Engelbert Kolland: A new faith for Salzburg
Engelbert Kolland: A new faith for Salzburg
A profound honor recently took place in Salzburg when the auxiliary bishop Hansjörg Hofer focused on the new St. Engelbert Kolland. Kolland, who lived from 1827 to 1860, is seen as a shining model in faith. Hofer describes him as a person with straightforwardness, loyalty and an unshakable trust in God. This makes the saint an important source of orientation for the believers, because he was "one of us", which makes him appear all the more convincing.
The canonization Engelbert Kolland, which took place in Rome on October 20, 2024, was called the "huge festival of our faith" by Hofer. He underlined that his personal relationship with Kolland grew with every further thought about his life. Saint Engelbert, once born as Michael, warned that you are proud of the faith: "Don't be ashamed that you are Christians! Look about it and stand by Christ!" This message received a lot of weight at a time when belief is exposed to many challenges.
The pilgrimage to Maria Kirchental
Engelbert Kolland was born in Ramsau in the Zillertal. His father, Kajetan, was a wooden servant and at the same time spokesman for the oppressed Lutheran. Due to the political persecution in the Zillertal, the family finally found refuge in the "tolerance community" Rachau in Styria. In Salzburg, Kolland received his school training, joined the Franciscans and was even allowed to learn different languages in the course of his training before he was consecrated to the priest in Trento.
Kolland's life and his martyrdom
After his consecration, Kolland was sent to the Holy Land as a missionary. First he worked in the Jerusalem Grabeskirche before starting his last task in the Paulus monastery in Damascus. This time was characterized by unrest and violence, especially during the Druze uprisings in 1860. These tragic events led to massacres in which many Christians were killed. Kolland tried to save his life by initially fled over the roof, but was captured the following morning.
In the face of his death, Kolland was asked three times whether he was ready to take his faith. There was a cruel consequence for every refusal: he received an ax thief until he ultimately fell dead to the ground. His life and death are an urgent testimony to faith and devotion that Kolland embodies. On October 20, he was canonized in Rome together with eleven other martyrs. For this important ceremony, a 300-member Austrian delegation under the direction of Archbishop Franz Lackner was sent.
The appreciation of Engelbert Kolland by Auxiliary Bishop Hofer shows the importance of identification figures in faith that can accompany and support people on their spiritual path. At a time when many are looking for support and orientation, such canonizations offer new perspectives and hope.
For more information and details on this topic, See the current report on www.kathpress.at .
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