Hiabless by Engelbert Kolland: A model of faith for Salzburg

Hiabless by Engelbert Kolland: A model of faith for Salzburg

The Salzburg Auxiliary Bishop Hansjörg Hofer recently recognized the newly spoken Engelbert Kolland as an exemplary believer. Kolland, who lived between 1827 and 1860, is praised by Hofer for his "straightforwardness, loyalty and trust in God". These properties make him particularly inspiring and understandable for many people, Hofer said in a message from the Archdiocese of Salzburg. The auxiliary bishop commented during a pilgrimage that had the goal of promoting spiritual appeals and took place last weekend in the Maria Kirchental pilgrimage church.

The canonization Engelbert Kolland took place on October 20 in Rome and Hofer described this ceremony as a "huge festival of our faith". The more the auxiliary bishop about Kolland learned, the more he touches his story, he emphasized. Kolland is referred to as a martyr, who campaigned for people in an unchristian environment, and was therefore called "father angel".

The life story Engelbert Kollands

Engelbert Kolland, originally born as Michael, grew up in Ramsau in the Zillertal. His father, Kajetan, was a wooden servant and complained as the spokesman for the Lutherans living in the underground. In 1837 the family fell victim to the terrible displacement in the Zillertal and found asylum in the "tolerance community" of Rachau in Styria. Kolland attended the school in Salzburg, joined the Franciscans and went to Trento, where he was consecrated to the priest.

After his Weihelager, he spent several years with studies in Bolzano before being sent to the Holy Land as a missionary in 1855. There he initially took on tasks in the Jerusaler Grabeskirche before spending his last days in the Paulus monastery in Damascus. Tragically, Kolland was involved in the durable Druze uprisings of 1860, which shaken the region and subsequently killed around 8,000 Christians.

The situation escalated from July 9th to July 10th, 1860 when the monastery was attacked. Kolland first tried to flee over the roof, but was caught. During his arrest, he was asked three times whether he was ready to swear his belief in Christ. After each refusal cut, he received a Axthieb until he ultimately collapsed dead.

The celebrations and the importance of canonization

The celebrations for the canonization of Engelbert Kolland took place not only in Rome, but also in his homeland Austria, where a 300-member delegation, including Archbishop Franz Lackner and the Bishops Hermann Glettler, Wilhelm Krautwaschl and Hansjörg Hofer, were present. Under the impression of this canonization, Hofer called on the faithful to proudly stand by their faith, and described Engelbert Kolland as an angel who helped many people with his actions.

In his speech, Hofer emphasized the importance of Kolland, whose life and death for the Christian community represent a testimony to faith. They remind the faithful of staying steadfast in a sometimes challenging environment and working for the values to the end. For people who would like to learn more about Kolland and his remarkable life, various reports offer further insights and detailed information, as to be read at www.katholisch.at .