Download Reformation - The Catholic Side

How Luther almost eliminated Catholicism in Saxony... but only
almost!
Visitors to Upper Lusatia might get the impression of being in Bavaria when looking at the
numerous crosses and wayside crosses near Panschwitz-Kuckau. After all, Germany’s south
is way more famous for its connection to Catholicism than Saxony. But this faith has deep
roots here as well. Especially in the anniversary year of the Reformation it is worth the while
to explore the Catholic side of Saxony. What surfaces is a history partly shaped by
considerable tolerance.
At the end of the 16th century, Saxony was given the honorary title “Motherland of
Reformation”. Martin Luther encountered great support by the Electors of Saxony who
helped leverage his ideas. Although the byname “Motherland of Reformation” could suggest
otherwise, Luther did not exclusively find support but sometimes met severe resistance. For
instance, George the Bearded, Duke of Saxony, became a bitter enemy after the Leipzig
Debate. In order to strengthen Catholicism, the Duke of Saxony passionately advocated the
canonisation of Benno, bishop of Meissen, and fought the spreading of Protestant ideas for
the rest of his life. However, he could not stop the wave rolling over the land so that it
eventually also got a hold of his duchy. His brother, Prince Henry the Pious introduced the
Reformation after George’s death in 1539.
Preserving islands of Catholicism in Lusatia
Protestantism spread virtually over the whole area of today’s Saxony. But not in Lusatia. As
the region was not part of Saxony at the time of Reformation, islands of Catholicism
remained here. Especially noteworthy is the fact that two Cistercian convents from the 13th
century survived these tumultuous times. The convent St. Marienthal in the east Saxon town
of Ostritz is still serving its original purpose, as is the convent St. Marienstern in PanschwitzKuckau. And in the vicinity of the of Bautzen, Catholic customs are still kept alive by the
Sorbs, Saxony’s Slavic minority – much to the delight of the guests who mostly come around
Easter to participate in the traditional Easter customs. Also the pilgrimage church in the
nearby Rosenthal and the cemetery in Ralbitz are representatives of Catholicism in Lusatia
well worth seeing.
While the Sorbs living nearby the convent St. Marienstern remained true to their beliefs, the
ideas of the Reformation encountered support in wide parts of their settlement area. Thanks
to the smart equalisation policy of the Catholic clergyman Johann Leisentritt, progressive
solutions were found for the gap between the confessions in Lusatia. For example, since
1524, St. Petri Cathedral in Bautzen has been used by Catholics and Protestants alike. It
became the first interdenominational church in Germany. Today, only a fence in the middle of
the church tells of the borderline between the two parts. An advancement in terms of
tolerance considering that once a wall was dividing the believers.
New upswing for Catholicism
It was thanks to the ambitions of Augustus the Strong that Catholicism in Saxony was
revived. The Saxon Elector made great efforts to become the king of Poland. Not only did he
invest large parts of his wealth in the required bribery but he also converted to the Catholic
faith.
In order not to anger his people, Augustus the Strong let himself be secretly trained in
Catholic rites by his uncle. After converting to Catholicism in 1697, the Elector also waived
his right to force the Saxons to a change of faith. Notwithstanding this leniency, he gradually
alienated himself from his people. The depiction of Augustus the Strong in the famous
“Fürstenzug” or "Procession of Princes" in Dresden shows this quite literally. In it the Luther
rose, one of the symbols of the Reformation, is trampled by his horse.
As a consequence to the electoral change of faith many Catholics came to the Dresden
court. Initially, the Holy Mass was held temporarily in the remodelled castle chapel. It was the
son of Augustus, King Augustus III, who built the “Hofkirche”, the first Catholic church in
Saxony following the Reformation in 1739 (known today as Dresden Cathedral). Those who
visit the late Baroque building, which looks so glamorous from the outside, will be surprised
by its plain interior. One of its highlights is the Silbermann organ that survived World War II
without damage and can be heard on a regular basis today. And the crypt below the church
is historically relevant as well. Among other things it houses the capsule with the heart of
Augustus the Strong. After George the Bearded, the last of the Wettins to be buried in the
Meissen cathedral, all Catholic members of the house of the Wettins were buried in this
house of God. The irony of history: They remained the nominal leaders of the ProtestantLutheran state church of Saxony until the end of World War I, thus remaining the “guardians
of Protestantism”.
The history of Catholicism in Saxony does not come to an end with the building of the
“Hofkirche”. Another chapter was written in 2015 when the provost church St. Trinitatis was
consecrated in Leipzig. Henceforth, the biggest Catholic church building in East Germany
since the reunification has dominated the city centrt. Especially noteworthy is the northern
window with 22 m in length and 3 m in width. Depending on the incidence of light, it shows
the complete Old and New Testament. The history of Catholicism in Saxony is quite similar
to the phenomenon of this church window in Leipzig. It may seem unremarkable at first, but
at a closer glance it becomes quite exciting.
Exhibition Tip:
12/05/ – 05/11/2017: “Ein Schatz nicht von Gold. Benno von Meissen – Sachsens erster
Heiliger” (A treasure not made of gold, St. Benno of Meissen – Saxony’s first saint),
exhibition at Albrechtsburg Castle in Meissen
Contact: Tourismus Marketing Gesellschaft Sachsen mbH, press office: Ines Nebelung,
Bautzner Straße 45/47, 01099 Dresden, Germany, Tel: +49 (0)351-4917025, Fax: +49
(0)351-4969306
[email protected], www.visitsaxony.com,
www.facebook.com/SachsenTourismus