter Sunday, when he died, he had a deep connection to his brothers who accompanied him until the last hour.

obituary and funeral service

Details about the funerals have already been announced. The coffin with the body of Altabt Gregor Henckel-Donnersmarck will be welcomed on April 29 at 8 a.m. at the old gate of the pen and laid out in the dead chapel. A condolence book is also published. On April 30th at 2 p.m. there will be a pontifical request and the burial at the local cemetery.

his motto "Surrexit Dominus Vere - The Lord is truly risen" becomes the source of hope and faith for the community and everyone who stood close to him. Abbot em. Gregor will be remembered as a formative figure of the modern Heiligenkreuz monastery, whose life and work has inspired numerous people.

Visitors have the opportunity to attend the monastery and the funeral daily from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. The platform 5min underlines the legacy of Henckel-Donnersmarck, while Abbey Heiligenkreuz provides detailed information about the funeral rituals. Also The press recognizes its life's work and the milestones that have been made.